Lead problems

[nige1]

[hv=pc=n&w=s964hjt7dq742cj63&d=S&v=b&b=13&a=1n(15-17)ppp]133|200|

First hand

WE League. IMPS.

Your lead[/hv][hv=pc=n&w=skq84ht9642d83cj5&d=w&v=n&b=2&a=ppp1np3nppp]133|200|

Second hand

WE League. IMPS

Your lead[/hv]

[pescetom]

On the first hand, what would East have meant by double or the various 2-level bids ?

 

I got a 'server error' trying to vote for the second hand.

[apollo1201]

On the first hand, what would East have meant by double or the various 2-level bids ?

X = 5C + 4M

2C = MM

2D = 5D + 4M

Rest natural

But she is a conservative balancer. Especially red...

[HardVector]

You should change the diamond 4 to the diamond 2. 3rd/5th is normally against suit contracts only. For me, it was close between the heart and the diamond.

[apollo1201]

Thanks all for your comments.

 

On deal 1, I lead the HJ like many of you. Just to catch dummy with a low D singleton and KQ9x H. I thought H would be a safe lead, giving away nothing, while D (I hesitated a lot on that one) could be ok but could also help declarer a lot, with such a broken suit... We lost a tempo (p had KJxxx D) and declarer could set up her C’s while we could only do our CA and some spades for -120. At the other table, teammates quickly ended up -100 on the D lead.

 

On deal 2, I lead SQ (for attitude) rather than H. Five small with unclear entries made me think that S could be settled more easily. Actually, the HT would have been much harder for declarer (Jx in dummy, AQx in partner, Kxx declarer, and xxxx S in partner). Fortunately, teammates made 9 tricks vs. 10 at our table.

 

We both thought it was close décisions in any case. But just wanted to check here.