Jump to content

Lead against a slam


mr1303

Recommended Posts

[hv=pc=n&e=sat42h94dk83cqj62&d=s&v=b&b=7&a=2cp2hp2np3hp4cp4hp4np5dp6hppp]133|200[/hv]

 

2C was strong, 2H was a natural positive, and tended to show a particularly good suit. 5D showed 1 or 4 key cards.

 

What do you lead here?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I lead the ace of spades at any form of scoring. The strong hand is on my left, partner is probably broke, we probably are not beating this but maybe a miracle will occur. It's in the nature of miracles that you cannot predict how they will take place so I won't try.

 

If you want me to be brilliant I will lead the deuce of spades, but I try to resist being brilliant.

 

I did once make such a brilliant lead against a five level contract but it was completely accidental. I had the ace of hearts and some small diamonds. After leading a diamond spot, I noticed that my ace of hearts was actually the ace of diamonds. The king was in the dummy and declarer played low, pard put up his Q from Qx and after he realized his queen held we got my ace and his ruff.

 

Still, I am laying down the spade ace.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Partner has at maximum a J somewhere, so I really don't want to destroy any trick taking ability he may have. Holding the A10xx, I really don't want to give away the contract by allowing easy discards on the KQ by leading the A and to find partner with the J. I can't see much damage being done by leading a trump lead and a would more than likely only be giving them what is theirs anyway, but could cost.

 

In reality I can't see much hope in bringing this contract down and on that basis will lead the 8, giving declarer an awkward moment of looking down the barrel of two losers off the top, should he take the finesse. He may have some play for discarding on but may be short of entries if he goes up with the A and finding QJxx. There is still a chance at MP that this will not cost, but I firmly believe it's the best chance of bringing down the contract.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't think we can beat this DD, so in MP I'd lead A and be glad with 6=. In imps you may try to deceive declarer by underleading A or leading a minor suit suggesting partner has some honor there.

 

Underleading A is quite classic, but partner can hardly have some values. If declarer misses Q, he should be able to place Q in partner's hand and play accordingly.

 

Leading the J is quite useless. You may hope declarer misguesses the situation, but there may not even be a possibility to misguess (dummy with AKT for example), or when you start discarding s he'll know you didn't lead from Jxx anyway.

 

8 gives us the best chance to deceive declarer imo, so in imps, it's definitely worth a shot.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[hv=pc=n&s=skqj8hk8dajt4cakt&w=shdc&n=s5haqjt53d9753c42&e=shdc]399|300[/hv]

 

Approximate NS hands. As you can see a diamond lead is necessary to beat it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Something must be wrong. It seems as though the guy opened 2 with 21 square. Shouldn't he have opened 2NT?

 

The two 10's are worth a point with supporting honors, so I wouldn't hold upgrading it against him.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You know, this upgrading and downgrading business makes your real 2NT range from 19-22. That's just too wide considering you don't have an invite sequence.

 

I suppose holding:

AKQJ

AKQ

AKQ

AKQ

 

It's not 'really' worth 37 points because there are no 10s.

 

Bidding 2 with that hand he deserves to have his partner bid 6NT holding:

 

xxx

QJ10x

KQx

QJx

 

only to find themselves off 2 aces.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...