On LWTA, I suspect the spade is the best shot at IMPs or rubber bridge but what about pairs? Detaching the CA and SK then shuffling the other 11 cards before pulling one out at random is almost tempting here as a hand can be concocted to fit almost any lead although we can probably assume partner hasn’t got QJ10xx of clubs or similar. He’s only likely to have a 2 or maybe 3 count, though so anything looks like a pretty vain hope. Even the madcap DJ might find dummy with Q10x opposite declarer’s A98x(x) and probably won’t do much good if pard has (say) DQ109xx although it won’t give anything away. A nightmare but a good poser for Monday.
“English Bridge” (the EBU magazine) has a lead problem page so I might send it off to that as they run computer simulations too.
Regards,
Iain
Iain ClimieApril 22nd, 2024 at 5:16 pm
PS If this were an actual hand, rather than a hypothetical question, what (if anything) would have worked and what would have cost least at pairs?
Regards,
Iain
bobbywolffApril 22nd, 2024 at 6:28 pm
Hi Iain,
Your summarized discussion best addresses the opening lead problem, but in both “matchpoints” and “Imps”, likely better to follow the field and lead a 4th best, hoping to defend it as well or better than others. For money, I cannot offer anything worthwhile, but go along with the text.
I also do not have a history on the result, therein allowing me to avoid a mistake, and with your latter post about costing least, it likely might be to find a way to avoid paying an entry fee, or rather to have someone pick me up, instead of having to pay the costs of driving or parking.
When not having an opinion, better to attempt to change the subject than to fly to others to which, I know not of. If “English Bridge” answers back, please share it with us, but do not fail to ask why, which unfortunately would likely irritate.
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Hi Bobby,
On LWTA, I suspect the spade is the best shot at IMPs or rubber bridge but what about pairs? Detaching the CA and SK then shuffling the other 11 cards before pulling one out at random is almost tempting here as a hand can be concocted to fit almost any lead although we can probably assume partner hasn’t got QJ10xx of clubs or similar. He’s only likely to have a 2 or maybe 3 count, though so anything looks like a pretty vain hope. Even the madcap DJ might find dummy with Q10x opposite declarer’s A98x(x) and probably won’t do much good if pard has (say) DQ109xx although it won’t give anything away. A nightmare but a good poser for Monday.
“English Bridge” (the EBU magazine) has a lead problem page so I might send it off to that as they run computer simulations too.
Regards,
Iain
PS If this were an actual hand, rather than a hypothetical question, what (if anything) would have worked and what would have cost least at pairs?
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain,
Your summarized discussion best addresses the opening lead problem, but in both “matchpoints” and “Imps”, likely better to follow the field and lead a 4th best, hoping to defend it as well or better than others. For money, I cannot offer anything worthwhile, but go along with the text.
I also do not have a history on the result, therein allowing me to avoid a mistake, and with your latter post about costing least, it likely might be to find a way to avoid paying an entry fee, or rather to have someone pick me up, instead of having to pay the costs of driving or parking.
When not having an opinion, better to attempt to change the subject than to fly to others to which, I know not of. If “English Bridge” answers back, please share it with us, but do not fail to ask why, which unfortunately would likely irritate.