This Week At North Penn

Monday, 4/07

Tuesday, 4/08

Wednesday, 4/09

Thursday, 4/10

Friday, 4/11

Saturday, 4/12

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Education

Joann Glasson's April Zoom classes will be held on Monday, April 7 & 21 at 10:00 a.m. See flyer for details.

Linda O'Malley will teach Beginner Part 2 Bridge Lessons at the club on Monday evenings from April 14 - May 19. See flyer for details.

Deal of the Week

by Andy Kauffman

Oh MY! What A Difference A Lead Makes Part 5

In our previous installments we covered the “art” of opening leads for Suit Contracts; as well as, for No Trump Contract which considered many factors including: the auction, form of scoring (matchpoints vs. imps). Hope those pointers given in previous articles have given you food for thought and improved your results at the table. Since opening leads are partly art and partly science one never gets this right on every hand. All to hope for is that stopping to think and consider your opening leads based on all information available will continue to improve your results. Today we will take a look at opening leads from some deals that occurred at the Spring Nationals in Memphis during the NAP Flight A event.

Deal #5: Playing with Michael Shuster in the NAP Flight A finals, we were sitting in 8th place going into the 2nd day. A couple hands set us back due to opening leads which left us in 12th place going into the final session. One of those deals came up where I needed to find the “best” lead against a 3NT contract at matchpoints.

Analysis: This hand provides some implications when reviewing the auction prior to deciding on your opening lead.  This one appears straight forward and indicates that a major suit lead is called for. South bid 5 card Stayman, which normally denies a 4-card major and opener denied holding a 5 card major but may hold one or both 4 card majors. Your partner is marked with some values (7-10 HCP’s) based on the auction.  So which major should I lead? Spades is the longer suit, so has the potential to provide more tricks on defense but lacks any honors. If leading spades you should lead the “8” which indicates 2^nd highest from length of 4+ lacking an honor.  If deciding to lead hearts, one should lead low (4^th best or attitude depending on your agreements). This indicates an honor holding and a suit looking for a continuation when partner gets in.

Reasoning & Results:   Either lead could be best on a given layout, which makes bridge so interesting. Unfortunately, I chose a spade which allowed declarer to make 10 tricks and a 12% MP score for us 😒,  where a heart lead would hold the contract to 9 tricks and a 40% score. Both results are under average since most of the field was not in this 3NT game playing in a club partial instead. At MP’s those over and under tricks makes a big difference to your final results!   Here is the full deal….

Analysis: This one appears even more straight forward and indicates leading partner’s suit (especially to make him happy 😊), unless you have another obvious choice.  Unfortunately, this is another example of how MP’s can be very cruel for doing normal things.

Reasoning & Results: You have no indication that any other lead is better than leading partner’s opening spade suit. I led the spade “6” (top of nothing), since this is the indicated lead when you have raised partner’s suit in the auction. Once again unfortunately, I chose the normal spade lead which allowed declarer to make 10 tricks and a 12% MP score for us 😒.  An unusual heart lead would hold the contract to 9 tricks and a 40% score. Once again, both results are under average since most of the field was not in this 3NT game playing in a club partial instead even though the club game also makes. Welcome to Matchpoints!   Here is the full deal….

Analysis: This hand turned out to be fortuitous. South decided to open 1C which placed most if not all the missing HCPs in their hand. Would have been better placed if passing in first seat or 3C, but feel hand is too good for 1^st/2^nd seat pre-empt. You may not like or agree with our auction, but we found ourselves in 7S needing to make. Looking for a top board partner drove to the grand slam with their club void (we don’t play void showing RKC).

Reasoning & Results:   South should believe that leading the club ace in this auction is not indicated since West went on to 7S so should expect a void. In a slam contract, normally a trump lead can be best and not likely to give anything away to declarer. Leading an Ace at MP’s is often right, but only if you believe it is cashing. Leading away from unsupported honors is especially not indicated and often gives away a trick to declarer except perhaps if was from an unbid suit or partner doubled for that lead in the auction. There are always exceptions in practice, but above guidance is sound.  At our table South led their club ace thus making 7S much easier prospect. Was able to ruff 2 clubs, one with the spade ace then draw trumps as long as no worse then 4-1.  Can then cash the AK of diamonds to see if Q falls, and if not take the heart finesse for the 13^th trick. As you can see making the much better trump “4” lead makes this hand much more difficult! Now need to rely on setting up the heart suit and hope spades behave with a 3-2 break. When trumps don’t break favorably, then remaining hope is to find the diamond “Q” doubleton with South. There are other complicated lines, but as it so happened after the club ace lead, I was able to roll in +2210 and a 100% top. Here is the full deal….

Until next time, happy leading!

Ask the Expert

Email your questions, or a pesky hand, or something you’d like to know about bidding or playing to Toysie Walker. She will forward them to the panel, one will be chosen, and the question and answers will be printed in the following week’s newsletter.

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