Monday afternoon September 10, 2007

Lead: 9 of diamonds.

You're South; what do you lead? There is a killer lead, but it's so hard to find. Lead a diamond and East knows where all the diamonds are, plus the 12th trick is won with the ten. Lead a spade and the ten takes a trick, making the fourth spade trick. The killing lead is the ten of hearts, which goes around to the king. Which black suit to tackle first? Clubs. East learns how to play the suit on the first lead, but can only get three clubs no matter what. East gets the bad news on the hearts on the second round. North's nine can't be finessed. Any lead but the ten of hearts makes the contract for East!

Tuesday morning September 11, 2007

Lead: queen of diamonds

Each side thought the other had game in pocket and that each was making a great sacrifice. It turns out that five diamonds goes down 1 or 2 tricks if South can lead low from his ace of hearts on the opening lead. North comes back with a club, which traps the king; South gets two clubs, the ace of hearts and a ruff for down two. However, back at the runaway freight train, South ruffs the queen of hearts and attempts to crossruff the hand out with clubs and diamonds. Unfortunately, on the third diamond lead West overruffs and leads a heart back. South is cooked when West leads the three of hearts forcing out South's last trump, the ace. The last five tricks belong to the defense and a gigantic 1400 on the EW side.

Wednesday morning September 12, 2007

Lead: nine of hearts

This had was played four times by West, making six each time. Of course, no one bid it; BUT, the bidding could have been something like above. After West gets up off the floor, having a nine high in spades, she runs four diamonds, then four clubs. On the fourth club what would YOU discard holding the 8-5-2 of hearts and the K-4 of spades?

Friday evening September 14, 2007

Alas, this was not bid by any of the five teams that played it this evening; all Wests transferred to hearts on the first round. West has a GREAT hand for a 1NT opener and should immediately re-evaluate a nine-point hand to something like 15. As soon as partner bids 1NT, West should be thinking slam. There's no requirement to transfer to hearts just because West has 5 of them. I teach a 1NT-3anything bid is 12+ points, forcing with slam interest. There's no practical way for West to splinter except via 1NT-2D, 2H-4S showing an opening hand, hearts and either a void or singleton in spades. With the bidding above East should make an immediate inquiry, not really caring which black ace partner has. There is no defense that takes a single trick.

Saturday morning September 15, 2007

Lead: four of spades.

West's jump to 3S is called a splinter bid; a double jump which has no normal meaning in Standard American. 1H-2S indicates a 15-18 strong hand. 1H-3S indicates 1) a limit raise or better in the heart suit, an opening hand, and shortness in spades; either a singleton or void. East cuebids club control, West cuebids diamond control, East parks it back at four hearts basically asking West how good is your hand. West's hand re-evaluates to fifteen points or so. The opponents get off to a good lead, getting their ace of spades; their diamond return is won in dummy. The correct play is to play for the drop, which it does. East's last diamond is pitched on the fifth club and the slam is done. Unfortunately, nobody bid it!

Saturday morning September 15, 2007

Lead: seven of clubs

West has no attacking lead; the seven is discouraging indicating a hand with no socially redeeming values. The fact that West made a discouraging lead instead of low from a four- or five-card suit tells declarer that if there are any guesses to be made, guess that East might be in the finesse seat; thus the low club to the ace followed by the nine--yea! the queen fell. South loses a heart in the end but makes the slam.

Saturday morning September 15, 2007

Lead: five of spades.

In bridge as in life it's OK to get lucky every once in a while. North's 2NT reply is a positive bid showing a balanced hand and 8+ points; anything less would warrant a 2D reply. South shows hearts, North supports and South figures he has at least a shot for a slam. Leading from the unbid major is a reasonable lead. West can't hear South's sigh of relief; thankful it wasn't a diamond first led. If the lead had been a diamond, there's nothing declarer can do to make the contract, not with the ace of trumps outstanding. It could even be worse for declarer. If West leads the five of diamonds, taken by South, then takes the first lead of hearts by declarer, he can give East a suit preference signal by the lead of the two of diamonds (partner, lead the lower of the remaining suits between spades and clubs, i.e. clubs). A club lead is trumped and the slam goes down two.