Brilliant lead

[AL78]

[hv=pc=n&s=skj87hq986dq97cj8&w=sa95haj5dkj84cak2&n=st63h74dt53ct9754&e=sq42hkt32da62cq63]399|300[/hv]

 

My partner opened 2NT (20-21) and I raised to 3NT. I don't know how he found it, but North led the ♠T, which went Q,K,A. We were destined for a bad score when partner took the heart finesse into South and we were limited to nine tricks, despite holding a combined 31 HCP. A lousy 18.3%. This is one reason I lose at bridge, my opponents have a habit of finding non-standard actions that work beautifully for them.

 

"Brilliant lead"

"I had to lead a major"

"Of course you did"

[pescetom]

Not sure of your agreements over 2NT, but one way or another you should be investigating slam or at a stretch just blasting 6NT.

A contract which will still make after that brilliant lead, thanks to the favourable layout.

[Stephen Tu]

I don't agree with investigating slam with a flat 11. 3nt is fine IMO.

 

The lead is perfectly reasonable (except maybe a low spade is more effective than ten in long run); there's little point in leading a club with no entries. You'd have to find partner with like 4 clubs and in that event they would have likely investigated a major contract. Lack of major investigation also makes leading a spade more attractive than a diamond.

 

Your problem on this board isn't so much that the opponents found a good lead, but that partner managed to hold him/herself to 9 tricks, which is pretty horrible. Surely 11 should be automatic, and 12 probably should be scored; if anything the lead actually makes it easier to score 12 tricks as it makes 2 spade tricks possible without an endplay, as long as you read ST as a true card. So maybe gift partner some good declarer play books, or search for better partners.