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Opening lead from USBF


jdonn

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T875 A953 A2 J94

 

Starting on your left with just opponents bidding. LHO Meckstroth, RHO Rodwell.

 

1 1

1 2

2NT 3

4

 

1 was precision style 2+ and can be light. 1 did not clarify diamond length I believe (some play that it does.) 2 was artificial and game forcing. What is your lead?

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T875 A953 A2 J94

 

Starting on your left with just opponents bidding. LHO Meckstroth, RHO Rodwell.

 

1 1

1 2

2NT 3

4

 

1 was precision style 2+ and can be light. 1 did not clarify diamond length I believe (some play that it does.) 2 was artificial and game forcing. What is your lead?

spade, sigh..this may be very very bad

 

If you prefer AD...nppp

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Spade.

 

Really hate the A, don't know why everyone wants to lead it.

That was my immediate reaction, too. Then I realized that the A lead pretty much beats it whenever partner has an ace or K.

That is almost always the case with an Ax and the trump ace. There is a reason you don't always make this lead.

 

It's slightly better than usual because of the trump 9, but against that lead your long suit with 4 trumps will often be effective.

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Spade.

 

Really hate the A, don't know why everyone wants to lead it.

That was my immediate reaction, too. Then I realized that the A lead pretty much beats it whenever partner has an ace or K.

That is almost always the case with an Ax and the trump ace. There is a reason you don't always make this lead.

 

It's slightly better than usual because of the trump 9, but against that lead your long suit with 4 trumps will often be effective.

Well usually you also need both opponents to have a tripleton in the suit for it to work. Here (I assume) we know LHO has 3 diamonds. And we don't need RHO to have more than a singleton, because of the 9 as you say. I think it helps the odds significantly (but I am not convinced it is right).

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Really hate the A, don't know why everyone wants to lead it.

That was my immediate reaction, too. Then I realized that the A lead pretty much beats it whenever partner has an ace or K.

Those were my first and second thoughts. My third was that it's not actually that likely that partner has one of these cards. LHO has an opening bid based on high cards rather than shape; RHO apparently has reasonable strength outside hearts, because he was prepared to consider other contracts than 4.

 

There's no reason to think we have to take four tricks immediately. Declarer's likely shapes are 4243 and 4234 - with 4252 he might have rebid 2 over 2, and with a singleton heart he might have rebid 3NT.

 

I prefer a club lead to a spade. If a spade sets up a trick for us, it will often also set up a fourth-wound winner for them. A club might be expensive if declarer has an honour, but otherwise will probably combine safety with setting up a trick or two.

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