Taking a Lead from Vil
Board 13 From Wednesday 7-Aug Dealer N All Vul
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8
T9872
QJT98
A7If you choose to play Acol you should know that East has no other opening than 1NT. West, though, might have some misgivings, but also has no other bid than a simple raise to 3NT, so the bidding should be easy enough: a raise to 3NT. Despite that, two of seven pairs were in 1NT, another in 2NT, with the other four in the correct contract of 3NT.
I was interested to see what the opening leads were. FIVE Souths led the five of spades. True, the recommendation is 'fourth highest of longest and strongest' but the recommendation also is that you try not to give anything away when your suit has sequences or near sequences at the top. This is a typical case where the lead of the QUEEN is not only more meaningful to partner but also much more solid than a low card. At least this time we did not have a lead of the nine, which has been in evidence in the past, our newcomers having perhaps learnt the futility of leading a middle card.
You can see what happens if South leads the five: if declarer plays low from dummy, and there is no reason not to with two certain stoppers in the other suits, declarer can actually make five easily enough: if declarer starts on clubs by leading a low one from dummy to the queen in hand and then, when the queen holds, leading the second one to the TEN if South plays low. Why do that? Beause nearly all Souths will win the ace when declarer plays the queen. It would be bad play to not take the ace when declarer plays the queen. Therefore, North is almost certain to have the ace, and if North also has the jack, nothing can be done anyway. So the finesse of the ten is clear cut.
After the poor lead of the low spade, declarer will then make three spades, four clubs, two diamonds, and two hearts for eleven tricks, with the added luxury of being able to tke the heart finesse for a twelfth trick at an early stage of the play. That loses so eleven tricks is the limit but still an equal top.
The lead of the queen of spades will normally prevent the overtrick as long as South does not lead another one when next on lead, but.... those readers who like to exercise their bridge brains may like to take another look at this deal. East (but not West) can in fact make eleven tricks given any lead. Why not West?
