Fall Nationals by Ben Norton

A: ♠A. The normal-looking ♥Q lead could turn out to be disastrous if dummy has a trick or two in that suit, enabling declarer to pitch losers in his other short suit, likely Diamonds. Still, the ♦A lead might turn out to be disastrous if that is East’s minor, or if it sets up dummy’s ♦K. The ♣J is out as it could easily blow a trick.

Best is to lay down a top Spade to get a look at dummy. Partner is most unlikely to have anything useful in Spades, and retaining the lead will let you plan the defense from a better-informed viewpoint.

Declarer was 5.0.2.6 with four top losers in the pointed suits. To lead the ♥Q would allow him to pitch two Diamonds on the ♥A K then work on Clubs, eventually coming to ten tricks via a crossruff. In stark contrast, leading the ♠A, then cashing two Diamonds and continuing with King and another Spade would limit declarer to seven tricks; a difference of 1090 points.

Your result so far:

A: ♣7. Don’t lead the ♠Q, which could well give the position away when partner holds the ♠A over dummy’s King (not too unlikely, given that West presumably has poor Spades to scorn a weak 2♠ opening). You wouldn’t lead from the ♠A Q J, after all. It’s unlikely that a trump lead is needed to prevent ruffs in declarer’s hand.

A Heart would be too dangerous, with too little to gain as your holding is long, and a Diamond is out as partner didn’t double 4♦. It looks like a Club is your best shot.

The defense had only one Heart trick to take outside trumps, so needed three tricks from ♠Q J 10 facing ♠A x, with the King in dummy. Leading the ♠Q would give the show away, while declarer surely wouldn’t pick the position on a neutral lead.

Your result so far:

A: ♠A. The classic lead on these types of auctions is to lay down an Ace to retain the lead and get a glance at dummy (along with a signal from partner), since it’s often the case that declarer has nine tricks ready to run himself. In that case, laying down the Ace can’t cost and keeps your cash-out chances alive even if you’ve chosen the wrong suit. To lead anything else would be overly committal.

The defense had five Diamond tricks to run, but only if they took them on the go. Declarer had seven Clubs and two Heart tricks via a finesse otherwise.

Your result so far:

A: ♥4. Declarer rates to have a double stopper for his 3NT overcall at unfavorable vulnerability, so a Diamond lead wouldn’t do much good. Look to the strength of your own long suit instead, and lead a low one to unblock when partner has ♥Q x, or at least keep a link with partner when he has a small doubleton. You surely don’t have an outside entry, so leading the ♥A to bring down a doubleton Queen in an opponent’s hand wouldn’t gain, unless partner has a rogue four-card major on the side.

Declarer could win the first Heart, but would have only eight tricks. He would have to play on Diamonds eventually, allowing partner to fly in with the ♦A and return his remaining Heart. On any other lead, declarer could set up enough tricks in Diamonds to make the hand.

Your result so far:

A: ♠6. Don’t be deterred from leading your suit. East needn’t have a great Spade holding for his 3NT call, and even though partner is unlikely to have three-card support as he didn’t raise, a Spade lead might still produce tricks. You have two potential entries outside the suit, so as little as ♠x x opposite might be enough, if the ♠A is doubleton in an opponent’s hand.

To lead a minor would be a shot in the dark, for even if you found partner with a strong holding there, he probably wouldn’t be able to enjoy the long cards.

A Spade lead would keep the defense a tempo ahead, able to set up the suit in two rounds before both of South’s outside high cards had been knocked out. Any other lead would concede the contract.

Your result so far: