If partner has bid a suit, would you ever consider NOT leading it? All things being equal, you would lead partner’s suit: at least you retain partnership harmony. However there are times where this is clearly the wrong strategy.
North Deals N-S Vul |
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West | North | East | South |
1 ♦ | 1 ♥1 | 3 NT2 | |
All pass |
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What happened
West looked no further than partner’s hearts when selecting his opening lead to 3 NT. ♥ 7 went to East’s ♥ Q. Declarer won ♥ A and led ♦ 10, winning the trick when West ducked. Dummy’s ♦ J won the second diamond, West ducking again, but his ♦ A took the third, as East threw ♣ 2 and declarer ♠ 5. East’s play of ♥ Q at Trick One told West that declarer held ♥ J, so West switched to ♠ 4 (best - but too late). Declarer rose with dummy’s ♠ K, cashed the three promoted diamonds, then forced out ♣ A. All the defence scored was ♦ A, ♣ A and ♥ K. Game made plus one.
What should have happened
After he heard South jump to 3 NT, West should have made the following deductions.
Therefore it was most unlikely that partner’s hearts could be set up. West should have led a spade, the “sneak attack”. On ♠ 4 lead, declarer cannot make 3 NT. Best technique is to play ♠ 7 from dummy and let East’s ♠ J win the trick. By winning the second spade and exhausting East of the suit, he will still survive if East has a minor-suit ace (with no more spades to lead).
Not here. Winning Trick Two with ♠ A and leading ♦ 10, declarer sees West win ♦ A and lead a third spade. He wins ♠ K and cashes diamonds, but as soon as he leads a club, West wins ♣ A and cashes two long spades. Down one.
If you remember one thing...
Don’t lead partner’s suit if declarer seems ready for it or (notrumps) if your hand has more entries.