[hrothgar]

Couple IMP problems

Hand 1:

The opponents have the following prosaic auction to 4♥

1♥ - 2♥
3♥ - 4♥

What do you lead from

♠ K3
♥ T9
♦ J987
♣ AQ943

Hand 2:

You hold

♠ K52
♥ JT5
♦ 7
♣ AQJ875

The auction starts

(2♥) - 2♠ - 3♦ - ???

What's your call?

[mike777]

1) H
2) 4D

[mikeh]

1. A guess. I would know more, at the table, than I do now. I'd know what 3♥ meant or, if the answer were 'undiscussed' at least I'd know that responder was guessing as well.

The safe lead is the heart, but is surrenders tempo to declarer. It gives no trick away, but it may give away time...

The aggressive lead is the spade K. I'd never consider the spade at mps, but I think I'd lead this here. I would not ever lead either minor... I think they are more dangerous, each in their own way, than the spade.

Ask me again tomorrow, and I'll probably lead a trump

2. 4♠. I'd need a 4th trump to bid 4♦.. this hand isn't anything special so far.

I'd like to bid 4♣ 'fit-showing' but adjective bridge is not yet legal. I am worried about RHO bidding 5♥ next time, but I will deal with that later (while maybe later regretting my current decision)

[whereagles]

1. Trump. This is clear to me, as opps gave hints of a ruffing game and no side suits.

2. Depends on agreements. Without any, I'll just try 4♠.

[foo]

1= It might not be the right lead, but the natural lead from
♠K3 ♥T9 ♦J987 ♣AQ943
is the D9 (or D8 depending on your agreements on leads from honor holdings.)

2= The auction starts
(2♥) - 2♠ - (3♦) - ??
You hold
♠K52 ♥JT5 ♦7 ♣AQJ875

I agree with mikeh that 4D seems a bit much.

OTOH, I am not sanguine about a simple 4S bid either.

In the right partnerships, I can bid 4C in this auction as a Fit Showing Non Jump.

[Free]

1: ♥10, I don't see any good alternatives
2: 4♣, FNJ

[skjaeran]

1. A tough one. Anything but a ♣ are clear alternatives. I'd normally lead ♠K or ♥T at the table - both equally possible. ♦7 (or 8 according to agreements) is a third, but more distant alternative.

2. Playing FNJ (I don't) this is an easy 4♣ I believe.
You can bid 4♣ without playing FNJ too, but then you run the risk of not being able to support partner lower than the 5-level, which is too tough. I'll go for 4♠ to show my support and preemt opps auction a little.

[cjames]

1. ♥
2. I think I would just blast 4♠, 4♣ with FNJ available.

[P_Marlowe]

#1 trumps, I want to go passive
give me a lead more passive than trumps,
and I take that, but I dont see one
#2 4D, may be usefull, if they bid 5D, but
I think 4S is also ok, and 4C for that matter.
The adv. of 4D is, that it will create a forcing pass
situation, I am not sure, that this is also the case
with 4C or 4S.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[mcphee]

Like Mighty Mike I would not mind banging down the K s having considered my excuses. I do not mind aggressive leads like this at imps and it may not be so costly. Leads from Js' have never been very thrilling.

Would be nice to bid 4C and I think this is what we need to do as it should have a fit with S most days.

[Winstonm]

1) H10 - adopting a passive defensive strategy and hoping not give anything away rather than an attempt to cut down on ruffs.
2) 4S - the practical call when pressured.

[Codo]

1. a Heart. I sit behind the stronger hand, so we may simply beat this on pure power.

2. 4 ♠ even if I had been able to bid 4 Club, I had not done it. I want them to judge at the 5. Level whether or not they have a fit in a red suit.

[brianshark]

1. ♥T, safe leads against tight games.
2. 4♦ if partner is a conservative bidder because over the inevitable 4♥/5♦ raise, it helps the descisions to bid on or double. 4♠ if partner likes bidding slams because he may get excited and get us too high and our hand isn't that good.