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Wrong but Right.

Could it be because this deal occurred in a Pairs competition that so few pairs bid to an excellent slam? Let’s be generous and say “yes”. Perhaps some East-West spade intervention did not enable North to reverse.  For now, we will give you an opening lead problem where one’s opponents had indeed bid all the way to grand slam.

 

North showed 4 diamonds and longer clubs with their reverse to 2. 3 was natural and game forcing (South would make a different bid…2NT or 2 4th suit) with a weaker hand and diamond support.

3 might have been initially 4^th suit forcing but in bidding to grand slam, one’s opponents had to have first round control of spades. 4 was a cue bid (1^st or 2^nd round control) and 5 showed 0 or 3 key cards. North would surely expect it to be 3!

With all that information, what is your choice of opening lead?

From what we know and from the East hand, it looks like a trump would be a wonderful lead against the grand slam (both safe and potentially to cut down ruffs). If one did not lead a trump, then K would have some merit though you are not trying to beat the grand by 2 tricks. Therefore, the lead of a high honour might just on some days help declarer, though not on this day.

Against 6, you might choose to lead your singleton club just in case your partner held A but not, surely, against the grand slam. Although leading to dummy’s strength may be safe, leading away from J64 could just give declarer a free finesse. So, it does seem best to lead a trump.

Unfortunately, a trump lead would not be successful as these were the four hands.

 

As long as declarer wins the opening lead with 8 (play 2 from the South hand), they should make their contract. A is followed by a heart ruff with Q and then 10 to J to be followed by a second heart ruff with A. North can now play a club to the ace and draw East’s 2 remaining trumps with K9 before making the last 6 tricks with 5 clubs and the A.

That line is essential because of the 4-1 trump break and unluckily for North will fail if East leads their singleton club as they can only overtake once in trumps to get back to the South hand to draw trumps. Either East will get a trump promotion with D7 or more likely can ruff the second round of clubs.

Only four pairs bid to a diamond slam, 3 to 6 and Mt Albert's Bigi Cameron and KC Lee to 7. In 6, declarer can give up a spade ( after a spade lead) and ruff a spade in the South hand though to make 13, it is essential two hearts are ruffed as stated above. That is what Bigi (South) did after receiving 9 lead to scoop all the match-points.

So, with North as declarer, it was best for the defence that East led their singleton against the grand slam… wrong tactics normally but the one which would work here. Meanwhile, to score one trick, West needs to lead dummy’s first bid suit, also not particularly appealling. Let’s just say that those few pairs who bid to slam deserved their success.

Richard Solomon

 

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