[FrancesHinden]

Scoring: IMP

RHO dealt, uncontested auction
1S 2C
3S 4C
4H 4NT
5D 5H
5NT 7S

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2C = game forcing
3S = (virtually) solid suit, extra values, sets trumps
4C/4H = cue bids. Partnership style is to cue first round controls before second in this type of auction
4NT/5D/5H/5NT = opener has 3 keycards, the queen of trumps, not the king of clubs (responder didn't ask about the king of clubs, that was part of the 5NT bid)

There is a winning lead. Is it possible to work out what it is, and why?

[OleBerg]

I would probably lead a spade at the table. (Not as big a fan as others of thrumph-leads vs grands, but here it seems safe.)

But since you tell me there is a winning lead, I'll try a diamond, hoping to take out a vital entry from responders hand. (Responder may have to set up the club tricks by ruffing finesses, after seeing my partners singleton.) As dummy has a heart stopper, I cannot take out a vital entry in that suit.

Edit: Answered this late at night, and thought I was leading through the strong spade hand. I'll take a shot at a lead in turn in another post.

[whereagles]

I can't deduce much, except that if the normal spade lead doesn't break it, it's gotta be a red suit. Since diamonds is the obvious choice, I'll go with a heart.

/sarcasm off

[mtvesuvius]

A club cannot be right, because partner would have doubled with a void. A spade cannot be right becuase you said there is a winning lead, so I lead a red suit. Now... Which red suit? I lead one, and if it's wrong, I ask for an undo. Assuming they don't allow Modified Alcatraz Coup on leads... I think I'll try a diamond, for the reasons oleberg stated.

[lamford]

I voted for a diamond, but I was trying to break up a double squeeze with declarer having a singleton diamond, and me guarding clubs and pard guarding hearts. But maybe a great partner didn't double in case they corrected to 7NT, so maybe he is void in clubs all along.

[inquiry]

Not a ♠, might help declarer find partners Jxxx.
Partner did not dbl 5♥ so he doesn't have ♥K behind the dummy's ♥A
So that leaves a ♣ or a ♦ as the correct lead.

Opener has ♠AKQ, plus the ♥A. The dummy has the ♦A and the ♣A. Assuming he has 7♠, three side aces, and the two side kings, that is only 12 tricks. Only partner will be able to stop ♥s, we are probably the only one who can stop ♣, so the double threat suit looks like ♦s. The question is would a ♦ lead break up a double squeeze?

Some double squeezes require two winners in the suit guarded by both opponents. If there is a simple squeeze on us, we can no knock out both entries to dummy (since there are two aces in dummy). So i will try a [ci] opening lead. I will lead the ♦T so as not to have partner play his ♦J and thus keep the potential for a double threat suit open, a small ♦ might make me alone responsible for the ♦ suit.

[FrancesHinden]

Just because I've said there's a "winning lead" doesn't mean it's not a trump, if you see what I mean

[gnasher]

FrancesHinden, on Jan 19 2009, 10:26 AM, said:

Just because I've said there's a "winning lead" doesn't mean it's not a trump, if you see what I mean

Especially as a trump lead on this hand isn't particularly attractive. Can't the opponents have xx opposite AKQ10xx or even x opposite AKQ10xxx?

This post has been edited by gnasher: 2009-January-19, 03:35

[JLOL]

Based on the title I would guess a club is the winning lead, with RHO and partner both having a stiff this kills the club, and LHO has no entry (partner has the DA, LHO has the king).

In real life I would lead a diamond, RHO has no control and LHO has the control, maybe we can cash 2 diamonds. I would also underlead my DA on this auction, so maybe they misguess (good if you have my image?!).

[FrancesHinden]

JLOL, on Jan 19 2009, 10:38 AM, said:

Based on the title I would guess a club is the winning lead, with RHO and partner both having a stiff this kills the club, and LHO has no entry (partner has the DA, LHO has the king).

In real life I would lead a diamond, RHO has no control and LHO has the control, maybe we can cash 2 diamonds. I would also underlead my DA on this auction, so maybe they misguess (good if you have my image?!).

LOL

You are defending 7S.

[JLOL]

Sorry, that's what i get for staying up to 5:40 in the morning I wont edit my post for amusement value

[nige1]

FrancesHinden, on Jan 18 2009, 05:28 PM, said:

Scoring: IMP

RHO dealt, uncontested auction
1S  2C
3S  4C
4H  4NT
5D  5H
5NT 7S
2C = game forcing
3S = (virtually) solid suit, extra values, sets trumps
4C/4H = cue bids. Partnership style is to cue first round controls before second in this type of auction
4NT/5D/5H/5NT = opener has 3 keycards, the queen of trumps, not the king of clubs (responder didn't ask about the king of clubs, that was part of the 5NT bid)
There is a winning lead.  Is it possible to work out what it is, and why?

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Scoring: IMPs


IMO, ♠ = 10, ♦ = 9, ♣ = 5, ♥ = 4.
Here, I reckon that a Lightner double would ask for a ♣ lead because partner might not risk doubling 4♣ with a void. Suits seem to be breaking badly for declarer, he may depend on ruffs for tricks. Hence I lead a trump.
As Lamford & Inquiry wrote, a ♦ may be necessary to break up the double-squeze, for example, if the layout is like that on the left.
Incidentally, what lead would a Lightner double normally ask you to choose? IMO You should agree partnership priorities. for exampe...

• Unusual lead - common sense supervenes.
  
• Not trumps
  
• Not a suit that partner could have eariler doubled safely for a
  the lead.
  
• Not the suit that partner earlier doubled, ostensibly for a
  the lead.
  
• Not the suit bid by our partnership.
  
• Except that if each of us has bid a suit, then lead your own suit.
  
• Often dummy's first bid side-suit.
  
• Failing that, declarer's side suit.
  
• Without any other indication lead a ♦. The old advert assured us that A double diamond works wonders

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[Hanoi5]

I led a small club. I expect dummy to have the diamond ace and even though I first thought of leading a diamond I don't think the opponents are bad players, 'cause it wasn't stated in the question.

[peachy]

It isn't club because no Lightner, it isn't trump because you posted this as a problem and that would be a normal lead when they have solid trumps and opening leader has some protectable values. I'm normally never leading from xxx, pretty much regardless of auction so I'm picking a diamond. At least it takes away diamond ace from dummy (unless for some odd reason partner has the ace...)

[mikeh]

I like the idea of the diamond lead to break up a squeeze.

Neither major appeals.. spades at best may give up a tempo and at worst pick of Jxxx. Hearts may find partner with values, but in that case, dummy will hold AK of diamonds, and most layouts make a squeeze unavoidable.. or declarer with xxx in diamonds, ruffs one in dummy.

Clubs... well, we need partner to hold some red cards, else opener has 13 top tricks, so he might tend to risk a double here if he were void in clubs... this is not a solid inference, but it is enough to make me choose to play for the squeeze-avoidance lead.

[Phil]

inquiry, on Jan 18 2009, 10:06 PM, said:

The question is would a ♦ lead break up a double squeeze?

Some double squeezes require two winners in the suit guarded by both opponents. If there is a simple squeeze on us, we can no knock out both entries to dummy (since there are two aces in dummy).

I agree.

If dummy had ♦Axx and declarer has ♦Kx, a diamond lead accomplishes nothing.

But ♦Ax in dummy and ♦Kxx and a diamond looks good in many normal double squeeze variations.

If declarer has A or K, J, x of diamonds, I think we are always squoze in the minors, assuming declarer reads the position in the endgame.

This post has been edited by Phil: 2009-January-19, 23:56

[OleBerg]

I go for the ♦10. A diamond to break up a squeeze, and the ten to allow partner to retain his guard (as someone else stated).

[nige1]

Scoring: IMPs


The diagram on the left illustrates a trump coup deal. Again a ♦ lead may work best. On any other lead, declarer can recover after discovering the bad trump break

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