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 Leads Quiz by David

All these deals come from high-level tournaments, with world-class players. As always, you will be sitting South, leading to a contract played by East. The interest may be not only in the opening lead, but in the declarer play or the subsequent defense.

Question 1

  Your Hand
 10 3
 A J 6 5
 8 6 5 2
 7 6 2
 
Q: 1 - What will yoyu lead againsst David Gold's contract of 5?
SouthWestNorthEast
--Pass4
Pass4NTPass5
Pass5All Pass


5 showed one keycard.

 Your choice:
A: A. South led the A and this was the deal:

____________________ 7 4
____________________ K Q 4
____________________ J 10 9 4 3
____________________ A 10 9

A____________________________ K Q J 9 8 6 5 2
9 8 7 2_________________________ 10 3
A K Q_________________________ 7
K Q 8 4 3_______________________ J 5

____________________ 10 3
____________________ A J 6 5
____________________ 8 6 5 2
____________________ 7 6 2

Two top hearts, followed by the ace of clubs, took the contract one down. At the other table, East's 4 was passed out. South led the 2 to the ace and a club return allowed declarer to make two overtricks.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 2

  Your Hand
 4
 K 3
 A Q 10 7 6 2
 Q 5 4 2
 
Q: 2 - Now you hold David Gold's hand on opening lead. Which card will you choose here:
SouthWestNorthEast
---1
23Pass3
Pass4Pass4
All Pass


 Your choice:
A: K. West had not cue-bid in hearts, in response to his partner's 4 cue-bid. Gold therefore reckoned that the K lead would be a good bet. This was the deal:

____________________ 8 2
____________________ A 8 4 2
____________________ 5
____________________ J 10 8 7 6 3

K 9 7 5 3________________________ x x x
Q J 9 7_________________________ x x x
3______________________________ x x x x
A K 9_______________________ x x x

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

Two top hearts and a heart ruff were followed by the A for one down. At the other table Yang led his singleton trump. Declarer was then able to draw trumps and make the contract easily.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 3

  Your Hand
 9 8
 A 6 4
 K J 5 3
 10 8 6 2
 
Q: 3 - What will you lead?
SouthWestNorthEast
Pass-1Pass1
Pass2Pass4NT
Pass5Pass6
Pass6Pass6NT
All Pass


 Your choice:
A: 3. Multon in fact led an eccentric K, just in case one or other opponent had a singleton Q. This was the layout:

____________________ 10 5 2
____________________ 9 2
____________________ 8 7 4 2
____________________ J 7 4 3

3____________________________ A K Q J 7 6 4
Q J 8 7 5 3__________________ K 10
Q 10 6_________________________ A 9
A K Q_______________________ 9 5

____________________ 9 8
____________________ A 6 4
____________________ K J 5 3
____________________ 10 8 6 2

'Well, I don't think much of the diamond lead,' you may be thinking. You are right that, on the actual lay-out, no lead can beat the slam. Multon is a world-class player, though. Why did he lead a diamond?

He expected declarer to be able to take some discards on dummy's heart suit, once the A was knocked out. The main chance of beating the slam was that North held the Q and a diamond trick could be set up before declarer had any discards available. On this deal, declarer could merely win the first round of diamonds with the queen. He could also discard a diamond on the AKQ. That doesn't make any difference to the quality of the opening lead, though!

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 4

  Your Hand
 K Q 8 6
 J 8 7 2
 6 3
 K Q 10
 
Q: 4 - What will you lead from Hanlon's hand against 3NT?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1NT
Pass2NTPass3NT
All Pass


 Your choice:
A: 6. As the cards lie, no lead will beat the contract. This was the lay-out:

____________________ 2
____________________ A 6 4 3
____________________ J 8 7 5
____________________ 6 5 4 2

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

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

I rate the 6 lead better than the K. Suppose, for example, that North had held the 10. Declarer might then have played the 9 from dummy and gone down.

There is an instructive point in the bidding. You see that West correctly did not bid Stayman because his shape was 4-3-3-3. As a result 3NT was made. At the other table, Lorenzini did bid Stayman. His partner subsequently went one down in 3!

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 5

  Your Hand
 J 8 7 5 4
 
 10 7 6 3
 Q 9 7 5
 
Q: 5 - What will you lead from Volcker's hand against 6NT?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1
Pass1Pass1
Pass2Pass2NT
Pass3NTPass4NT
Pass5NTPass6NT
All Pass


2 was artificial, a check-back bid.

 Your choice:
A: 5. As it happens, a club is the only lead to beat the slam. This was the layout:

____________________ 9 2
____________________ K J 9 8 7 3
____________________ J 4
____________________ 4 3 2

A 3___________________________ K Q 10 6
A 10 6 5 4___________________ Q 2
Q 8 2_________________________ A K 9 5
K J 6_________________________ A 10 8

____________________ J 8 7 5 4
____________________
____________________ 10 7 6 3
____________________ Q 9 7 5

At the other table West was declarer in 6NT and North did find a club lead to beat 6NT.

Your result so far:
Open Question

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