Leads Quiz 208 by David Bird

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:

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:

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:

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:

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: