Opening Leads and Signals 05
EUREKA!!
Let me now relate a very special “Eureka” moment, one that revolutionised my way of thinking about what’s right and what isn’t when it comes to opening leads and defence. I was West in this very mundane deal in a match point session.
Dealer S All Vul
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K9437
654
AKJ
97South opened 1NT. I passed. North bid 2C (Stayman) and South answered the question with 2D. North now bid 2NT and everyone passed.
I considered my opening lead. South did not have a four card major. Should I follow the book and lead my ‘fourth highest of longest and strongest’? That seemed reasonable enough, but the bidding told me that partner had a three count at most and would be unlikely to be able to get in to return a club. It seemed best to make a more passive lead and lead the jack of spades. But North had expressed an interest in at least one major. What to do? I decided to lead the ace of hearts! At least I would see what dummy had in the majors and could still switch to a low club as a last resort. To my surprise, partner gave me a strong positive signal, the nine since we were playing old fashioned high-low to encourage and discourage. I then followed with the queen and a third round, partner taking the next heart tricks. I signalled strongly in clubs and we then took two club tricks for one down, which as it turned out was a top score. EUREKA! I had found a ‘forbidden’ opening lead that had resulted in an unexpected result as well as the realisation that there is little real difference between the ace lead when holding the king as well, and when holding the QUEEN as well. But ONLY when holding exactly three cards in the suit, AQx to be precise. That is because the queen will be either sitting in a finessible position anyway, or, being in a short suit, will be helpful in establishing tricks for partner who may need as little as Jxxx in the suit. But read on.....the next chapter will open your eyes further!
