IMPs Amber A86 A83 AT843 75

[nige1]

[hv=pc=n&s=skqt7hkt72dq2cj94&w=sa86ha83dat843c75&n=sj432hdk976caqt86&e=s95hqj9654dj5ck32&d=s&v=b&k=w&a=1c(2+ !C)d1h(4+ !S)2h2sp4sppp]399|300|

IMPs. Amber. RHO deals.

RHO declares 4♠.

Your lead?[/hv]

[bigbenvic]

I think it's a choice between a heart and a trump. I lean towards a small trump only because I think I still have time to find a red king in partners hand if that's our 4th trick, whereas if I lead a heart (assuming the ace) I may not have the ability to stop a ruff (or 2) from occurring.

 

Hmmm a low heart is cute, I might find that North has the K and either North or south has the J and make them guess at trick 1. However my luck always finds south with the King and partner the QJ (or QT9) and I just gave the contract away.

[nige1]

[hv=pc=n&s=skqt7hkt72dq2cj94&w=sa86ha83dat843c75&n=sj432hdk976caqt86&e=s95hqj9654dj5ck32&d=s&v=b&a=1c(2+ !C)d1h(4+ !S)2h2sp4sppp]399|300|

IMPs. Amber. South deals and declares 4♠.Your lead (as West)?

I led a ♦A which set up declarer's tenth trick.

I apologized to partner but cheered up a bit when 2 Scottish experts both chose a ♦ lead.

BBOers were more successful: A black suit lead enables defenders to end up on top -- but only if partner finds the heart switch.[/hv][hv=pc=n&s=s7hktdqc&w=sha8datc&n=s3hd976c&e=shqj9djc&d=s&v=b]399|300|

Unless partner finds the ♥Q switch, declarer can impale you on Morton's fork.

He draws trumps and leads ♦2.

If you hop up ♦A, you again set up declarer's a 10th trick, immediately.

Ducking only postpones the pain. Declarer can cash dummy's clubs.and exit with another ♦, in this 4-card ending to end-play you in the red-suits.[/hv]