Double dummy defense for them?

[kayin801]

[hv=d=e&v=n&s=sk976hq732dkca982]133|100|Scoring: MP

(P)-2♦*-(P)-2NT**

(P)-3♥***-(P)-4♥-AP

 

*: 11-15, 3-suited, short ♦

**: Shape ask

***: 4414[/hv]

 

Lead is ♠10... from righty. Director!

 

You can choose to (I think):

Accept and let partner play

Have LHO lead a spade

Have LHO lead a non-spade

etc, I forget if there are any other options.

 

Thoughts?

[sohcahtoa]

You forgot accept the lead and partner is still dummy. :)

[gwnn]

i think it used to be allowed to accept RHO's lead and play the first trick counter-clockwise.

 

edit: i think that's what the poster above me (Welcome to the forums!) said.

[MFA]

Forbid spades. Why risk one/two ruff(s)? We know how to play spades later, so no reason to want a spade lead from west at this point.

[rogerclee]

Do people think RHO is more likely to be stiff than usual? Much more likely? What was the tempo of the lead?

[Lobowolf]

I think I'd require a spade from the correct side.

[jdonn]

I think I require a spade lead from west. If he has the ace I should gain a trick in spades. And whether he or partner has the ace I will avoid a trump lead, which as usual I don't want on an auction like this.

 

The other option I consider, which you didn't list but I think is still an option, is to let west lead whatever he wants and leave the spade ten on the table as a penalty card. That way he could lead a trump but as soon as I lose a trick to set up some ruffs I will have more control over what they play next. That might be best instead.

[Vilgan]

What are pros/cons of:

 

Requiring a spade lead from LHO

 

vs

 

Spreading my hand as dummy

 

Seems like my shape is pretty well known. Might as well make my hand the exposed hand.

[Lobowolf]

What are pros/cons of:

 

Requiring a spade lead from LHO

 

vs

 

Spreading my hand as dummy

 

Seems like my shape is pretty well known. Might as well make my hand the exposed hand.

Your RHO almost certainly doesn't have the A♠. If your LHO has it, the difference is that the opening lead comes through the K; however, by requiring LHO to lay down the A♠ (or underlead it) you should be able to set up the king. In essence, you prevent the defense from taking advantage of the favorable (for them) location of the ace - behind your king.

[karlson]

So has anyone aside from the Hideous Hog tried underleading an ace out of turn?

[Fluffy]

I agree with lobowolf, sounds like best is to require a spade from west.

[kayin801]

I guess the two options I narrowed it down to were to have west lead a spade and to let partner play it. If west leads a spade I get a lead into my K...

 

... but if I let partner play it then they don't have complete count on the hand at trick 1 and their defense may be a lot harder. Partner's hand is virtually unknown save the fact they have around opening values and 4+ hearts.