If West had a spade less and the 10D instead, should he lead the DK here on the off chance of pinning the DQ? After all, he’d probably have no worries leading the DQ from DQJ1098 with the option of switching if required, so the position is little different.
Regards,
Iain
A V Ramana RaoSeptember 27th, 2022 at 1:10 pm
Hi Dear Mr Wolff
Quite instructive hand. It would be tempting to double finesse in hearts hoping for split honors which is bound to fail. Assuming dummy unblocks club A and leads heart, west would win and lead spade. Again, if south hopes spades are 5-2 and remaining heart honor is with east, he can play A and take heart finesse .( If dummy plays small, east wins and shifts to diamond as mentioned in column line). Now the contract can be made only if east held club K but not today. Also if west held both heart honors, the contract is down anyway. All this can be avoided if spade is led to hand for leading club. Only fly in the ointment would be a 5-1 club break. Perhaps only players who can count nine tricks would lead spade after unblocking club A
Regards
Bobby WolffSeptember 27th, 2022 at 1:29 pm
Hi Iain,
While I am not sure I might think a diamond lead may be best when an opponent has bid and rebid the suit (even perhaps KQJ10) I will need to categorize (and to say the least) emphasize “No, as in Not” particularly at imps or rubber bridge, since the declarer may need a long card extra diamond trick for his contract.
Just await declarer possibly, after carefully planning his attack to also choose diamonds,,, being disappointed in his choice (if he had one) enabling the leader to go about his defensive duty to choose a lead which possibly will have a long card trick or tricks under, not over, the rainbow, to hopefully establish.
However, yes and no doubt, your possible choice could be the only lead (diamond king) to set this contract, but, if so, I sincerely believe it will be against the percentages, not in favor. but that challenge is what winning bridge is all about and, in truth I do not own this game, but merely work here and furthermore while playing matchpoints, it may score a key defensive trick or two other opening leaders will be denied, ensuring a better result, although dealing in fewer overtricks, not the contract itself.
Bobby WolffSeptember 27th, 2022 at 1:48 pm
Hi AVRR,
Always thanks for your careful analysis. Today, between you and Iain, two entirely different key subjects have been somewhat completely discussed, not sparing the horses, but rather two definitive subjects to which bridge logic need be applied.
One in reality (yours) and another, “what if” and therein theoretical (Iain). Whatever anyone else may think, “Ain’t we got fun” continues to surround the great game we try to play.
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Hi Bobby,
If West had a spade less and the 10D instead, should he lead the DK here on the off chance of pinning the DQ? After all, he’d probably have no worries leading the DQ from DQJ1098 with the option of switching if required, so the position is little different.
Regards,
Iain
Hi Dear Mr Wolff
Quite instructive hand. It would be tempting to double finesse in hearts hoping for split honors which is bound to fail. Assuming dummy unblocks club A and leads heart, west would win and lead spade. Again, if south hopes spades are 5-2 and remaining heart honor is with east, he can play A and take heart finesse .( If dummy plays small, east wins and shifts to diamond as mentioned in column line). Now the contract can be made only if east held club K but not today. Also if west held both heart honors, the contract is down anyway. All this can be avoided if spade is led to hand for leading club. Only fly in the ointment would be a 5-1 club break. Perhaps only players who can count nine tricks would lead spade after unblocking club A
Regards
Hi Iain,
While I am not sure I might think a diamond lead may be best when an opponent has bid and rebid the suit (even perhaps KQJ10) I will need to categorize (and to say the least) emphasize “No, as in Not” particularly at imps or rubber bridge, since the declarer may need a long card extra diamond trick for his contract.
Just await declarer possibly, after carefully planning his attack to also choose diamonds,,, being disappointed in his choice (if he had one) enabling the leader to go about his defensive duty to choose a lead which possibly will have a long card trick or tricks under, not over, the rainbow, to hopefully establish.
However, yes and no doubt, your possible choice could be the only lead (diamond king) to set this contract, but, if so, I sincerely believe it will be against the percentages, not in favor. but that challenge is what winning bridge is all about and, in truth I do not own this game, but merely work here and furthermore while playing matchpoints, it may score a key defensive trick or two other opening leaders will be denied, ensuring a better result, although dealing in fewer overtricks, not the contract itself.
Hi AVRR,
Always thanks for your careful analysis. Today, between you and Iain, two entirely different key subjects have been somewhat completely discussed, not sparing the horses, but rather two definitive subjects to which bridge logic need be applied.
One in reality (yours) and another, “what if” and therein theoretical (Iain). Whatever anyone else may think, “Ain’t we got fun” continues to surround the great game we try to play.