Teams League by Ben Norton

Teams League

Teams-of-four leagues are a common form of the game. In these events, it’s important to maximize your victory, attaining as many victory points (VPs) as possible so as to climb the rankings. Contrary to knockout events, small losses are admissible, big losses are not. Sound advice dictates that one plays down the middle.

Take the South seat for five opening lead problems from league matches.

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ K 10 2
♥ 8 7 2
♦ Q 10 9 5
♣ 8 4 2

Q: 1 - Not an everyday auction.

*4♣ showed a good hand in support of Hearts with a Club control

South	West	North	East
Pass	2♠	Pass	3♥
Pass	4♣*	Pass	4♥
All Pass

A: ♦10. West made a slam try, so declarer probably has excessive forces at his disposal. To this end, you must defend actively, aiming to set up and cash your tricks quickly. As partner didn’t double 4♣ and your only minor-suit high card is in Diamonds, that suit offers your best chance. Lead the ♦10.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ 6 2
♥ 5 4 2
♦ 7 5 4
♣ J 8 6 5 2

Q: 2 - This hand is even worse.

*4♦ was a cue-bid, implying Spade support

South	West	North	East
-	2NT	Pass	3♣
Pass	3♥	Pass	3NT
Pass	4♦*	Pass	4♠
All Pass

A: ♥5. Again, with West’s having made a slam try, you can’t afford to stand idly by, especially with both major suits splitting. Dummy has shown four cards in each major, which indicates a minor-suit lead, but partner didn’t double 4♦ and you have too many Clubs for a Club attack to be successful.

Try a Heart, hoping to strike oil. It may be necessary to take partner off an endplay if he has a holding such as ♥A Q J or A Q 10 over dummy’s K J. The five is the best card, making it clear you have nothing in the suit. The four might look like a low card to partner, suggesting an honor.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ J 8
♥ Q 10 5 3
♦ 9 8 4 2
♣ J 8 6

Q: 3 - Slam territory now.

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	2NT
Pass	4NT	Pass	6NT
All Pass

A: ♦8. Passivity is the name of the game against No-trump slams, where opponents usually have enough power for their contract and no long, running suits. Such is the case here. Partner can hardly have enough for an attacking lead to be worthwhile, and that could easily give declarer his 12th trick.

There’s safety in numbers – lead your longest suit that doesn’t contain an honor, and is therefore least likely to give something away. That’s a Diamond.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ 5 2
♥ A J 8 4
♦ Q 4 2
♣ J 8 6 4

Q: 4 - What’s your plan?

South	West	North	East
-	-	Pass	1♠
Pass	2♣	Pass	2♥
Pass	4♠	All Pass

A: ♠2. With a good holding in declarer’s side-suit, you should aim to cut down dummy’s ruffing potential. Then your Heart cards will come into their own.

Due to your length in Clubs, it’s unlikely that an attacking Diamond lead is necessary. That could give away a trick or, perhaps just as fatal, a tempo.

The traditional lead from a low doubleton trump is the small one.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ J 9 8 7 4 3
♥ A 7 5 4 2
♦ A
♣ 4

Q: 5 - Perhaps 1♠ wouldn’t be your choice, but you’re stuck with it.

*2NT showed at least five cards in each minor

South	West	North	East
1♠	2NT*	Pass	5♦
All Pass

A: ♦A. You can see two defensive tricks and the third is likely to come from the majors, but it would be a mistake to gamble which one. Just lay down the ♦A to get a look at dummy, then you’ll be in a much better position to find the right shift.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Overall Results

Your results: out of Average:

What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
More informations on our website: www.VuBridge.com

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