Friday, November 28, 2008

It's your lead: Part II

Here's the full deal from yesterday's post (deal rotated for reader's convenience):









K85
7
AT753
AKQ5

A92
QT62
J64
J43



















The auction had gone: (1S) P (2D) 2H; (3D) 4H (6S) [all pass]. I hoped that the opponents were 5-4 in diamonds, so I led the four of diamonds, planning to hop in with the ace of spades on the first round and triumphantly give a diamond ruff. Besides, with LHO's jump to 6S, it didn't sound like he had any hearts... so, the four of diamonds came out.

I was mildly surprised to see a heart in dummy, but had no worries-- trusty partner would give me trump suit preference! A high spade would show the ace of hearts, and a low spade would show a singleton diamond.

Declarer won in hand and led the queen of spades. I jumped with the ace, and partner played... the four! Thrilled with my chain of reasoning, I led another diamond. The whole hand, of course, was:









K85
7
AT753
AKQ5

A92
QT62
J64
J43

43
AJ9853
92
T82

QJT76
K4
KQ8
976