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What is the right Lead against 3NT?


Deevan

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The following hand is from a 24 board team match; against top notch opponents.

Both Sides VUL. Your RHO bids 1NT(15-17)-P-3NT-PPP, you are on lead from:

 

S-T32

H-K6

D-9753

C-Q652

 

I wonder what is the right lead on this hand? Appreciate if the responses are grouped as follows:

1) What is the correct lead, and why?

2) Would the lead be different if CQ was C8? Rest of the hand is same.

 

What score (out of 100%) would you assign to each of the following leads from the given hand:

3)small S?

4)HK?

5)C2?

6)S10?

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The following hand is from a 24 board team match; against top notch opponents. Both Sides VUL. T32 K6 9753 Q652

Your RHO bids 1NT(15-17)-P-3NT-PPP

I wonder what is the right lead on this hand? Appreciate if the responses are grouped as follows:

1) What is the correct lead, and why?

2) Would the lead be different if CQ was C8? Rest of the hand is same.

What score (out of 100%) would you assign to each of the following leads from the given hand:

3)small S?

4)HK?

5)C2?

6)S10?

IMO x = 100, T = 90, x = 80, x = 70, K = 40.

If Q were x, then x = 70.

A major is more likely to work than a minor, but K is over-committal. Arguably T is better than x

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The following hand is from a 24 board team match; against top notch opponents.

Both Sides VUL. Your RHO bids 1NT(15-17)-P-3NT-PPP, you are on lead from:

 

S-T32

H-K6

D-9753

C-Q652

 

I wonder what is the right lead on this hand? Appreciate if the responses are grouped as follows:

1) What is the correct lead, and why?

2) Would the lead be different if CQ was C8? Rest of the hand is same.

 

What score (out of 100%) would you assign to each of the following leads from the given hand:

3)small S?

4)HK?

5)C2?

6)S10?

1) I would try the K as drastic measures look called for and the opps have made no effort to find a major suit fit plus I need to hit partner's suit to have a shot. In order of preference K>2>2>3

 

2) no change but more drastic situation

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1. Usually there's no such thing as the "correct" lead - there are just aggressive leads, passive leads, leads with a particular objective in mind, and default leads.

 

I'd lead a diamond. You don't have to go mad just because they've bid game without inviting, and you don't have to lead a major just because they didn't bid Stayman.

 

2. No

 

3/5. I can't give a numerical score, but I don't hate either.

 

4/6. What's the score for "ugh"?

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Hi,

 

Since you are weak, you should try to hid partners suit.

And the auction 1NT - 3NT indicates a major suit lead, since responder did

not use Stayman, and a 5 card major suit with the NT opener is of course

possible, but ..., some partnership say "NO", some say "YES", so without

any knowledge, you have at least a 50% chance, that the answer is "NO",

and otherwise, there is still the chance, that opener does not have one.

 

This means it is either hearts or spades, but the King of hearts is way too

speculative, and since you only have 2 hearts, spade it is.

 

#1 Spades

#2 No, the hand got weaker, the reason for trying to hit partner get stronger

#3 10 out of 10

what is your systemic agreement? spades gets 10, which card is a matter of

lead agreement, you want to give partner as much information as possible,

so you should stick with your agreement, and not trying to get creative.

#4 0 out of 10

#5 make it 4 out of 10

#6 see #3

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

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The following hand is from a 24 board team match; against top notch opponents.

Both Sides VUL. Your RHO bids 1NT(15-17)-P-3NT-PPP, you are on lead from:

 

S-T32

H-K6

D-9753

C-Q652

 

I wonder what is the right lead on this hand? Appreciate if the responses are grouped as follows:

1) What is the correct lead, and why?

2) Would the lead be different if CQ was C8? Rest of the hand is same.

 

What score (out of 100%) would you assign to each of the following leads from the given hand:

3)small S?

4)HK?

5)C2?

6)S10?

2 of clubs

 

 

second choice close=ten of spades.

 

 

rest zero.

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Basically agree with Marlowe. A spade is a bit less attacking than a heart but much less dangerous.

 

I'd score: 2 100, 70, 50, 20, 10 0.

 

I don't see a reason to consider 10 instead of a small one. I'm scoring it zero based on its logical merit though obviously it has a nonzero chance of success.

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Thanks all for your feedback, it was great. I have no idea what is "the" right lead, or the highest percentage lead!

 

On the table, our opponent, a BBO STAR, held this hand, and led the HK in a flash. The contract went down quickly since dummy showed up with H Qxx; and, his partner held H AJxxx, the NT opener had H xxx. Our partners, excellent players, at the other table, led a small spade. We lost a game swing.

 

I was hoping though to hear some comments like the following:

-Major lead becomes abundantly clear without the CQ!

-Small Spade might cause a problem; because against NT, I believe lead of a low card promises an honour. So, if partner happens to have SA and H AJxxx; he/she may not switch to H, placing a Spade honour with the leader!

-Might the HK lead be better when you find partner with QJTxx and a side A; or find partner with JT9xxx with two side entries?

 

Are these ideas really far fetched! or ancient! Who knows, I guess!

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A ten is an honour, though that is a consequence of the way scoring works at rubber bridge rather than an analysis of which leads work best. But I think a low spade does offer better chances of establishing tricks, especially if partner gains the lead next.
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I think a heart would stand out if we had 3, but having doubleton it is very hard to hit partner AND NOT delcarer as well.

 

Weakness asks for agresiveness, clubs and spades sound best, but clubs can hardly give us 5 tricks so I'd go with a spade.

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♠=100, ♦=90, ♣=90, ♥=-10.

 

Very simple and for sure imperfect simulation :

1000 hands.

S is 15-17 balanced (5majors possible, no 5-4, no 6-3-3-2)

N is 9-15 without 4card major or singleton anywhere

 

No. of deals where specified card is winning (setting) lead:

 

T - 89

3 - 95

K - 140

6 - 66

7/5 - 69

any low - 52

 

This strongly suggest that K is at least reasonable lead.

My intuition before running this simulation was that club is the worst lead and diamond probably the best. Now tend to believe that Kh is best in the absence of strong arguments against it and some very good for it.

 

EDIT : I run it one more time. This time responder has either 9-15 balanced without 4+card major or 10-15 any 4-3-3-3 (including major). 10k hands. No of deals where specific card is winning lead :

 

T - 817

3/2 - 823

K - 1030

7/5 - 629

low - 555

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I was quite surprised by Bluecalm's simulation results, so I did my own simulation of 30 hands and decided how each lead would work single-dummy. The results agree approximately with Bluecalm's:

 

Heart lead beats it: 3

Heart lead may beat it: 1

Spade lead beats it: 1

Spade lead probably beats it: 1

Club, diamond or spade may beat it: 1

Making on any lead: 21

Inconsistent with the bidding: 2

 

I'm still surprised.

 

I noticed that when the contract was making a heart lead usually cost an overtrick. However, this isn't enough to justify not leading a heart: Even if we beat 3NT only 3/28 times and concede an overtrick 25/28 times, the expectation from a heart lead is still

3/28 x 12 - 25/28 x 1 = +0.4

 

The hands and my code are below.

 

The hands:

          S: A86
         H: 52
         D: AQJ84
         C: 843
S: T32            S: J97
H: K6             H: T8743
D: 9753           D: KT
C: Q652           C: KT9
         S: KQ54
         H: AQJ9
         D: 62
         C: AJ7
Probably making on any lead.  C, D or S gives some chance.
--------------------------
         S: Q7
         H: J84
         D: K4
         C: AK9743
S: T32            S: K8654
H: K6             H: 9753
D: 9753           D: QT8
C: Q652           C: J
         S: AJ9
         H: AQT2
         D: AJ62
         C: T8
Making on any lead.
--------------------------
         S: J9
         H: Q4
         D: K862
         C: AKT87
S: T32            S: 8764
H: K6             H: JT853
D: 9753           D: AQ
C: Q652           C: 94
         S: AKQ5
         H: A972
         D: JT4
         C: J3
Making on any lead.
--------------------------
         S: AK8
         H: 83
         D: AQ82
         C: T987
S: T32            S: J9754
H: K6             H: JT95
D: 9753           D: K4
C: Q652           C: J4
         S: Q6
         H: AQ742
         D: JT6
         C: AK3
Making on any lead.
--------------------------
         S: KQ9
         H: JT3
         D: JT6
         C: K843
S: T32            S: 74
H: K6             H: Q9842
D: 9753           D: AQ84
C: Q652           C: JT
         S: AJ865
         H: A75
         D: K2
         C: A97
Making on any lead.
--------------------------
         S: 754
         H: AJ9
         D: J62
         C: AT97
S: T32            S: Q96
H: K6             H: T873
D: 9753           D: QT8
C: Q652           C: KJ3
         S: AKJ8
         H: Q542
         D: AK4
         C: 84
Making on any lead.
--------------------------
         S: 864
         H: QJ42
         D: K62
         C: A94
S: T32            S: AKJ5
H: K6             H: T85
D: 9753           D: JT84
C: Q652           C: T7
         S: Q97
         H: A973
         D: AQ
         C: KJ83
Making on any lead.
--------------------------
         S: A84
         H: Q8
         D: KJ864
         C: KT4
S: T32            S: J96
H: K6             H: JT9432
D: 9753           D: A2
C: Q652           C: 83
         S: KQ75
         H: A75
         D: QT
         C: AJ97
Making on any lead.
--------------------------
         S: AQ9
         H: 53
         D: Q64
         C: KT974
S: T32            S: 7654
H: K6             H: AQJ987
D: 9753           D: J
C: Q652           C: J3
         S: KJ8
         H: T42
         D: AKT82
         C: A8
H beats it.
--------------------------
         S: KQ87
         H: QJ7
         D: KJ4
         C: J98
S: T32            S: J64
H: K6             H: A98542
D: 9753           D: Q
C: Q652           C: T74
         S: A95
         H: T3
         D: AT862
         C: AK3
Making on any lead.
--------------------------
         S: J54
         H: A42
         D: QJT8
         C: K73
S: T32            S: 87
H: K6             H: QT753
D: 9753           D: AK2
C: Q652           C: JT9
         S: AKQ96
         H: J98
         D: 64
         C: A84
H beats it (declarer will duck opening lead).
--------------------------
         S: 85
         H: QT
         D: AT64
         C: AJT74
S: T32            S: QJ974
H: K6             H: AJ72
D: 9753           D: J2
C: Q652           C: 83
         S: AK6
         H: 98543
         D: KQ8
         C: K9
Making on any lead.
--------------------------
         S: 654
         H: AJ7
         D: QJT82
         C: A8
S: T32            S: K9
H: K6             H: T5432
D: 9753           D: A6
C: Q652           C: JT97
         S: AQJ87
         H: Q98
         D: K4
         C: K43
Making on any lead.
--------------------------
         S: J95
         H: 92
         D: AKQJ6
         C: K73
S: T32            S: AQ87
H: K6             H: T873
D: 9753           D: 8
C: Q652           C: J984
         S: K64
         H: AQJ54
         D: T42
         C: AT
Making on any lead.
--------------------------
         S: K64
         H: 72
         D: AKJ642
         C: 43
S: T32            S: A85
H: K6             H: J9843
D: 9753           D: Q
C: Q652           C: T987
         S: QJ97
         H: AQT5
         D: T8
         C: AKJ
Making on any lead.
--------------------------
         S: KJ7
         H: A98
         D: KQJ4
         C: T43
S: T32            S: AQ65
H: K6             H: T74
D: 9753           D: T62
C: Q652           C: J87
         S: 984
         H: QJ532
         D: A8
         C: AK9
Making on any lead.
--------------------------
         S: K64
         H: J42
         D: JT2
         C: AK93
S: T32            S: 87
H: K6             H: AT9853
D: 9753           D: A86
C: Q652           C: T8
         S: AQJ95
         H: Q7
         D: KQ4
         C: J74
H may beat it (defence ducks second heart, so declarer had no reason to get clubs right).
--------------------------
         S: Q87
         H: QJ73
         D: KJ6
         C: J43
S: T32            S: KJ95
H: K6             H: 9854
D: 9753           D: QT82
C: Q652           C: A
         S: A64
         H: AT2
         D: A4
         C: KT987
S probably beats it (S10 prevents declarer's ducking; S2 probably causes declarer to play for K onside).
--------------------------
         S: A7
         H: Q52
         D: K8642
         C: AT7
S: T32            S: J9865
H: K6             H: T94
D: 9753           D: AJ
C: Q652           C: J98
         S: KQ4
         H: AJ873
         D: QT
         C: K43
Making on any lead.
--------------------------
         S: 964
         H: T5
         D: AKQ84
         C: T83
S: T32            S: 87
H: K6             H: AQJ942
D: 9753           D: JT
C: Q652           C: KJ7
         S: AKQJ5
         H: 873
         D: 62
         C: A94
H beats it.
--------------------------
         S: 95
         H: QT7
         D: AKJT2
         C: K94
S: T32            S: KQJ87
H: K6             H: 8532
D: 9753           D: 4
C: Q652           C: T83
         S: A64
         H: AJ94
         D: Q86
         C: AJ7
Making on any lead.
--------------------------
         S: J4
         H: T3
         D: QT8
         C: AJT873
S: T32            S: AQ9876
H: K6             H: 97542
D: 9753           D: A4
C: Q652           C: ---
         S: K5
         H: AQJ8
         D: KJ62
         C: K94
S beats it.
--------------------------
         S: 874
         H: A3
         D: Q6
         C: AKT973
S: T32            S: Q65
H: K6             H: T8542
D: 9753           D: AJ84
C: Q652           C: 4
         S: AKJ9
         H: QJ97
         D: KT2
         C: J8
North would make slam try.
--------------------------
         S: J874
         H: JT4
         D: AKJ
         C: 983
S: T32            S: 5
H: K6             H: Q9753
D: 9753           D: Q62
C: Q652           C: AJT4
         S: AKQ96
         H: A82
         D: T84
         C: K7
Making on any lead.
--------------------------
         S: A97
         H: T3
         D: AT864
         C: KJ4
S: T32            S: QJ86
H: K6             H: Q9874
D: 9753           D: Q2
C: Q652           C: T9
         S: K54
         H: AJ52
         D: KJ
         C: A873
Making on any lead.
--------------------------
         S: Q97
         H: 754
         D: A82
         C: A974
S: T32            S: 864
H: K6             H: QJ98
D: 9753           D: KT64
C: Q652           C: K8
         S: AKJ5
         H: AT32
         D: QJ
         C: JT3
Making on any lead.
--------------------------
         S: 94
         H: A9
         D: KQT
         C: KJT743
S: T32            S: A8765
H: K6             H: Q742
D: 9753           D: 8642
C: Q652           C: ---
         S: KQJ
         H: JT853
         D: AJ
         C: A98
N would make slam try.
--------------------------
         S: KJ9
         H: 83
         D: KQJ842
         C: K9
S: T32            S: 76
H: K6             H: QJT754
D: 9753           D: 6
C: Q652           C: A873
         S: AQ854
         H: A92
         D: AT
         C: JT4
Making on any lead.
--------------------------
         S: KJ5
         H: 83
         D: QJ84
         C: AJ73
S: T32            S: 976
H: K6             H: JT972
D: 9753           D: A6
C: Q652           C: K94
         S: AQ84
         H: AQ54
         D: KT2
         C: T8
Making on any lead.
--------------------------
         S: K84
         H: 9832
         D: AQ6
         C: AT8
S: T32            S: A976
H: K6             H: QT74
D: 9753           D: J8
C: Q652           C: 973
         S: QJ5
         H: AJ5
         D: KT42
         C: KJ4
Making on any lead.
--------------------------

 

And my code:

west is {T32 K6 9753 Q652}

main {
 if {[1nt south] && [1nt_3nt north]} { accept }
 reject
}

#######################################################################################################################################################
proc 1nt {hand} {
 set hcp [hcp $hand]
 set ptn [$hand pattern]
 set shp [$hand shape]
 
 # 4333 or 4432, 15-17
 if {$ptn == "4 3 3 3" || $ptn == "4 4 3 2"} {
   if {$hcp > 14 && $hcp < 18} { accept }
   reject
   }
   
 # 5332 or 22(54), 14-16
 if {$ptn == "5 3 3 2" || $shp == "2 2 4 5" || $shp == "2 2 5 4"} {
   if {$hcp > 13 && $hcp < 17} { accept }
   reject
   }

 # 6m332, 13-16
 if { $ptn == "6 3 2 2" && ([diamonds $hand] == 6 || [clubs $hand] == 6) } {
   if {$hcp > 12 && $hcp < 17} { accept }
   reject
   }
   
 reject
 }

#######################################################################################################################################################
proc 1nt_3nt {hand} {
 set hcp [hcp $hand]
 set ptn [$hand pattern]
 set spades [spades $hand]
 set hearts [hearts $hand]
 
 # major-suit hands that wouldn't raise directly
 if {$spades > 4 || $hearts > 4} { reject }
 if {($spades == 4 || $hearts == 4) && $ptn != "4 3 3 3"} { reject }

 # 4333 or 4432, 10-15
 if {$ptn == "4 3 3 3" || $ptn == "4 4 3 2"} {
   if {$hcp > 9 && $hcp < 16} { accept }
   reject
   }
   
 # 5332 or 22(54), 9-14
 if {$ptn == "5 3 3 2" || $ptn == "5 4 2 2"} {
   if {$hcp > 8 && $hcp < 15} { accept }
   reject
   }

 # 6332, 8-13
 if {$ptn == "6 3 2 2"} {
   if {$hcp > 7 && $hcp < 14} { accept }
   reject
   }
   
 reject
 }

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It would be great if it was possible to generate the hands using some kind of simulation software and give them to strong computer program to play. That should be much more reliable than double dummy analysis.

Your analysis is great but it would take some time to reach significant number of hands :-)

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Could you please add ♦K to our hand and see the difference it makes?

 

New simul. 1000 hands. Our hand :

T32 K6 K975 Q652.

Opponent opens 15-17NT (5card major possible) and responder jumps to 3NT (9-14 balaced without 4+card major or any 4-3-3-3 10-15).

 

The winning (setting) lead:

 

T - 103

3 - 104

K - 88

9- 66

5[ - 70

2 - 76

 

All makes sense in my opinion. Now we are not desperate so leading spades is good. I wonder how meaningful is that opener can have 5card major but it can only be bad fo rmajor suit leads. I am pretty sure that including any 4-3-3-3 is also bad for major suit leads which suggest that against opponents who always stayaman leading spade in this example and Kh in the previous one is clear (and big) winner.

 

I am going to find out how good the minor suit need to be to lead it. Is it possible that 4 card minor like QT8x is good enough ? What about KQTx ? Do you lead any 5 card minor ? If how strong it needs to be ? Results soon :(

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but droping from 140 to 88 by having more strenght sounds a bit too much.

 

We didn't drop from 140. The first simul didn't include 4-3-3-3 hands with 4 card major in 3nt (they would stayman). The second one did. In the second one the score was 1030 (for 10k hands) so it's a drop from 103 to 88 not from 140 to 88. Seems like you have very good intuition noticing that it's too big a difference :)

 

By they way from my experience those simuls are statistically significant after 1k hands. I am yet to see the case with big difference for different sets of 1000 hands. At least if the hands are "not wild".

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