[pclayton]

Scoring: MP

---

Matchpoints, good field, good opponents, you hear:

2♣ - 2♦
2N - 3N

2♣ is Precision; 11-15
2♦ asks
2N shows a good 13 to a bad 15, no 4 card major, probably not 4 diamonds, at least 2 of the outside 3 suits stopped.

Whats your lead?

[luke warm]

partner didn't x diamonds for the lead, so i'd choose between spade and heart... i need less help in hearts, and i don't really have a holding where a false card lead helps much... ♥3, which is the 'normal' lead, i guess

[mike777]

K of H

Hoping for 5 hearts in p hand.

[sceptic]

K hearts wrong lead for that holding, I think 3 of hearts is correct (he says wishfully) KQ103 then K heats is correct lead (waiting to be shot down in flames (I will blame bill root as I have been reading him again)

[pclayton]

I'm going to be a little harsh here.

If I wanted to know what the 'normal' lead is from KQ83, I wouldn't have posted this hand!

I want you to fully analyze this hand. While you are at it, try to determine what is happening at other tables.

If you are not doing that at critical times, you will never be a winner at this game.

Thanks.

[luke warm]

at other tables it'll probably be 1c : 1M : 2c then who knows? the lead may even come from north, but in any case it will probably be the major not bid by west

i don't know, and as far as i can tell i can't know, what major(s) west has... it that's true, i'm leading what i think gives us the best chance

even though the low heart is 'normal', this doesn't mean it's the wrong lead (even if it is *this* particular hand)... partner *still* didn't x diamonds, i'm *still* not leading clubs, and my choice is *still* between spades and hearts, either of which (on the bidding) could be right

[Walddk]

♥Q, asking for attitude. I'm a Garozzo fan. Ace and Queen ask for attitude, King for unblock or count. This is far from being a holding where you would want partner to unblock.

AKJ10

KQ109

are, and even

KQ10xx

usually is.

Roland

[inquiry]

Throw me in with the herd of heart leaders. But i will explain why the heart suit, and which of the four cards, and why.

My lho didn't check for a heart stopper, so he likely has stoppers in all three side suits (S, H, D). My rho doesn't have four hearts, so if he has stopper in all two side suits, it will not be Jxxx in hearts.. and since we think RHO has stopper in all three suits, he has the heart ace.

I do not lead a low heart, in case opener has Jx.. so i begin the unblock in hearts and prevent a cheap win by Jx with rho by leading the king. I do not lead the queen as that ask my partner to unblock with JACK, and that could be embarrassing if partner has Jxx and declarer Txx.

Ben

[Flame]

inquiry, on Feb 19 2005, 09:26 PM, said:

My lho didn't check for a heart stopper, so he likely has stoppers in all three side suits (S, H, D).

this assumption is far to strong, even at imps but certenly in mp.
with
AJXX
XXX
XXX
AQX
Would you look for stropers ? i wont not even at imp.

[Double !]

♥ King, same reasoning as Ben's and, without additional information, might be the lead least likely to gove away a trick. The 8 might help avoid giving the suit away should it be wrong.

[flytoox]

I vote for HK. I think it is clear to lead H. The question is which card to lead. Leading Hk has more than one way to win. Pd has HJ, or pd doesnt have it but we may force the declarer to use one entry too early.

[Free]

♥K

[pclayton]

Thx all for replying. The actual hand wasn't quite what you'd expect, but its not far-fetched:

---

I led the K♥. I don't think this is a typical situation, where the 3 is the correct lead.

1. There is a long suit threatening to run on your right, so we need to take our tricks fast.

2. Its MP's; we aren't necessarily trying the beat the hand.

Most importantly: at other tables the auction will start 1♣ - 1x - 2♣ (3♣?). Other people holding your cards will have a much better idea what to lead. Here, you are somewhat in the blind. Its also very likely that pard will be on lead, and a heart lead rates to be a lot more effective; when its right. If its not right, you are probably dead anyway.

The K♥ lead worked real well. Small heart probably lets him make. We beat it 2; can actually get it 3.

[mr1303]

I remain unconvinced by oppos rubbish bidding here. South has his bid, but I think 2D is wrong here by North. a) he only has a stiff club, which is bad for setting up his clubs for 3NT unless they're ready to run

5 spades to the jack is not a good holding. Opps may be able to cash 3 top tricks here

c) Jx is a dodgy heart stop at best.

[Flame]

mr1303, on Feb 21 2005, 07:10 AM, said:

I remain unconvinced by oppos rubbish bidding here. South has his bid, but I think 2D is wrong here by North. a) he only has a stiff club, which is bad for setting up his clubs for 3NT unless they're ready to run

5 spades to the jack is not a good holding. Opps may be able to cash 3 top tricks here

c) Jx is a dodgy heart stop at best.

are you saying north lack stopers ?
If you do then you are stoperfobic
Stopers are overrated and mistreaten.
There is no point in finding out we have no stopers and go down in the 5 level when we could go down less in 3nt or make it with luck or bad diffence.
There is no point in playing a 95% 5m game when we have a 50% 3nt+1
there is no point in playing 3nt and making less tricks because we told the opponents how to defend.
You should be very carfull when you look for stopers, do it only when you have a good alternative contract, and only when you think there is a good chance that not looking will lead us to a bad score.

[flytoox]

mr1303, on Feb 21 2005, 12:10 PM, said:

I remain unconvinced by oppos rubbish bidding here. South has his bid, but I think 2D is wrong here by North. a) he only has a stiff club, which is bad for setting up his clubs for 3NT unless they're ready to run

5 spades to the jack is not a good holding. Opps may be able to cash 3 top tricks here

c) Jx is a dodgy heart stop at best.

2D is not that bad as you think. North has some difficulty to respond to pd's 2C opening. North's hand worth some try, if pd could rebid 2s, he is well placed. If pd rebid 2h, he can try 2N. His good diamond suit provide some safety.

[pclayton]

flytoox, on Feb 21 2005, 06:28 AM, said:

mr1303, on Feb 21 2005, 12:10 PM, said:

I remain unconvinced by oppos rubbish bidding here. South has his bid, but I think 2D is wrong here by North. a) he only has a stiff club, which is bad for setting up his clubs for 3NT unless they're ready to run

5 spades to the jack is not a good holding. Opps may be able to cash 3 top tricks here

c) Jx is a dodgy heart stop at best.

2D is not that bad as you think. North has some difficulty to respond to pd's 2C opening. North's hand worth some try, if pd could rebid 2s, he is well placed. If pd rebid 2h, he can try 2N. His good diamond suit provide some safety.

North DOES have somewhat of a rebid problem over 2♣.

A non-forcing 2♠ is possible. Partner won't pass unless he has tolerance and a minimum. The 5-5 shouts for suit play. Odd, if partner pulls, indicating a misfit, this becomes a real good hand for ♦'s, given partner's assumed stiff. I've played with both of these guys and they are both inteligent bidders.

2♦ is a 2nd choice. You don't know where the hand is going and you can elicit some information cheaply. Over 2♥ you can try 2♠ to see if that begets a raise with 3=4=0=6 (with 3=4=1=5 the hand is opened 2♦). Over 2♠ its easy. You are somewhat guessing over 2N and 3♣ rebids; 3N with those nice diamonds is as good a guess as any.

3♠ (forcing) is possible, but I think its a bad bid.

Mr1303: I don't think I indicated the 2♦ responder ever indicated anything about his stoppers. It was Opener with the 2N rebid.

[mike777]

Rubbish bidding, well said.

2S is not a one round force? How the heck do you invite with 5 card majors? One must jump to 3 level to force? Great system. One asks for stoppers with a stiff club?

[flytoox]

mike777, on Feb 21 2005, 08:47 PM, said:

Rubbish bidding, well said.

2S is not a one round force? How they heck do you invite with 5 card majors? One must jump to 3 level to force? Great system. One asks for stoppers with a stiff club?

Well, they wont care whether the bidding is right or wrong if they make it.