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Playing a 32-board KO IMPS match against a team you would be expected to beat on paper, you are all of 8 imps up going into the 3rd set. Here's a lead problem:
74
Q964
J1043
J83
game all, RHO deals. They play 4CM, weak NT and accordingly respond up the line (not bypassing diamonds).
1♣ P 1♦ x
3♣ P 3♠ x
3NT P P P
Partner's double of 1♦ absolutely promised at least 4 cards in each major (unless he had a real powerhouse in which case 3NT would not have ended the auction).
I suggest you lead a major. Which one?
Your lead How much does he want them led?
#1
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Posted 2006-January-28, 16:50
#2
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Posted 2006-January-28, 17:01
Depends on what the double meant on 3♠... I play it anti-lead directing so I'd lead ♥. However when partner asks the lead by doubling, just trust him. Also it might be interesting what 3♠ means: stopper or stopper ask?
There are too many variables without answers to make a good decision at this moment.
There are too many variables without answers to make a good decision at this moment.
"It may be rude to leave to go to the bathroom, but it's downright stupid to sit there and piss yourself" - blackshoe
#3
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Posted 2006-January-28, 17:04
Lead a heart. If dummy has, say, KJxx of spades, pard might not know to shift to a heart. If we have 3 heart tricks to take, then I can play a spade through dummy later.
#4
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Posted 2006-January-28, 17:11
Free, on Jan 29 2006, 12:01 AM, said:
Depends on what the double meant on 3♠... I play it anti-lead directing so I'd lead ♥. However when partner asks the lead by doubling, just trust him. Also it might be interesting what 3♠ means: stopper or stopper ask?
There are too many variables without answers to make a good decision at this moment.
There are too many variables without answers to make a good decision at this moment.
3♠ ostensibly showed a suit, but it could simply be showing a stopper.
Double of 3♠ suggested a spade lead.
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Posted 2006-January-28, 17:18
♠
'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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Posted 2006-January-28, 17:49
4 of H
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Posted 2006-January-28, 18:09
Spade, if this is wrong I move on to the next board. Pd asked spades I lead spades.
The legend of the black octogon.
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Posted 2006-January-28, 18:47
IMO ♠ 10 ♥ 9. Partner's X would normally just
show ♠ preference e.g.
[A] ♠AQJ9 ♥Txxx ♦xx ♣AJx when a ♠ may work best
[B] ♠AQxxx ♥KTxx ♦x ♣Kxx when a ♥may be better
show ♠ preference e.g.
[A] ♠AQJ9 ♥Txxx ♦xx ♣AJx when a ♠ may work best
[B] ♠AQxxx ♥KTxx ♦x ♣Kxx when a ♥may be better
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Posted 2006-January-29, 04:02
I'll lead ♠, partner asked them, so I'll give him the trust he earned...
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#10
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Posted 2006-January-29, 04:10
I think spades is clearly better. I think this double should be a strong statement, not just "I have better spades than hearts", because it does give them useful bidding room (to right-side 3NT, for example).
Also, if we need tricks from two suits (not unlikely), hearts should be led from partner's side since dummy apparently doesn't have a heart stop.
Arend
Also, if we need tricks from two suits (not unlikely), hearts should be led from partner's side since dummy apparently doesn't have a heart stop.
Arend
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Posted 2006-January-29, 04:43
7♠ as I believe P has asked for a ♠ lead with his X of opps ♠ bid 
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Posted 2006-January-29, 20:39
FrancesHinden, on Jan 28 2006, 06:11 PM, said:
Free, on Jan 29 2006, 12:01 AM, said:
Depends on what the double meant on 3♠... I play it anti-lead directing so I'd lead ♥. However when partner asks the lead by doubling, just trust him. Also it might be interesting what 3♠ means: stopper or stopper ask?
There are too many variables without answers to make a good decision at this moment.
There are too many variables without answers to make a good decision at this moment.
3♠ ostensibly showed a suit, but it could simply be showing a stopper.
Double of 3♠ suggested a spade lead.
dble of 3S shows only stopper? then what if opps Re-dbl? To me, this dbl over 3S is clearly penalty, and thus, dbl of 3N asks for S lead.
Senshu
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Posted 2006-January-29, 23:02
I would lead a high spade.
Please note: I am interested in boring, bog standard, 2/1.
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Posted 2006-January-30, 00:52
Spade. At least if it's wrong partner won't be glaring at me 
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Posted 2006-January-30, 05:53
I'm leading a spade as well, simply because my partner has asked me to. I need a very good reason to overrule my partner, and Q964 is not a good reason
#16
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Posted 2006-January-30, 06:40
I guess a spade.
If partner holds
KQJTx
KJxx
xx
Ax
I really don't want to be explaining why I thought a heart was a better choice after partner asked for a spade. After 1C-1D the above looks like a double to me although I suppose there could be a difference of opinion here.
Ken
If partner holds
KQJTx
KJxx
xx
Ax
I really don't want to be explaining why I thought a heart was a better choice after partner asked for a spade. After 1C-1D the above looks like a double to me although I suppose there could be a difference of opinion here.
Ken
Ken
#17
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Posted 2006-January-30, 07:10
kenberg, that hand would be a good reason to lead a spade. But in real life pards tend to double for the lead on.. let's say.. less solid holdings 
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Posted 2006-January-30, 07:20
If he wanted to let me think about which major to lead, why would he double.
I don't buy that this one is a lead-inhibiting double, it would be too dangerous.
I lead a ♠.
I don't buy that this one is a lead-inhibiting double, it would be too dangerous.
I lead a ♠.
#19
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Posted 2006-January-30, 08:02
whereagles, on Jan 30 2006, 08:10 AM, said:
kenberg, that hand would be a good reason to lead a spade. But in real life pards tend to double for the lead on.. let's say.. less solid holdings
Yes, so I have noticed.
But less might be enough. For example, partner might have KJTxx. The auction is compatible with dummy holding Axxx and declarer Qx. If declarer rises, the spades are ready to run. If he goes low, partner takes his king and shifts to a heart. We get a spade, three hearts and the outside club card. (If we have no club trick, I doubt we are beating this regardless of the lead).
There are other possibilities. Mainly I see this as
a. No club trick no set
b. After we get a club trick we need four other tricks, not three
c. If I lead a spade, declarer cannot hold up to exahust my spades since then a heart switch would do him in.
This last might be important if partner has the Qx of clubs instead of the ace. If declarer takes the first round of spades I still have an entry to partmer's hand when I am in with my Jack of clubs. If declarer ducks the first round a heart switch beats him.
I accept that partner is just doing his best to advise me of the best lead with the double, he isn't guaranteeing this will work. But there are a reasonable number of holdings where it will work and I'll follow hiw advice here.
One thing that has not been mentioned is his lack of a double of 3NT. It could be that if partner held the hand I gave him earlier he would double 3NT, saying trust me pard, we have this beat, just lead the damn spade. He wouldn't do that with Qx of clubs though, and we still have it beat if he has decent spades. So I still lead a spade.
Ken
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Posted 2006-January-30, 09:33
While walking the (real-life) dog this morning I figured I should probably look at hands that don't involve partner holding five spades. Suppose he holds
KQTx
AJxx
xxx
Qx
Certainly a minimum (or sub-minimum) for either of his doubles. One of the opponents holds four spades, probably dummy
Give dummy Axxx in spades, declarer Jxx
On a spade lead, again declarer must rise or the heart shift kills him. But then you get three spades, a heart, a club.
Suppose you lead a heart at trick 1. If partner goes up with his ace and continues a heart, declarer establishes clubs while you take three hearts and a club. It won't help for partner to duck the heart or to rise and switch to a spade.
So, with this minimal holding from partner, a spade lead beats it, a heart lead doesn't.
While it could be right to lead a heart, it seems sensible to follow partner's guidance here.
Ken
KQTx
AJxx
xxx
Qx
Certainly a minimum (or sub-minimum) for either of his doubles. One of the opponents holds four spades, probably dummy
Give dummy Axxx in spades, declarer Jxx
On a spade lead, again declarer must rise or the heart shift kills him. But then you get three spades, a heart, a club.
Suppose you lead a heart at trick 1. If partner goes up with his ace and continues a heart, declarer establishes clubs while you take three hearts and a club. It won't help for partner to duck the heart or to rise and switch to a spade.
So, with this minimal holding from partner, a spade lead beats it, a heart lead doesn't.
While it could be right to lead a heart, it seems sensible to follow partner's guidance here.
Ken
Ken