I have my own opinion but I'll see what you guys think first.
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What's your lead?
#4
Posted Today, 06:48
kereru67, on 2024-November-22, 04:57, said:
Fairly standard, 2♣ game force, 2♥ is a biddable suit, 4nt blackwood, 5♣ no aces, 6♦ 1 king.
So in other Words Dummy should show up with KTxxx in hearts.
I would go with a spade.
With kind regards
Uwe Gebhardt (P_Marlowe)
Uwe Gebhardt (P_Marlowe)
#6
Posted Today, 13:04
Lol at this ‘standard’ auction…to NA eyes it’s very non-standard. It’s common in NA for a suit response to promise 2/3 top honours, or AKQ, 5+ length, and most play keycard over that and most play specific kings.
Ok, now that we know what the auction means….we can place north with Kxxxx in hearts and probably nothing meaningful extra.
Either declarer has a truly huge hand or he thinks he has a long running minor…AKQJxx(x). If the latter, then if it’s clubs, he’s probably right and if it’s diamonds we’ll need a lucky layout. Say 9xxxx for partner. But on those layouts, I’m struggling to find a losing lead, other than hearts.
What about AKJ Ax AKQJ9 AKQ? No defence…I’m squeezed in the majors on any lead. AKJ Ax AKQJ2 AKQ? If dummy has xxxx Kxxxx x xxx, a spade lead concedes the 12th trick and sets up the squeeze for the 13th.
I’ve gone back and forth on this, but trying to stay within the bounds of what would be permissible in a long team match, where taking five minutes on this decision would be acceptable. I’ve concluded that we need to be as passive as possible. I thought that meant diamonds. But then I flashed on A Ax AKJxxxxx AK….with partner holding Qxx. To me, it’s fractionally less likely that a club can cost….cost a trick? Maybe. Cost the contract by setting up a club suit that needs a finesse? Less likely.
So a club, without much confidence. Second choice…diamond. I’d rank this as club 90 diamond 80 spade 10 heart 0
Ok, now that we know what the auction means….we can place north with Kxxxx in hearts and probably nothing meaningful extra.
Either declarer has a truly huge hand or he thinks he has a long running minor…AKQJxx(x). If the latter, then if it’s clubs, he’s probably right and if it’s diamonds we’ll need a lucky layout. Say 9xxxx for partner. But on those layouts, I’m struggling to find a losing lead, other than hearts.
What about AKJ Ax AKQJ9 AKQ? No defence…I’m squeezed in the majors on any lead. AKJ Ax AKQJ2 AKQ? If dummy has xxxx Kxxxx x xxx, a spade lead concedes the 12th trick and sets up the squeeze for the 13th.
I’ve gone back and forth on this, but trying to stay within the bounds of what would be permissible in a long team match, where taking five minutes on this decision would be acceptable. I’ve concluded that we need to be as passive as possible. I thought that meant diamonds. But then I flashed on A Ax AKJxxxxx AK….with partner holding Qxx. To me, it’s fractionally less likely that a club can cost….cost a trick? Maybe. Cost the contract by setting up a club suit that needs a finesse? Less likely.
So a club, without much confidence. Second choice…diamond. I’d rank this as club 90 diamond 80 spade 10 heart 0
'one of the great markers of the advance of human kindness is the howls you will hear from the Men of God' Johann Hari
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