[cherdano]

Scoring: IMP

P-(P)-3♥-(X)-P-(4♣)-AP

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You are not exactly upset that your preempt pushed your opponents to the dream spot of 4♣. What's your stab at beating this?

[Flame]

I voted for the A of hearts, usually its wrong to lead aces but i think its ok here, atleast least of evil.
The opponents bidding suggest that K of heart wont be in RHO hand and the chances of it being with LHO arent great either, also LHO will usually have 4 spades which make the spade lead less atractive.

[flytoox]

DT for me. Good aggressive lead, lol.

[han]

Not sure what good a diamond lead would do.. the chance that your partner can win the first two diamond tricks is quite low. The heart ace might work, but the queen makes it quite likely that it gives up a trick. I'm going for a low spade, ace of hearts second choice.

[Free]

The title of this topic is only confusing all of us imo. Is it a trick question?

Anyway, I think ♠Q has a nice chance of being a lead which creates some action.

[luke warm]

♥A because i don't know what to do .... maybe pard can signal something

[flytoox]

Hannie, on Jan 24 2005, 03:02 AM, said:

Not sure what good a diamond lead would do.. the chance that your partner can win the first two diamond tricks is quite low. The heart ace might work, but the queen makes it quite likely that it gives up a trick. I'm going for a low spade, ace of hearts second choice.

A low spade is not without risk. Declarer could have STx or SJx. If pd has DAQ, at least I can get a ruff. Even if pd has only DA, if he like, he can return H. DT is relatively safe in my opinion.

Any lead could be right or wrong. If it is obvious, posters will not post it here at all.

[mila85]

I lead ♥A here but I'm not sure it's good.

"Don't lead from aces?"
My partner likes leading low from an ace. When he leads and declarer takes by an ace I know that my partner has no ace
It sometimes gives a trick to declarer and sometimes it's a perfect lead.
The problem is (for example):

suit contract
low card was lead, small from dummy

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Normal is to play nine. But when partner has the ace.....

[Chamaco]

A of H. Not unlikely pard can get a ruff

[Fluffy]

Just lead your longest suit, since ♥ is headed by Ace I'll switcht to second longest: ♠.

[HeartA]

I think I would lead DT

[Flame]

HeartA, on Jan 24 2005, 01:50 PM, said:

I think I would lead DT

You of all ppl i would expect to lead the A of heart.

[Winstonm]

This is a good lead problem. My thinking for what it is worth.

1) Spades: LHO is not apt to hold 4 spades else he would have bid them instead of Clubs.
RHO will tend to have 4 spades for his t.o. dble, leaving 4-5 spades in partner's
hand.

2) Hearts: RHO rates to hold 1-2 hearts, leaving 4/5 in the remaining hands, or an
expectation 2 1/2 in each hand, most likely 2 in partner's hand as he did not
further the pre-empt with a 4H bid, but this is only minor maybe.

3) Diamonds: RHO is likely to hold 3, 4, 5 diamonds for the double, more likey 4.
LHO bid clubs instead of diamonds, leaving some number of diamond length
in partner's hand. Most likely is 4/5 based on 4432 or 5332 distribution of the
diamond suit.

4) Clubs: Most likely distributions for LHO are 3334, 2345, 3245, 2335 or 3235,
although a more distributional hand is possible - however it is unlikely as he
is marked with a modicum of HCP's yet did not try for any game contract.

5) Most likely distributions for RHO for his double seem to be 4144, 4234, 4243,
5233, 5143, 5134, or 5233. Certainly others are possible.

6) Most likely distributions for LHO are 3235, 2344, 3244, 3325, 2245, or 3334.
Seems at least 1/2 or more of the time they have found a 9-card fit.

7) Partner's likely distribution: 4344, 4243, 4234, 5143, 5134, or 4153.

Now, what to lead? If I lead heart A and a heart and partner ruffs, we still need two more tricks and I have no fast reentry. Besides, that may blow a trick when RHO has doubled on Kx of hearts or when either opp holds Kxx in hearts. Seems that in most cases LHO has a balanced or semibalanced hand and RHO has not the ruffing power. If they have found a 5/4 or 5/3 fit, we may be able to cut down on the ruffs in RHO's hand.

I go passive/aggressive and lead a trump.

[nikos59]

This is not going to be a match-breaker, I guess,
so I yawn and lead ace of hearts without strong
feelings. At imps, really, the fate of 4C is
almost irrelevant. Either the swing is minimal
or the board has been already won or lost
at the bidding.

[mike777]

A of heart.

[cherdano]

nikos59, on Jan 24 2005, 07:42 PM, said:

This is not going to be a match-breaker, I guess,
so I yawn and lead ace of hearts without strong
feelings. At imps, really, the fate of 4C is
almost irrelevant. Either the swing is minimal
or the board has been already won or lost
at the bidding.

Really?? If the other table plays 3♥ - 1, then there is a 6 IMP difference between 4♣ making and going down. Same if they play 3♣=, or 4♣=, or 3NT-1. Even if your team mates bid and make 3NT, there are 2 IMPs up for claims at your table.

[flytoox]

Winstonm, on Jan 24 2005, 07:40 PM, said:

1) Spades: LHO is not apt to hold 4 spades else he would have bid them instead of Clubs.
RHO will tend to have 4 spades for his t.o. dble, leaving 4-5 spades in partner's
hand.

I think you read it wrongly. LHO dbled, he rates to have spades, not RHO. If RHO has spades, he would bid it, as u said.

[Winstonm]

You are right...I did see this wrong and thought RHO had doubled. Certainly not the first or last time I've seen or will see things corsseyed, I'm afraid>

[nikos59]

cherdano, on Jan 24 2005, 08:57 PM, said:

nikos59, on Jan 24 2005, 07:42 PM, said:

This is not going to be a match-breaker, I guess,
so I yawn and lead ace of hearts without strong
feelings. At imps, really, the fate of 4C is
almost irrelevant. Either the swing is minimal
or the board has been already won or lost
at the bidding.

Really?? If the other table plays 3♥ - 1, then there is a 6 IMP difference between 4♣ making and going down. Same if they play 3♣=, or 4♣=, or 3NT-1. Even if your team mates bid and make 3NT, there are 2 IMPs up for claims at your table.

Yes, we totally agree: if the *maximum* potential swing
is a measly 6 imps then the swing is really minimal and
it is almost not worth to bother about this board. Relax,
this is not matchpoints, you can afford it.

(And I know that many a match has been won or lost by
5, 3, or 1 imp)