[FrancesHinden]

Scoring: IMP

P P 1♠ 3NT
all pass

---

Partner opens 1S in third seat, and RHO overcalls 3NT described as "to play, probably based on a long minor". Opponents are good players.

Just to up the stakes a little
- you are playing with your spouse, who prefers you to get this type of problem right
- you are playing on BBO vugraph

What do you lead?
How obvious is it?

[pclayton]

A spade is right when declarer has 7 clubs, a single spade stopper and slow red tricks, and we know one of the reds is slow. However, pard opened in 3rd, and declarer is probably relishing a spade lead; and there might be several spade tricks for declarer, especially on the lead of the 10.

A low heart is right if there are pard has an unexpected trick source there, and declarer does not have 9. This is a long shot looking at my spots, so this is out.

A low diamond is right when pard has KJx(x), but this also feels like a longshot.

I would lead the ♦A. This gives me the chance to switch to hearts or spades.

While this is clear to me, it is far from clear that its right.

[TylerE]

Low ♦ for me. We need tricks quick. I want to maintain my finessing position over declarer.

[han]

I thought we had the heart 10 and was going to say clear heart lead. Without the 10 it is much less clear. Declarer is very likely to have 7 running clubs and a major suit ace. A diamond is only right if we can take all four of the top, so we would need partner to hold at least two diamond honors including the king. In hearts we need partner to hold almost as much for it to be the winning lead but if it is wrong (for example if partner has the queen but nothing else) then we may still have time to find the winning switch.

So I'm still leading a heart.

[skjaeran]

I'd lead the ♠T, and if this is wrong, it's far from a ground for divorce....

Anything could be right (except clubs of course), but I don't think I'd ever lead the ♦A here.

[han]

skaeran, on Sep 9 2008, 01:38 PM, said:

Anything could be right (except clubs of course), but I don't think I'd ever lead the ♦A here.

Certainly agree with this.

[whereagles]

Depends a bit on opps, but normally I'll probably lead the ♦A. Risky, but flexible.

And yes, getting this wrong is grounds for divorce.

[Walddk]

Doesn't the headline imply what is right? It must be a spade, because if it isn't, your partner can hardly file for divorce when you lead his suit. Maybe ♦A is good enough, but I would lead ♠10.

I would not lead a heart. It takes too much with partner for it to be killing.

No, I don't know the hand if that becomes an issue if a spade is the lead to beat it.

Roland

[Lobowolf]

I'd lead a low diamond, fully prepared to give my wife hell for not doubling for lead ERRRRRRRR apologize if a spade is right.

That's probably why I'm unmarried.

[Apollo81]

Normally it's right on this auction to lead something other than what was opened. However, I don't see many attractive leads here, so I will go with the ♠10 anyway.

[655321]

Low heart for me.

Clearly, leading a club is grounds for a divorce.

Also, a spade is so often wrong on this auction that I suspect a spade lead is also grounds for a divorce.

Either red suit seems reasonable: either the ♦A to have a look, or a low heart. I choose the heart because it runs less risk of immediately setting up another trick(s) for declarer.

[Echognome]

I take it Jeffrey found the right lead?

I would lead ♠T on the premise that a third-in-hand opener is more likely done for the lead and there's a good chance that declarer does not have 9 quick trick. Give partner, e.g. KQJxx Axx xxx xx and we would certainly look foolish to have lead a diamond.

[mikeh]

I agree with Roland in that the title certainly suggests a spade, as in 'If I'd bid diamonds, you'd have led spades?' or 'What does it take for you to lead my suit?????... you have an honour and red suit stopers!!!!'

Without the hint (which may have been misdirection) I think the question is tough.

In ascending order, worst first:

1. a club. Ugh. Truly grounds for divorce if not annulment: whoever you are, you're not the person I married!

2. A heart: better than a club, but the texture of the suit is such that we are very unlikely to take 4 tricks in it, and may easily lose not merely a tempo but a trick... dummy rates to have not much but there is more than room enough for a red queen.

3. A diamond. A low diamond is horrific if declarer has the King, and the A only fares better when the K is stiff. A low one is best when the suit is an unlikely 4333 around the table with partner holding KQx or KJx. The A is best when opener has stif K (altho dummy's holdings may offset that) and when a switch is both necessary and still in time.

4. A spade. Why not? We have an honour, partner bid the suit, declarer promises neither 2 stoppers nor 9 assured winners on the lead of the suit. A 'to play' 3N bid may still be hoping that partner has a trick or some help somewhere.

More importantly, if declarer is bidding on Kx in spades and 7 club tricks, he may also have the diamond K and/or the heart Queen with partner's red suit(s) such that he can find the killing switch. While postulating specific layouts is not a rewarding exercise on this type of auction, a hand such as AQxxx QJx QJxx x would not surprise me. Now, on that layout, we survive a heart lead but the diamond is fatal... I post this example merely to show that a spade is not necessarily immediately fatal even when it establishes declarer's 9th trick.

So my rating: ♣ -10, ♥ 60 ♦ 80 ♠ 100.

[andy_h]

I'd lead a spade. A heart doesn't seem like we'll be taking 4 tricks in that suit, diamond ace might totally lose the tempo/give away the 9th trick. Normally if the 3NT was the opening bid the DA is much more attractive lead, but partner's opened in 3rd seat which may suggest a half decent suit and declarer may still not have 9 top tricks.

[shevek]

FrancesHinden, on Sep 9 2008, 12:43 PM, said:

Scoring: IMP

P P 1♠ 3NT
all pass

---

Partner opens 1S in third seat, and RHO overcalls 3NT described as "to play, probably based on a long minor".  Opponents are good players.

Just to up the stakes a little
- you are playing with your spouse, who prefers you to get this type of problem right
- you are playing on BBO vugraph

What do you lead?
How obvious is it?

Scoring: IMP

---

"We were in separate rooms of course but I just happened to glance at her screen as I passed by the study on the way back from the loo. I was tempted to try a deep club anyway and the glimpse confirmed it. East said something like "Check same IP" to Roland and the table mysteriously closed. I was banned from BBO and none my clever new handles seemed to work. We split soon after, she got the dogs. Yes, I obviously should have led a spade."

Seriously, why should East have 8 tricks? He''s hoping for a card or two in dummy. No need to panic.

[Walddk]

Dear Nicoleta,

When you wake up after your nightmare, you will realise that I wasn't the one who banned you. Because ...

- 1. I can't.
- 2. Even if I could, it would be a miscarriage of justice. A club lead does not beat the contract on the layout you had in your dream.

I agree that anything but a club gives declarer his 9th trick immediately. A club does not, but one of you will have to present him with a trick in the end game.

So, the person who banned you (or your partner) does not have "analysing a bridge hand" as his/her strong suit. I will therefore make sure that you are back on BBO very soon

Furthermore, there are no grounds for divorce. You can lead your left shoe and still not beat it. So what is he really going on and on about I wonder?

Roland

[nige1]

FrancesHinden, on Sep 9 2008, 12:43 PM, said:

Scoring: IMP

P P 1♠ 3NT
all pass
Partner opens 1S in third seat, and RHO overcalls 3NT described as "to play, probably based on a long minor".  Opponents are good players. Just to up the stakes a little
- you are playing with your spouse, who prefers you to get this type of problem right
- you are playing on BBO vugraph
What do you lead? How obvious is it?

---

IMO ♦A = 10, ♠T = 9, ♥x = 5
3N is usually gambling, based on a solid minor. Against a gambling 3N, you are are usually advised to lead an ace if you have one. (But I watched Frances and Jeffrey star in this deal, from the EBU Premier League, on viewgraph, so I know the winning action).

[Walddk]

nige1, on Sep 10 2008, 12:21 PM, said:

(But I watched Frances and Jeffrey star in this deal, from the EBU Premier League, on viewgraph, so I know the winning action).

You must have been distracted while you were watching, because they did not star in this deal. I looked it up a few minutes ago.

Roland

[whereagles]

shevek, on Sep 10 2008, 05:54 AM, said:

Seriously, why should East have 8 tricks?

Guess you mean 9 tricks...

[shevek]

Walddk, on Sep 10 2008, 04:15 AM, said:

Dear Nicoleta,

When you wake up after your nightmare, you will realise that I wasn't the one who banned you. Because ...

- 1. I can't.
- 2. Even if I could, it would be a miscarriage of justice. A club lead does not beat the contract on the layout you had in your dream.

I agree that anything but a club gives declarer his 9th trick immediately. A club does not, but one of you will have to present him with a trick in the end game.

So, the person who banned you (or your partner) does not have "analysing a bridge hand" as his/her strong suit. I will therefore make sure that you are back on BBO very soon 

Furthermore, there are no grounds for divorce. You can lead your left shoe and still not beat it. So what is he really going on and on about I wonder? 

Roland

Nick actually.

Declarer might pick it but probably won't.

North comes to ♠AQ  ♥JTx  ♦Q
South to ♠10  ♥Kxx  ♦AT

Now ♦K works but it's a guess.
I should have given North ♦QJ, then no play.