[The_Badger]

Personally I wouldn't have bid the two North and South hands this way (but most players reached a final 4♠ contract) however that's how my opponents bid the hand, and partner is on lead. What card would you have led? IMPs

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[eagles123]

low diamond

[nige1]

The_Badger, on 2017-August-02, 07:45, said:

Personally I wouldn't have bid the two North and South hands this way (but most players reached a final 4♠ contract) however that's how my opponents bid the hand, and partner is on lead. What card would you have led?

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I rank

• ♠ An attempt to cut down ruffs (although partner can probably over-ruff).
• ♦A Delcarer has 10+ cards in the Ms, and declarer might discard a diamond loser on a ♣.
• ♣ Force declarer to decide whether to finesse ♣s before he finds ♥s lie badly but if declarer is void in ♣s, then this could be a disaster,
• ♦ I admire eagles123's brave lead.

[StevenG]

A trump

[Tramticket]

IMPs or match points?

A trump at match points. I'm considering a diamond at IMPs (probably the ace, but a low diamond is an interesting idea).

[The_Badger]

Tramticket, on 2017-August-02, 09:33, said:

IMPs or match points?

A trump at match points. I'm considering a diamond at IMPs (probably the ace, but a low diamond is an interesting idea).

It's IMPs (apologies for missing that info.)

[Kaitlyn S]

I lead trump.

[ggwhiz]

♦A Declarer is 6-5-2-0?

[Jinksy]

Trump. It seems unlikely declarer has pitches from hand on hearts and enough trump control to ruff them in the short hand without either me getting in in hearts or partner getting in in spades.

[rmnka447]

A trump.

[rmnka447]

A trump.

[The_Badger]

Personally I would have led a trump myself. My partner led ♦A. Declarer's hand was ♠AJ8xx ♥AJ98x ♦xx ♣x, Dummy's was ♠KQx ♥void ♦QJxx ♣AQ10987

Thanks for all your replies. The contract is always there with correct play, but on principle I just wanted to see how other players would lead. I'm not keen on leading an unsupported ace in a suit contract (even in the suit that the opponents didn't bid)

[msjennifer]

The Badger spoiled my fun by giving all four hands too early.Personally ,I felt an attacking lead was a must and that a passive trump lead will not be useful at all.Hence,I would have led the Ace of Diamonds.

[RD350LC]

The_Badger, on 2017-August-03, 04:19, said:

Personally I would have led a trump myself. My partner led ♦A. Declarer's hand was ♠AJ8xx ♥AJ98x ♦xx ♣x, Dummy's was ♠KQx ♥void ♦QJxx ♣AQ10987

Thanks for all your replies. The contract is always there with correct play, but on principle I just wanted to see how other players would lead. I'm not keen on leading an unsupported ace in a suit contract (even in the suit that the opponents didn't bid)

I tend to agree with you. I really do not like leading an unsupported ace, and certainly will not underlead an ace in a suit contract.
I likely would have led a trump. Safest lead.

[johnu]

♦A. I can switch to a trump or continue diamonds depending on what happens. If I start with a trump, it may be too late to switch to a diamond or something else. An advantage for Rusinow leaders since the lead will be read as an unsupported ace (unless an unlikely AK doubleton).

[miamijd]

I probably lead the Ad, but a trump is OK, too.

Declarer is a passed hand who then bid game opposite a third-seat opener. He ought to be extremely distributional in the majors - at least 6-5 (yes, I know he wasn't, but ...). He also ought to have decent suits. That doesn't leave much of any strength for him in the minors. I would think it most unlikely declarer has the Kd on this auction, and if there is one high card partner ought to have, that's it. The trouble with leading a low diamond is that declarer could have a singleton and hop King. If you lead the A and he has a stiff, the pitch isn't going to do him much good.

If you don't lead a diamond, you might find declarer with 6520 and have him pitch a losing D on the Ac. Moreover, there is still time to switch to a trump after taking your diamond trick(s).

Cheers,
mike

[geoffff]

I lead Ace diamonds. Always worry about partner being finessed if I lead from a couple of small trumps. In this case, worried about declarer/dummy being short in diamonds and me not making Ace. I almost never underlead an Ace.