http://oldprofbridge.com/2009/04/27/event-is-on-the-line-solution/ Contract Bridge Themes with a Midwest Accent! Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:04:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.9 http://oldprofbridge.com/2009/04/27/event-is-on-the-line-solution/#comment-17144 Fri, 01 May 2009 00:33:48 +0000 http://oldprofbridge.com/2009/04/27/event-is-on-the-line-solution/#comment-17144 I wonder if I should have found the 10 lead on our auction--it was a little different. My partner opened 1 Spade in 3rd chair and the big hand doubled. I raised to 2 Spades and after two passes the auction continued 2NT-p-3D-p-3NT-all Pass. Now the 10 lead won't mislead partner about your length in the suit, but also declarer is much more likely to hold all the spade power, making the normal lead seem reasonable. I was surprised when dummy came down with such good spades, but maybe I should have been able to sniff things out from the table feel...the 2NT reopening came after a long ponder. I wonder if I should have found the 10 lead on our auction–it was a little different. My partner opened 1 Spade in 3rd chair and the big hand doubled. I raised to 2 Spades and after two passes the auction continued 2NT-p-3D-p-3NT-all Pass. Now the 10 lead won’t mislead partner about your length in the suit, but also declarer is much more likely to hold all the spade power, making the normal lead seem reasonable. I was surprised when dummy came down with such good spades, but maybe I should have been able to sniff things out from the table feel…the 2NT reopening came after a long ponder.

]]> http://oldprofbridge.com/2009/04/27/event-is-on-the-line-solution/#comment-17104 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:03:21 +0000 http://oldprofbridge.com/2009/04/27/event-is-on-the-line-solution/#comment-17104 I suspect you're correct that the 10 is the best lead, but there are a number of situations where it could be equally disastrous. You alluded to type of such situation, where declarer has the three spades, and you rightly pointed out that that not as likely as him having two. But there are also disasters where declarer has AJ opposite 9XX, or stiff A opposite QXXX. And what about the problems you create for partner even when neither lead should matter? For example, declarer has AX opposite J9X . If you lead small planning to follow with the 10 later, nothing can go wrog. But lead the 10, and when it goes J, Q, small, partner will stew for a long time, before he probably gets it wrong and switches to a suit declrer has controlled. I suspect you’re correct that the 10 is the best lead, but there are a number of situations where it could be equally disastrous. You alluded to type of such situation, where declarer has the three spades, and you rightly pointed out that that not as likely as him having two. But there are also disasters where declarer has AJ opposite 9XX, or stiff A opposite QXXX. And what about the problems you create for partner even when neither lead should matter? For example, declarer has AX opposite J9X . If you lead small planning to follow with the 10 later, nothing can go wrog. But lead the 10, and when it goes J, Q, small, partner will stew for a long time, before he probably gets it wrong and switches to a suit declrer has controlled.

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