[jahol]

Sitting on south, playing IMP teams against very good opponents, both vulnerable, you have this nice garbage

Jxxx---x---109x---9xxxx.

Still, you have chance to get or loose about 14 IMPs after the following auction

west--------north--------east--------south
1S(1).........pass...........2H(2)........pass
2NT(3).......pass...........3C(4)........pass
3H(5).........pass.......... 3NT(6)......pass
4C(7).........pass...........4D(7)........pass
4S(7).........pass...........4NT(8).......pass
5C(9).........pass...........6H............pass
pass...........pass

(1) Acol related system, mostly 5 spades, 12-21 PC
(2) 5+ hearts, 10+ PC
(3) Extra values, something like 15-18 PC
(4) Asking about number of hearts
(5) Exactly three hearts
(6) Forcing!
(7) Cue-bid
(8) Asking about five key values for heart contract
(9) Three values + queen of hearts


Answering the following questions may be immediate, before reading the next ones (independent on them), because the next nones may be "lead directing" for the previous ones


1) What is your first lead provided that the auction was as described?

2) What is your first lead, if the first club cue was doubled by partner?

3) What is your first lead, if the first club cue was not doubled, but the second one was?

4) What is your first lead, if neither the first club cue, nor the second one was doubled, but the final contract was?

[FrancesHinden]

Without really thinking that hard:

1. Diamond
2. Club
3. Club (partner may be more nervous about defending 4Cxx than 5Cxx)
4. Spade. It's possible they have a 9-card spade fit, if responder is 3-6 or 3-7 in the reds with good hearts and poor spades.