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 Leads Quiz 208 by David Bird

All our deals will come from England's Spring Foursomes, played online on the RealBridge platform.

As always, you will be South, leading towards a contract played by East.

Question 1

  Your Hand
 7 6 2
 
 K Q 10 5 2
 J 9 8 7 5
 
Q: 1 - What will you lead from Zia's hand against 3NT?
SouthWestNorthEast
PassPass11NT
Pass2Pass2
Dble3NTAll Pass


2 was Stayman.

 Your choice:
A: K. Zia had no card to lead in partner's bid suit, so he had a bit of a guess. He chose the 9 and this was the layout:

                     A 9 3
                     Q J 9 5 3
                     9 8 7 6
                     Q

K Q J 8 4                   10 5
K 10 7 2                      A 8 6 4
4 3                              A J
3 2                              A K 10 6 4

                     7 6 2
                    
                     K Q 10 5 2
                     J 9 8 7 5

Unlucky! A lead of the K would have succeeded, whereas declarer could set up the spades after a club lead. At the other table, 4 went one down.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 2

  Your Hand
 5 3 2
 K 2
 K 7 5 4 2
 K 4 3
 
Q: 2 - What will you lead against 6?
SouthWestNorthEast
--Pass2
Pass2Pass2
Pass3Pass4
Pass4Pass6
All Pass


 Your choice:
A: 2. Leading from any of the side-suits would be madness! You have 9 HCPs and they are in a slam. It is clear that your partner will hold next to nothing. Erik Saelensminde, of course, led a safe trump. This was the deal:

                     6 4
                     9 7 6
                     10 9 6
                     J 7 6 5 2

J 10 9                          A K Q 8 7
J 10 5 3                         A Q 8 4
J 3                               A Q 8
Q 10 9 8                        A

                     5 3 2
                     K 2
                     K 7 5 4 2
                     K 4 3

With the cards lying very badly for declarer, the slam had to go down after this passive lead. At the other table, Brogeland rebid 4 over 2, ending the auction.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 3

  Your Hand
 10 9 8 7
 K 9 5
 K J 3
 J 8 4
 
Q: 3 - What will you lead against 3NT?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1
Pass1Pass1NT
Pass2Pass2
Pass3NTAll Pass


2 was check-back.

 Your choice:
A: 10. Hult led the obvious 10, but the defense went astray later. This was the deal:

                     A 6 5
                     Q 7 4 3
                     7 5 2
                     K 10 3

Q 4 3                          K J 2
A J 10 6 2                    8
10 8 6                          A Q 9 4
A 6                              Q 9 7 5 2

                     10 9 8 7
                     K 9 5
                     K J 3
                     J 8 4

Artur Malinowski, the declarer, won the spade lead with the K. He continued with the A, a club to the queen and another club, finding the perfect position for him.

Gunnar Hallberg (North) switched to a diamond, drawing the queen and king. Back came a spade to the ace, and the critical position had been reached. To beat 3NT, North needed to return a spade. He preferred a diamond and declarer was home. At the other table, declarer made 120 in 2NT.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 4

  Your Hand
 10 5
 J 8 7 3
 K 5 2
 Q 6 5 3
 
Q: 4 - What will you lead against 7?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1
Pass2Pass2
Pass3Pass4
Pass4Pass4
Pass5Pass5
Pass7All Pass


4 showed shortness in clubs.

 Your choice:
A: 2. Victor Silverstone led the 2, hoping to put declarer to a premature guess in dummy's announced suit. This was the deal:

                     9 8 7
                     9 6
                     J 8 4
                     K J 10 9 7

A K 6 4                          Q J 3 2
5                                   A K Q 10 4 2
A Q 10 9 7                      6 3
A 8 4                             2

                     10 5
                     J 8 7 3
                     K 5 2
                     Q 6 5 3

The bold opening lead was rewarded. David Gold was unwilling to risk going down at trick one and called for dummy's A. He then needed the hearts to come in for no losers. South's J x x x were good enough to beat the grand slam.

At the other table, 7 was played by West and no lead from North could threaten it.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 5

  Your Hand
 Q 8 5 4
 10 4 3
 J
 K 10 6 4 2
 
Q: 5 - Here is another grand slam. What will you lead against 7?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1
Pass234
Pass4Pass4
Pass5NTPass7
All Pass


5NT was described as 'inviting a grand slam'.

 Your choice:
A: 4. Paske led the 4 and this was the deal:

                     9 7 6 2
                     K J 9 7 6 5 2
                     K 4
                    

K J 10                         A 3
A Q                             8
9 7                              A Q 10 8 6 5 3 2
A J 9 8 7 3                    Q 5

                     Q 8 5 4
                     10 4 3
                     J
                     K 10 6 4 2

North duly ruffed dummy's A. He returned a spade, so declarer could discard his other club, but the grand was one down. At the other table, they stopped in 6, making 12 tricks.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Overall Results

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What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
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