Dizzy Heights by Ben Norton

A: ♥2. Partner will have good Spades for his overcall and most likely length in Diamonds as well, since he didn’t open the bidding with either 1♠ or 2♠, indicating a lack of values and only five Spades. You can expect dummy to come down with short Spades, else he would have checked for controls before driving to a slam. As such, a trump lead rates to do a lot of damage. You have Clubs sewn up and partner probably has the other two suits, so declarer will need to take lots of ruffs to bring home twelve tricks. Kick off with a trump, intending to play another one when you get in with the ♠A, thus reducing dummy’s ruffing potential.

Your result so far:

A: ♦A. You have a clear plan in mind. Lead the ♦A and cross to partner’s ♥A to receive a Diamond ruff. Partner rates to have the ♥A for his raise but if that card comes down in dummy you can play him for the ♣A instead. If you kick off with the ♥K it will certainly be too late to score a ruff, since the defensive communications will have been cut.

Your result so far:

A: ♥2. A Spade lead is possible but might give away a tempo if one of the opponents has top cards there. Partner has implied both majors so a Heart lead will meet some strength in partner’s hand and won’t give anything away. It may be necessary to take all your rounded-suit tricks on the go.

Your result so far:

A: ♠2. Your opponents’ bidding has sign-posted the lead. East’s 5♣ cue-bid denied a Spade control since he bypassed 4♠, and West’s 5♦ subsequently promised not only a Diamond control, but also a Spade control. With Club shortness in dummy a Club lead won’t be any good, nor can a Diamond reap dividends. One of the opponents must have the ♦A since the suit has been cue-bid twice. That leaves a Spade. It’s quite possible that partner has the ♠A Q sitting over dummy’s King. At any rate, declarer may well be able to get all of his Spade losers away on the Diamonds if you don’t lead one.

Your result so far:

A: ♦9. This is a double fit hand. Partner showed support for both minors with his 4NT bid. Thus, it’s unlikely that you’ll get to score a trick in each minor if you cash the ♦K and lay back. You must be active and try to score a Heart ruff. Partner probably holds the ♦Q so you bravely underlead your ♦A K. The nine is the clearest card, as a suit preference signal for Hearts. Partner can hardly get it wrong though. Upon winning his Queen he’ll ask himself why you've made this strange lead, and will come to the conclusion that you must want a ruff.

Your result so far: