All News

LEADING AGAINST SLAMS

There are those who think leading against slams is a pretty random occupation. Actually, “leading” against any contract is pretty random. By the time they have key carded or cue-bid their way to slam, you may have a little more idea of what is right or wrong…or shall we ruefully say “wrong or less wrong”.

Most were on lead to 6NT in our first exhibit. Shutting your eyes and asking a 2 year old to select a card would have had as much chance of success as a more measured approach… but one pair strayed one level higher. With spades bid on one’s left and hearts and possibly clubs on the right, South had a rather unsensational choice from:  J5   J9532 875 832. The actual choice was the 7 which left declarer looking at:

                                Dummy                                                    Declarer

                                 A764                                                 KQ2

                                 AQT                                                  K764

                                AJT                                                      Q6      

                                KQ9                                                   AJ65

No doubt, East would have wished they were a level lower. Assuming South has not led away from the king (a brilliant lead if they have), there was the hope that both majors would break, a 36% chance in spades, slightly better in hearts as the jack might be doubleton. “Crime” (overbidding) did not pay as spades did not behave while that J was not being exposed in a hurry! East could ruefully reflect that rising with A. coming to hand to take the heart finesse and running winners would have produced 13 tricks with North squeezed in spades and diamonds:

 

A little used bid would have saved East their imp loss. When East opens or rebids 1NT to show 15-16 or 15-17, West can jump to 5NT, forcing to 6NT if East were minimum but asking East to bid the grand if maximum. An easy decision for East this time.

The stakes were a little higher for West, on lead to 6NT at one table on this next board after this unrevealing auction:

                                                North                               South

                                                1                                   1

                                                2                                    4NT

                                                5 (2 key cards, no Q) 6NT

West held:  QJ3   T832  J82  QT9.

Any thoughts?

There is the over-aggressive club, the aggressive spade (both top honours will be on your right, (“n’est pas?”), the possibly safe but how can you bring you bring yourself to take the risk diamond or the conservative heart. 6NT.. a touch of conservatism seems a good idea. You would this time have survived the diamond lead but aggression would have produced a nasty defensive result:

 

While South may have been a little aggressive, they were entitled from the bidding to a little stronger or longer (or both!) diamond suit than North displayed. Sometimes, the boringly passive recommended lead is the winner. I must remember that next time the opponents come home in 6NT off AK of a suit!

6 met the same negative fate as 6NT with only Deal Master Pro finding the cold 6which only required spades and diamonds to break 3-3…about 18%.

On then to the third lead which had the potential of being the most crucial. North was on lead with another very “inspiring” collection:

87

10983

JT6 

AJ4

                West                     North                    East                        South

                                                                                                                2 (weak 2)

                x                              3                          x ¹                                     4

                4NT                        Pass                       5²                         Pass

                6                         All Pass

¹ good spade raise

² 2 key cards, no Q

The above may have been a typical auction. Note South’s 4 bid showing extra shape as North’s bid was not invitational. When you see the South hand, you might argue they could have steered their partner to the right lead by doubling the final contract. In a vacuum, the diamond lead seems a very long shot, though we trust you would have found that switch after you led A and received a very discouraging card from partner!

 

 

As you can see, a diamond lead not only defeats 6but also 4. No East- West pair found 6with West as declarer. Of course, in either slam, diamonds must be played correctly, leading the king from the West hand first as if South has all four diamonds, nothing can be done to avoid a trick in that suit. Two pairs slithered home in 6 after the A lead but only one pair beat the contract after that lead. Two more declarers found there was no happy ending when they had to play clubs themselves after receiving heart leads.

The third deal demonstrated there are times to be patient when defending a slam though I prefer to be aggressive if possible against 6 of a suit, more defensive against 6NT. Leading an ace is more of a Pairs lead though if South’s 4call did show extreme shape, then iA had more merit. While the passive heart worked fine this time against 6, had declarer or dummy held the Q, instead of one the small club pips, only a minor lead would have been successful.

So, next time you are on lead to a slam with very little, there may just be a clue in the bidding to help you. The aggressive A in the last example was fine as long as the correct switch was found. Only a foolish person with money to squander would say a certain style of lead was an out and out winner. Not I !

Richard Solomon

 

 

Go Back View All News Items