FrancesHinden, on 2012-October-29, 13:15, said:
Well, when I set up the poll it didn't occur to me that anyone would want to lead a suit preference diamond. Shows what I know....
I would treat the DK as 'other'
The 2 of diamonds is your systemic lead in the suit anyway (third highest from even, lowest from odd).
It probably won't apply on this hand, where it's unlikely that any high card tricks will disappear, but in general partner will expect an accurate length lead from your suit so he knows how many are cashing.
I agree organising your ruff is a concern, but telling partner to finesse out declarer's CK isn't something I'm worried about. He knows as well as we do that declarer has the HA, the CA or the CK (or the DA)
Aren't any of the diamond leaders worried that the opening lead will be ruffed?
I, for one, was definitely concerned about that.
I was concerned, for example, that dummy has the void diamond and declarer the heart A, such that he scores 2 ruffs on a diamond lead. Having said that, I have difficulty with partner having a hand worth 6
♦ rather than a forcing pass when he is missing the heart AK. void QJx AQxx KQJxxx? I'd bid 6 with that hand, but we're getting very specific.
If there were a clearly correct lead, then I doubt that this would have been posted.
As for hooking the club, that wasn't primarily the reason for the suit preference diamond lead. Yes, it works when partner holds QJ clubs, but when he holds the K, he'll presumably play a count card at some early point and I'll hope to know what to do re the hearts/club issue.
'one of the great markers of the advance of human kindness is the howls you will hear from the Men of God' Johann Hari