[Jinksy]

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Matchpoints against LOLs. Your lead?

ETA:

If you lead A♣, you see this dummy:

xxxx
Kxx
ATxxx
Q

P plays the 2♣. Now what?

[Jinksy]

(2♠ was weak)

[whereagles]

♣A, again on Bird/Anthias grounds... lol.

[chasetb]

The first thought that popped in my mind was the A♣. We can always switch to a Heart if need be.

[billw55]

I will try ♠A and probably another. If partner has his bid, then ops are short on high cards, and I want to limit declarer's ruffs.

[gszes]

small spade

hardly a guarantee of success but it does have some advantages over
the guesswork of other leads.

1 we still retain control of trumps
2 we will have a much better idea of how to defend after seeing the dummy
3 even though the opps may have 10 spades we can maybe find stiff K with p
4 we are unlikely to cut down on any more ruffs leading the A vs small

[eagles123]

https://www.youtube....h?v=1iwC2QljLn4

[Jinksy]

I've updated the OP for the A♣ leaders - what's your next card?

[eagles123]

well the 2 of clubs from p looks like wanting a diamond shift?

[Cyberyeti]

eagles123, on 2014-October-02, 15:30, said:

https://www.youtube....h?v=1iwC2QljLn4

or https://www.youtube....h?v=cYJUywl7CFw

I want to lead a spade, small spade risks extra ruffs if there are 2 voids or void + singleton diamond + ace of diamonds between the two hands, so I play ace and another, if partner has stiff K that's unfortunate.

[the hog]

I lead A of S and another S.This auction is impossible unless p has the S sown up.

[billw55]

Jinksy, on 2014-October-02, 11:48, said:

If you lead A♣, you see this dummy:

xxxx
Kxx
ATxxx
Q

P plays the 2♣. Now what?

Now I start wondering why partner doubled.

[Jinksy]

This was the full hand:

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Leading the AS at any stage cost the defence two tricks (which means the contract is making exactly), since the K was the only entry for him to lead a H through declarer's J, setting up two H tricks before declarer set up a D to discard one.

[mikeh]

I was going to lead a trump and I still think the trump is the standout lead. However, that doesn't have to be the A.

I think it close as to the correct trump. We have both rounded Aces, so unless they have, between them, solid diamonds either for pitches or for entries to declarer's hand with a side void in dummy, all very unlikely, a low trump can't cost.

The spade A has the advantage of allowing us to hold the lead, with the disadvantage of what actually happened (there are other very rare layouts where it costs as well). The spade 9 will usually work any time the A would, since we are likely to regain the lead before declarer can use all of dummy's trump, plus it retains control of trump.

Low from Ax in their suit is a little-known ploy but one that is sometimes appropriate.

I wouldn't do it if there were reason to worry that an immediate cross-ruff was about to happen, but as I say, our side Aces tend to negate that risk.

[Bbradley62]

Jinksy, on 2014-October-03, 09:19, said:

Leading the AS at any stage cost the defence two tricks (which means the contract is making exactly), since the K was the only entry for him to lead a H through declarer's J, setting up two H tricks before declarer set up a D to discard one.

I'm not getting how it cost the second trick. Isn't declarer likely to discard a heart from dummy on ♣K before you can collect 2 heart tricks, limiting defense to 2 spades and 2 outside aces, without specifically the low spade opening lead?

[Jinksy]

You're right. You need to lead a small S or H honour at trick one to get it 2 off.

[Jinksy]

mikeh, on 2014-October-03, 09:38, said:

I was going to lead a trump and I still think the trump is the standout lead. However, that doesn't have to be the A.

I think it close as to the correct trump. We have both rounded Aces, so unless they have, between them, solid diamonds either for pitches or for entries to declarer's hand with a side void in dummy, all very unlikely, a low trump can't cost.

I agree with this, but to me the small S seems like a standout after P's X. Surely you're expecting either the AD, in which case it prob doesn't matter much what you lead, or the KS for it?

I also think against club lols, there's a small chance they've bid like this with nine trumps missing the Q as well, in which case the A can still cost if the K's in dummy (I wouldn't expect them to draw inferences about the location of the QS from the lead).

[1eyedjack]

Not keen on 2nd X. But I know I don't X enough.

[monikrazy]

I agree with A♣ lead. My 2nd choice would be 9♦

Leading a trump seems unappealing to me. On an auction like this, I expect partner often doubles with expectations of getting a ruff.

[mikeh]

monikrazy, on 2014-October-05, 12:04, said:

I agree with A♣ lead. My 2nd choice would be 9♦

Leading a trump seems unappealing to me. On an auction like this, I expect partner often doubles with expectations of getting a ruff.

The opps have announced possession of about 9-10 trumps, and we have a doubleton. If partner has a stiff on the side, he has 10 or 11 cards in the remaining 2 suits, where we have indicated length and strength, to a modest degree, by our takeout double.

There is no realistic prospect that partner doubled expecting a ruff.

This type of double shows that (1) we own the hand....partner looks at his or her hand in the context of the bidding and expresses the view that they lack the values to make game, and (2) partner has no reason to think that we can make a high-level contract.

That is ALL the double says. Note that with a hand with short spades and a side stiff, and values, partner would almost always choose to compete at the 5-level.

Bear in mind that you made a 'takeout' double of 2♠, and while that doesn't deny Ax in spades, it is often based on shortness there. A useful guide for advancing partner's takeout doubles is to assume a minimum hcp hand (the minimum depends on the level of the bidding and style) with 1=4=4=4 shape. Partner may well not have 1=4=4=4 shape, but if not will usually have some extra strength to compensate for being 'off-shape' so the strategy is generally sound.