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 Leads Quiz 254 by David Bird

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

The interest may be not only in the opening lead, but in the subsequent defense or declarer play.

Question 1

  Your Hand
♠ A 10 5 3 2
♥ 9
♦ J 10 6 5
♣ 10 7 2 		 
Q: 1 - What will you lead against 6♥?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1♥
Pass2♦Pass2♥
Pass3♣Pass3NT
Pass5♥Pass6♥
All Pass


 Your choice:
A: ♠A. South decided to lead the spade ace. This was the deal:

♠  9 4

♥  A 6

♦  A K 9 7 4

♣  A K J 6

♠  J 8 7

♥  Q 4 3 2

♦  Q 8 2

♣  8 5 4

♠  A 10 5 3 2

♥  9

♦  J 10 6 5

♣  10 7 2

♠  K Q 6

♥  K J 10 8 7 5

♦  3

♣  Q 9 3

South plays ace and another spade. How will you tackle the heart slam?

You win with the ♠K, cross to the ♥A and finesse the ♥J. Good news and bad news. The finesse wins, but South shows out. What now?

You cannot pick up North's remaining ♥Q 4 with a finesse and must use a trump coup. You aim to have ♥K 10 left in your hand at the end, and to lead a side-suit card towards them.

You cross to to the ♦A. You then ruff a diamond with the ♥7, cross to the ♣J and ruff another diamond with the ♥8. Finally, you enter dummy with the ♣K and play the ♦K. North cannot gain by ruffing, so he pitches. You discard the ♣Q, then play the ♣A. North discards again and you let go the ♠Q. You can then lead a club towards your ♥K 10, making the last two tricks.


Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 2

  Your Hand
♠ J 6 5 4 3 2
♥ K 6
♦ Q 10 8
♣ J 8 		 
Q: 2 - What will you lead against 6♦?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1♦
Pass1♥Pass1♠
Pass2♣Pass2NT
Pass4♦Pass5♦
Pass6♦All Pass


 Your choice:
A: ♠4. At the table, a spade was led. Take the East cards now and see if you can make the slam.

♠  A

♥  A 10 4 2

♦  A J 9 5 4

♣  A 9 5

♠  Q 8

♥  Q J 8 7 5 3

♦  6

♣  10 7 3 2

♠  J 6 5 4 3 2

♥  K 6

♦  Q 10 8

♣  J 8

♠  K 10 9 7

♥  9

♦  K 7 3 2

♣  K Q 6 4

You win with the ♠A and play the king and ace of trumps. You have a trump loser now, but that is no problem. You have enough trumps to cross-ruff your losers. Your only loser is a trump.


Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 3

  Your Hand
♠ J 7 3
♥ K 10 8 5
♦ 10 7 6 2
♣ 10 6 		 
Q: 3 - What will you lead against 4♠?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1NT
Pass2♣Pass2♠
Pass 4♠All Pass


 Your choice:
A: ♥5. It would not have been my choice, but South found the winning lead of the ♥5. This was the deal:

♠  A 10 5 2

♥  J 7 6

♦  Q 9

♣  Q J 9 2

♠  9 4

♥  Q 9 2

♦  A J 8 4

♣  A 7 5 4

♠  J 7 3

♥  K 10 8 5

♦  10 7 6 2

♣  10 6

♠  K Q 8 6

♥  A 4 3

♦  K 5 3

♣  K 8 3

Knowing that South would not have led low from the ♥K Q, declarer played a low heart from dummy. North correctly put in the 9. Declarer ducked the first round and won the heart continuation. When he drew trumps and set up the clubs, the defenders were able to cash two hearts and a diamond for one down.


Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 4

  Your Hand
♠ 7
♥ 9 7 5 3
♦ J 10 6 5 2
♣ 9 7 2 		 
Q: 4 - What will you lead against 6♠?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1♠
Pass2NTPass3♦
Pass4NTPass5♥
Pass6♠All Pass


West's 2NT was Jacoby, showing at least a game-raise in spades with four trumps. East's 3♦ showed short diamonds.

 Your choice:
A: ♦J. With diamond shortness in declarer's hand, a lead of that suit seems a good idea. Take the East cards now and see if you can make the slam.

♠  Q 10 9 8 4

♥  A K J

♦  A 9

♣  A 10 6

♠  J

♥  Q 10 4

♦  K Q 8 7 3

♣  Q 8 5 3

♠  7

♥  9 7 5 3

♦  J 10 6 5 2

♣  9 7 2

♠  A K 6 5 3 2

♥  8 6 2

♦  4

♣  K J 4

You win with dummy's ♦A, ruff a diamond in your hand and draw trumps. If you take a losing heart finesse, you will have to guess who holds the ♣Q.

To avoid this guess, you should play the ace, king and jack of hearts. The defender who wins with the ♥Q will have to open the clubs, saving you a guess, or give a ruff-and-discard.


Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 5

  Your Hand
♠ J 10
♥ K 7
♦ Q J 9
♣ 9 7 6 5 3 2 		 
Q: 5 - What will you lead against 4♥?
SouthWestNorthEast
---3♥
Pass4♥All Pass


 Your choice:
A: ♦Q. South led the diamond queen and this was the layout:

♠  K Q 6 5 3

♥  J 4

♦  A K 8 3

♣  K J

♠  A 9 4 2

♥  9 8

♦  6 5 4

♣  A 10 8 4

♠  J 10

♥  K 7

♦  Q J 9

♣  9 7 6 5 3 2

♠  8 7

♥  A Q 10 6 5 3 2

♦  10 7 2

♣  Q

Take the East cards now and see if you can make the contract.

You win with dummy's ♦A and should then play the ♣K, to set up a discard for your diamond loser. North wins and returns a diamond. You throw your last diamond on the ♣J and can now play trumps. You still have a trump loser to come, but the game is yours.


Your result so far:
Open Question

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