Terrific Teams by Ben Norton

Terrific Teams

Teams competition, specifically teams-of-four scored by IMPs, is for many the most challenging and enjoyable form of bridge. The lead often changes hands multiple times over a long match and in the end, one big hand can decide the result.

Take the South seat for five key opening lead problems, with lots of IMPs hanging in the balance.

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ 10 8 7 4 3 2
♥ A 5 4
♦ 2
♣ 8 5 2

Q: 1 - What do you think?

South	West	North	East
-	-	Pass	1♥
Pass	2♦	Pass	2NT
Pass	3NT	Pass	Pass
Pass

A: ♠4. Since you have a weak hand and thus expect partner to have the majority of the defensive entries, you could attempt to set up his suit. However, you have no assurances that partner even has a five-card suit of his own, and besides, it could well be Diamonds, which have been bid by West.

Your best shot is to attack from your own long suit. You’ll need to find partner with three Spades, but that’s not too unlikely. The best card to lead is the ♠4, not the usual second-highest from rubbish, since you want partner to continue the suit.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ 10 6 4
♥ 9 6 5 3
♦ 9 7
♣ K 9 8 6

Q: 2 - How do you plan to break this slam?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♠
Pass	2♦	Pass	3♠
Pass	4♠	Pass	4NT
Pass	5♦	Pass	6♠
Pass	Pass	Pass

A: ♣6. Judging from your poor holdings in the red-suits, it’s likely that declarer will have ample parking spaces for his losers if you adopt a passive defense.

Partner almost certainly has a key-card because the opponents made no attempt at a grand slam. Thus, you should aim to set up a trick to cash when partner gets in. Lead a Club in the hope that partner has the ♣Q, or perhaps even the ♣A.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ A 9 2
♥ J 4
♦ K J 9 8 2
♣ K Q 4

Q: 3 - What do you reckon?

South	West	North	East
-	Pass	Pass	1NT
Pass	2♣	Pass	2♥
Pass	3♥	Pass	3NT
Pass	4♥	Pass	Pass
Pass

A: ♥J. Partner can have very little, so a minor-suit lead is too risky. You could, on this occasion, kick off with the ♠A, but that may still blow a trick when partner has as little as the ♠J.

Best is a trump. If partner’s one card is the ♥Q, that’s hard luck. A trump rates to be safe while cutting down on dummy’s ruffing potential. After all, West did take his partner out of 3NT, so he must have some shape.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

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

Q: 4 - What do you make of this?

*4♣ was a splinter, showing Heart support and Club shortness

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♥
Pass	4♣*	Pass	4♥
Pass	Pass	Pass

A: ♠J. With this troublesome trump holding, it would be a mistake to lead your singleton. Even if you get your ruff, it could be at the expense of a trump trick. You would probably have to find partner with the ♦A and another Ace to beat the contract, hardly likely. Meanwhile, your Diamond lead could expose the position to declarer. Best lead a safe ♠J.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ A 5 2
♥ 9 8 7 6 3
♦ 5 4 2
♣ 9 5

Q: 5 - Last but not least.

*3♥ showed Heart shortness and length in both minors

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1NT
Pass	3♥*	Pass	3NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

A: ♠2. Declarer must have a very strong Heart holding to justify his 3NT bid opposite known shortness. Therefore, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to set up your long suit, and a minor-suit lead doesn’t rate to be productive with dummy having length in both. Try a Spade, hoping to hit partner’s suit.

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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