Polling You #71, Active Leads Against Suit Contracts, Day 2

(please click Title/Heading to view entire article)
 

——-

In our last episode we explored the basics of opening leads against suit contracts.   Recall the sequence leads, basic “fourth best” (from an honor) and “top of nothing” leads work often work well against both Notrump and suit contracts – provided we are not underleading an Ace. 

In this lesson, we examine situations when making an aggressive “active” lead may help us generate extra tricks.  Recall as defenders we must pay special attention to prevent the declarer from finding extra tricks through ruffs, cross-ruffs, and side-suit promotions after the declarer pulls trump.

Click here to view Part 1 of the video commentary

Free Membership – Click here to view Part 2, hands #3-4 of our video commentary

Premium/ULTRA Members – Click here to view Part 3, Hands 5-7 of our video commentary

Active Defense Situations:

1. Opponent may setup a long side suit
2. Opponent may setup ruffs/cross-ruffs, etc.
3. Opponents are in a high-level contract (5+ level)
4. Partnership tenaces (finesses) are in jeopardy
5. Desperate times call for desperate measures!

While active leads have their place, here are some situations to consider when making an aggressive lead may not be wise:

1. Partner give clear lead direction
   1. Partner opened, overcalled a major suit (thus 5+ card suit), doubled an artificial bid by the opponents
2. Trump lead reduced opponents ruffing ability
3. Safe sequence lead is best (as Ace from Ace-King)
4. Opponents have minimal strength (part score contract)
5. Partner cannot hold helpful honor
6. Right Hand Opponent (declarer) bid strongly, but not in a slam contract
   1. Open 1 Notrump (15-17), rebid 2 Notrump (18-19), open 2 Notrump (20-21)
   2. Opener reverses as: 1C – 1H; 2D … (17+ points)
   3. Opener makes a strong jump shift as: 1D – 1H; 3C… (19+ points)

Of course, as thoughtful defenders both the opening leader and partner should be attentively listening to the auction, including mannerisms, gestures and the like made by the opponents.   At the top of our short list, leading against suit contracts includes:

1. count, Count, COUNT and Think 
2. Count points
3. Count Distribution
4. Count Tricks (auction level)
5. Integrate auction inferences into partnership plan

Polling You #71, Hand 1

Board 3 South Deals E-W Vul	♠ A 8 ♥ A K Q J 8 ♦ J 10 9 ♣ 10 8 4
♠ 9 3 ♥ 9 4 3 2 ♦ A 3 2 ♣ K J 9 2	N W E S	♠ 6 4 2 ♥ 10 7 6 5 ♦ 8 7 6 ♣ A 7 6
	♠ K Q J 10 7 5 ♥ — ♦ K Q 5 4 ♣ Q 5 3

West	North	East	South
			1 ♠
Pass	2 ♥	Pass	2 ♠
Pass	3 ♠	Pass	4 ♠
All pass

Trick	West	North	East	South
1. W	♣ 2	♣ 4	♣ A	♣ 3
2. E	♣ J	♣ 8	♣ 7	♣ 5
3. W	♦ A	♦ 9	♦ 6	♦ 4
4. W	♣ K	♣ 10	♣ 6	♣ Q
5. W	♣ 9	♥ 8	♦ 8	♠ 5

South opens 1 Spade with 14 High Card Points plus 2 distribution points for a great 6 card long suit.  North responds 2 Hearts with 15 HCP, also with an excellent Heart suit (although the worthless 3-3 in the minors is a negative).  South rebids 2 Spades which may or may not show a 6 card suit depending on partnership agreements.  With an Ace-doubleton, North rebids 3 Spades and South signs off in 4 Spades with no interest in slam (Heart misfit).

With 8 HCP, West figures declarer may get pitches on dummy’s 5+ card Heart suit and partner East could hold a useful minor suit honor. Leading the Club 2, luck is with the defenders when East produces the Ace.  East returns the Club 7 (top of doubleton remaining count), ducked by South to West’s Jack.  Just in case South held a Club doubleton, West first wins the Diamond Ace before cashing the Club King to set declarer one trick before declarer could pitch losers on dummy’s Hearts.

Polling You #71, Hand 2

Board 3 South Deals E-W Vul	♠ A J 6 ♥ A J 9 8 7 2 ♦ K ♣ 9 8 3
♠ K 10 5 2 ♥ 4 3 ♦ J 10 9 7 ♣ A 7 2	N W E S	♠ Q 9 8 4 ♥ Q 10 6 5 ♦ A Q 6 5 2 ♣ —
	♠ 7 3 ♥ K ♦ 8 4 3 ♣ K Q J 10 6 5 4

West	North	East	South
			3 ♣
Pass	3 ♥	Pass	4 ♣
Pass	5 ♣	All pass

Trick	West	North	East	South
1. W	♠ 2	♠ A	♠ 8	♠ 3
2. N	♥ 3	♥ 2	♥ 5	♥ K
3. S	♦ 7	♦ K	♦ A	♦ 4
4. E	♠ K	♠ 6	♠ 4	♠ 7
5. W	♠ 5	♠ J	♠ Q	♣ 5
6. S	♣ 2	♣ 8	♦ 2	♣ 6
7. N	♣ A	♣ 3	♦ 5	♣ Q
8. W	♥ 4	♥ A	♥ 6	♦ 3
9. N	♦ 9	♥ 7	♥ 10	♣ 10
10. S	♦ 10	♣ 9	♦ 6	♦ 8
11. N	♣ 7	♥ 8	♥ Q	♣ J

South preemptively open 3 Clubs with a solid 7 card suit and a questionable stiff Heart King.  Sure enough, North responds 3 Hearts a forcing bid with hopes partner South has a three card suit (or honor doubleton) – nothing like a double fit in Hearts and Clubs.  With a problematic Heart singleton, South rebids 4 Clubs wondering if 4 Hearts might be best with a great honor albeit a singleton.  Not wanting to miss game with Club support and 3 useful controls (2 major suit Aces and a singleton Diamond, North presses on to 5 Clubs.

On lead and hearing of North’s Heart suit, West lads the Spade 2 through North’s strength, won with the Ace and East encouraging with the Spade 8.  Declarer plays a low Heart to South’s singleton King and decides to ruff losers by returning a Diamond to East’s King.  East returns the Spade 4 to West’s King and plays a third Spade that is ruffed by South.  Next declarer plays a low Club, ducked by West (in case East holds a singleton King) to the dummy’s 8.  On the second Club, East pitches a Diamond and West win’s the Club Ace to set the South by one trick before the declarer could pitch a loser on the dummy’s Heart Ace.

Please login or register to view this content.
Please login or register to view this content.
Please login or register to view this content.

Happy Bridge Trails and Tales,

BridgeHands