BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

YOU are West on lead against the above bidding. What would you lead, and why? YoU may know the rules about leading the top of a sequence or leading partner’s bid suit, in this case diamonds. But stop to think. You need four tricks if you are to defeat 4 , and there is not the slightest chance on your diamond holding that your partner will be able to win more than one trick in the suit. on the other hand, you’ve got the trump ace so are bound to win a trick when declarer starts to draw them.

Lead the 8. It may not win the trick, but when you win with the A you can lead a diamond, in the hope East will have just one winner in the suit and he will be able to give you a heart ruff before it is too late. This would give you three tricks, but another may develop. To lead a diamond initially would give away a defensive tempo.