BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

WHAT would you lead from this West hand against South’s doubled slam? IT WILL be wise if you assume that partner’s double is a Lightner — calling for an unusual lead. The Lightner convention is used by most tournament players, but it occurs so rarely that partners often omit to discuss it.

The unusual lead usually means the first side suit bid by dummy, because partner will assume a normal lead to be a trump or the unbid suit.

In this case, it seems likely from the bidding that partner is void in diamonds and wants to ensure he gets a ruff.

So you lead a diamond and it turns out that partner wasn’t intending his double as Lightner. There’s no harm done because he will then expect to have two natural winners.