[pclayton]

In the final match of the Ontario, CA A/X Swiss you find yourself in the rare position of being in contention to actually win the event. Sitting on your right is Mark Itabashi.

You pick up:
♠xxxxx ♥Jxx ♦x ♣ATxx

And hear this auction:

Client Mark
1♥ 2♣
2♥ 4N
5♠ 6N
All Pass

5♠ shows 2 keys and the Q♥

Your opening lead?


I'll post the answer in a few days.

Phil Clayton.

[Free]

♣A followed by small ♣.

[luis]

Low club.

[PriorKnowledge]

Absolutely, AC + low clubs. Especially in a post like this

Not low club, because partner may have Kxx and duck

[scoob]

top ♠

[Free]

PriorKnowledge, on Jul 6 2004, 04:56 PM, said:

Absolutely, AC + low clubs. Especially in a post like this

Not low club, because partner may have Kxx and duck

What????????? Duck???? Fast, find a new partner!

[Flame]

♠

[Trpltrbl]

2♣ sounds like a tactical Mark bid, who was going to bid 6 NT along.
Down 1 is good bridge, in this case for us.
♣A.

Mike

[flytoox]

Spade.

[luke warm]

first, not a spade... partner didn't double the spade bid, and i see no future there... secondly, not a heart... partner didn't x the final contract... so i'm down to a club and my stiff diamond

maybe the 2♣ bid was a psych and maybe not.. i'm leading my stiff diamond tho, since i trust his bid

[pclayton]

Ok fine, you twisted my arm, I'll give you the full hand. Mark held:

♠ AQ
♥ x
♦ AKQJxxxx
♣ Qx

The views on this hand fall into 3 categories:

1) Anything but a club
2) Really want to lead a club, but don't have the guts
3) Lead the club

Sure the auction smells like a red herring, which may be enough of a reason to make the lead. I'm not satisified with comments from the players that say: Its an old trick; a club is automatic. What I really am looking for are the logical reasons for a club lead. I can name a few - and feel free to chime in if you can think of others....

Tactical reasons:

1) There can't be any reason why the 2♥ call improved his hand. Why not start with 4N?

2) Why isn't he signing off in or 6♥ with presumed solidity; other than letting the client play the hand.

Technical reasons:

1) Pard didn't double the 5 ♠ call

2) There are a lot of unaccounted diamonds on this hand. If you presume Mark has no better than KQJ9x (x?) of clubs, and no trump fit, he might have tried 3♦ looking for a side suit fit

3) Lets try to give a realistic reconstruction based on the bidding: Lets give the client a solid heart suit and an outside card: Kxx, AKQTxx, xx, xx.

Axx, xx, Axx, KQJ9x just isn't enough firepower for this auction.

Axx, xx, Ax, KQJ9xx still looks like a stretch for 6N; versus 6♥ looks a lot safer.

Ax, xx, Ax, KQJ9xxx is about the best construction I think I can come up with. A club ruff is a real possibility, and the clubs are a definite source of tricks in 6N. Still with this hand, 6N is outright silly if the client has a stiff in a pointed suit, whereas 6 ♣ or ♥ is gin.

And note with the above hand, if either hand has an extra honor card, if you pick the wrong suit, the hand is still making.

So, on a relative basis, I think the club lead (Ace) stands out.

Hey, if it works, you've got a story for a lifetime! More importantly you win the event

Note: My pard was on the hot seat here.

[luke warm]

what did mark's partner have in hearts? with the spade king at worse onside (and maybe in his p's hand) all he needs from partner is the A,K of ♥ (after my diamond lead anyway heheh)... oh well, it was a good tactical bid, give him credit

[Trpltrbl]

Like I said, it helps to know who is bidding what.
He knew all along he was going to bid 6 NT.
The auction spelled, and no X of 5♠

Mike

[Free]

I'm leading my Ace, simply because declarer might think I have something else, and will finesse the wrong way... Also, who has ♦s? My p would've bid them if he had em

[pclayton]

Client held:

♠ Kxx
♥ AKQTxx
♦ xx
♣ xx

17 tricks on anything but a club lead.

[luke warm]

sigh.. well like i said, he'd have snookered me