ONE AUCTION BEGAT TWO OPENING LEADS

Frank A. Clark, creator of a single-panel cartoon called “The Country Parson,” wrote, “If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.”

On a fair number of bridge deals, the opening lead is clear-cut. But sometimes it is not so straightforward; there are obstacles for the defender who starts trick one.

In today’s deal, look only at the West hand and the auction. What card should West choose against seven diamonds? Yesterday, we had a deal in which East had 10 diamonds. Today, East-West have all 13 hearts, which was not easy to realize. The deal occurred during last year’s European Champions Cup. It was originally described by Jos Jacobs from the Netherlands. Surprisingly, in the match between Israel and Monaco, the auction was identical at both tables. When North had enoughtojumptosixdiamonds, South understandably thought his hand was worth seven. What did West lead?

In the open room, Ilan Bareket from Israel chose the heart ace, which conceded a fatal ruff-and-sluff. The declarer ruffed on the board and sluffed a spade from his hand. South then claimed, explaining that he would draw the missing trump and ruff his club loser on the board.

In the closed room, Michal Klukowski did much better, choosing the spade queen. Now declarer had to lose a spade trick, and Monaco gained 16 international match points.

Maybe Bareket suggested that, despite the vulnerability, his partner should have bid six hearts over six diamonds.