FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

THE KILLNG LEAD

Millard Pringle played at my club yesterday. He’s a quiet little man who tends to get lost in the maze of defensive “rules.” “Look at this,” Cy the Cynic told me, displaying today’s deal. “I was South, playing at 3NT, and Millard was West, the opening leader. He knew to lead a spade, but he couldn’t remember the rule about which one to lead. Was it ‘fourth highest’ or ‘top of a sequence’? Finally, he led the six!”

Last Spade

“You can see what that did to me,” the Cynic said. “I won with the ten, but when I led the jack of hearts next, East took the king and returned his last spade. Millard set up his spades and got in with the ace of hearts to cash them.”

If Millard leads the king of spades, Cy can play low from his hand effectively to break up the defenders’ communication.

With South known from the bidding to have four cards in spades, I think Millard’s lead was intelligent. It would gain not only on the actual lie of the cards but also if East’s spades were 10-x.

Daily Question

You hold: ♠ 94 ♥ Q 10 9 5 4 ♦ KJ6 2 ♣A Q. Your partner opens one spade, you bid two hearts and he rebids two spades. The opponents pass. What do you say?

Answer: If your partner is known to open light, shapely hands, as many players are wont to do these days, you might do well to settle for 2NT, inviting game. With most partners, I would commit to game. Either a bid of three diamonds or a “take-charge” jump to 3NT would be acceptable.

South dealer E-W vulnerable