[cherdano]

gnasher, on May 4 2008, 12:36 PM, said:

cherdano, on May 4 2008, 05:41 PM, said:

TimG, on May 4 2008, 09:51 AM, said:

Jlall, on May 3 2008, 11:11 PM, said:

Oh and a side note, declarer had AKx opp 97x in dummy and remembered to play the 9. Good careful play that I'm sure everyone thinks they would get right but I think few would always get that right.

Isn't the nine equivalent to guessing that you've led small from QJTxx? While if the lead is 4th best from a non-sequence it would be better not to play the nine?

No.

Why?

If the holding is 4th best not from QJT, then it usually doesn't make a difference what to play. Your example (or J8xxx) seems to be the only where it does, even there it depends on the whole hand (and declarer may have been able to rule out this holding from the spot card led).
So "While if the lead is 4th best from a non-sequence it would be better not to play the nine?" is incorrect.

[Free]

God never gives me any cards, it's the dealer who does it...

When I have such holding I usually lead small. There are 2 ways you can win from it:
1. partner has Ax, Kx or 9x and the suit splits 4-2
2. partner has 8x, dummy holds the 9 and the suit splits 4-2

In the second case, declarer usually plays low

[pclayton]

Blame this whole underleading the QJT on Kantar

I think its right if RHO naturally bids the suit however and we choose to lead it.

[whereagles]

pclayton, on May 5 2008, 02:48 PM, said:

I think its right if RHO naturally bids the suit however and we choose to lead it.

Yeah, most textbooks say to underlead from 3 or 4 top honors only if RHO bid the suit.

[gnasher]

Another factor to consider is how many entries you have: having two entries would make a low diamond lead more attractive, because now you could hope to gain opposite 9x or singleton king.

[cherdano]

gnasher, on May 5 2008, 10:25 AM, said:

Another factor to consider is how many entries you have: having two entries would make a low diamond lead more attractive, because now you could hope to gain opposite 9x or singleton king.

I disagree, if you have two entries you can lead the Q and still establish the suit when partner has Kx and it splits 4-2. I think having one entry is a stronger indicator for leading low.

[gnasher]

cherdano, on May 5 2008, 05:34 PM, said:

I disagree, if you have two entries you can lead the Q and still establish the suit when partner has Kx and it splits 4-2. I think having one entry is a stronger indicator for leading low.

With one entry, leading low stands to gain when he has Kx, but not when he has 9x or worse. If he has a singleton king, leading low avoids blowing a trick but doesn't allow you to set up the suit.

With two entries, leading low stands to gain when partner has 9x and possibly 8x, but not when he has Kx. If he has a singleton king, leading low not only avoids blowing a trick but also allows you to set up the suit.

I could understand your saying that there's not much in it, but why do you say that having only one entry makes you more inclined to lead low?

[Winstonm]

What would be of benefit would be to find out how often low would blow a trick as to how often it was necessary to lead low to defeat the contract.