Lead and defense

[affe82]

Up against a world class partnership (recent champions in Lille) in the local league you face the following problem:

 

[hv=pc=n&s=s7632h52d853ckj53&d=s&v=b&b=7&a=pp1d(precision%201d%3A%20nat%2C%20may%20have%20longer%20C%3B%20any%204441%3B%20exactly%204405%3B11-13nt)1n(15-18)p2d(4+H)p2h(2-3sup)p2n(inv%20showing%204S%20and%204+H)p3h(accept%20and%20not%204S%2C%203H)p3nppp]133|200[/hv]

1♦= precision style: 1)Nat, may have longer ♣ 2)any 4441 3)4-4-0-5 4)11-13 balanced

What is your lead? And your reasoning therefore?

 

If you as me chose an attacking ♣5, you will be faced with the following:

 

[hv=pc=n&s=s7632h52d853ckj53&w=sj984haj84dj762c9]266|200[/hv]

 

Partner plays Queen headed by ace and declarer returns ♣7. Now what?

[Quantumcat]

Isn't dummy in the wrong spot if you were opening leader?

[affe82]

East is playing with West as dummy and you are South.

Should be correct although might be an unorthodox presentation, no?

[Quantumcat]

Had to think long and hard about where West and South are on the table - it's right. Feels like the play is going in the wrong direction though.

[SteveMoe]

I lead a ♣.

 

Makes no sense for declarer to push ♣ back holding less than 4 cards. The 7 might be cute from an original AT87(x) holding. Let's let declarer work for their potential ♣ trick. Declarer should be 2=3=3=5/3=3=2=5, 2=3=4=4 or 3=3=3=4. Win J and play ♥5 hoping to find KQ10x with partner. Plan to win the 3rd ♣ trick and judge from partner's cards whether to continue a ♥ or try a ♠. Partner's likely shapes seem to be 3=4=2=4, 2=4=3=4, 2=4=4=3. S/he can get back to you with a ♣ after winning the ♥. That card is likely a count card. If partner has 3 ♣ play the ♦8 early so pard is not endplayed. Hope s/he has the ♦10.