As promised, we can now satisfy those who would have led the queen of diamonds, a lead I have considerable sympathy for. Leading a singleton through dummy’s first bid suit is always not without risk, whereas leading a long suit headed by the QJ10 is completely safe. Being an aggressive optimist on defence, I would always opt for the singleton, but let’s see how a competent pair would defend after South decided to lead the diamond queen against 4H.
Dealer East EW Vul
| South | West | North | East |
|---|
| - | - | - | 1 |
|
| Pass | 1 | Pass | 3 |
|
| Pass | 4 | Pass | Pass |
|
| Pass | | | |
South leads the DQ against East’s 4H. When dummy plays low, North can see no reason to overtake. When South is still on lead with the DQ, it is not rocket science, nor complicated maths to work out that declarer had a singleton. South now goes to plan B and switches to the singleton spade. Declarer tries to lead the defenders astray by going up with dummy’s ace and dropping the queen from hand.
This play would work against most defenders because North might think that South has cunningly switched to the spade seven from K7. South, on the other hand, might think that declarer had a singleton queen, a good reason to rise with dummy’s ace. You can see why declarer’s queen of spades will persuade most normal defenders not to lead another spade, because both defenders will have the impression that their partner has the king of spades, especially North, who will not know that South started with seven diamonds, though he might wonder why South did not lead a second diamond. To a good defender with a good partner on lead, that should be self evident but how many of us just play by rote when the answer is available with a bit of thought and a lot of trust in what partner does and communicates to you in the play.
I am not aware of any NS pair who held 4H to four after the DQ lead, and only one or two who kept the contract to four after the singleton spade lead. I don’t of course know how the play went after each opening lead but I suspect that the defence left a lot to be desired, rather than any subterfuge by declarers.
AK7
J64