bid or lead

[karlson]

[hv=pc=n&s=sqt94h5da7532cq95&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=1hd2c(transfer%20to%20%21D)4spp5h5spp6hpp]133|200[/hv]

 

We can have another thread on whether you would double 1♥, but it seems to have worked out.

 

2♣ showed diamonds. 5♥ was quick, but 6♥ was after about 3-4 minutes of thought. The opponents are quite capable but not world champs.

 

If you pass or double, what do you lead?

 

Edit: Sorry, IMP scoring, short match

[dcohio]

double, A♦, 2♦

[CSGibson]

pass for two reasons - if the slam doesn't make, then we've won the board by pushing them there, since 5 spades is unlikely to make, so there's no need to X. If the slam does make, other people will probably be there too, so we don't want to give up what little matchpoints we are going to receive by doubling. Also, I hate to make the opponents guess at the right contract and then save over it.

 

Having let them play 6 hearts, I think the best chance of beating it is leading a club, giving up on partner's potential diamond ruff. I think it very likely that RHO has 6 diamonds and 4 hearts for the bidding, probably with a void in spades. Partner definitely doesn't have a diamond void (no X), so declarer is more likely to have shortness there than partner, and leading A-another diamond is just going to set up declarer's source of tricks. I think my best chance is to try and establish a club trick while I still retain control of the diamonds.

[Fluffy]

I lead a club also

[karlson]

Surprised this one didn't get much interest, I thought it was a good problem. I'm going to assume it means no one ever really knows what to do in these spots.

 

I think that the ♦A lead is crazy -- lefty rates to have 6, so we're really only playing for partner having a void, with which he might have doubled. I would have led a club too had I passed, but I wasn't sure at all that would be enough to beat it, so I just saved in 6♠.

 

But today the ♦A lead would have been the big winner -- lefty was 1651 and partner 6115. 6♠ escaped for -300 when they didn't get their club ruff.

[mtvesuvius]

I think a bit of cheap insurance at IMPs isn't a bad idea. The fact that it's a short match makes it a harder decision, but I think I'd probably bid 6♠ as well, partially because my leads are so bad.

 

Given that I passed, I think a ♣ lead is fairly normal.

[Phil]

Late to the fun here, but I really don't see us beating 6 if partner cannot ruff a diamond.

 

I wouldn't double ftr. Just too thin for my tastes. Play overcall structure if you want to bid with hands like this lol.