[mike777]

bidding is:

1d=p=p=(1h)
p=(2d)=p=(2h)
p=(2nt)=p=p
x=p=p=p



your hand is:
6532...Q854....32....Q82


your lead and why?

[mike777]

bump

[dwar0123]

Well, clubs is out, partner could have bid them instead of diamonds if he had them, diamonds is out cause its the obvious lead and the double and the nt bid makes me want to lead something else. Partner is very unlikely to have 4 hearts and probably 3 at most making hearts not a source of tricks.

So its spades, I'll choose the 6 of spades, I've been called out by some pickup players for leading top of nothing in a 4 card suit but I really like the idea that a 4th best lead shows something.

[Wackojack]

Thinking aloud! Partner did not make a take-out double of 1♥ therefore does not have 4 spades. Partner did not rebid 1NT or 2♦and yet must be strong to double for penalties opposite a hand with 0-4 points. Possibilities:

1. Partner has 19+ points with a 3253 distribution with no stop in hearts, so could not rebid 1NT.
2. Partner has a 1444 distribution. This would mean that LHO has a void in hearts and something like 12 points and was trying to improve the contract. Why not bid 2NT after partner's 1♥ overcall then?

Why did partner double? With a likely 18 or 19 we have to assume it is lead directing and discouraging a diamond lead. So I have to go for possibility 2. A lead of a spade or a club is out and we have to believe partner and not the oppenents so I lead 4♥. This could be spectacularly wrong.