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The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff
Opening Lead: ♥7
Today's deal from the American trials was generously reported by the victim of proceedings, Christal Henner-Welland. After stretching more than somewhat to respond one no-trump at her first turn (in competition the typical range for this action is 7-10), South was treated to a small-heart lead in three no-trump, and she won East's nine with the queen.
Now, should you play the clubs from the top, or finesse? Playing off the top clubs looks right to me; if West wins the club queen, there is no return he can make that will hurt you. As against that, if West has the club queen and East had ducked the heart king, you will end up with egg all over your face.
At the table, South elected to run the club 10 at trick two, losing to the queen. The spade 10 was returned. How should you play from here? If West started with a small singleton or doubleton, you must cover and win the trick. However, if West started with honor-doubleton, you must duck and the spade suit will be blocked.
At the table declarer ducked, playing for West to hold honor-doubleton in spades. Result: misery. Well done, Roger Lee as East, who overcame his distrustful partner’s opening lead. (The game goes down on a spade lead — but who leads partner’s suit?) When he shifted to the spade 10, he was in effect playing his partner for the spade eight and for declarer to misguess what to do. Clever stuff, eh?
Lead with the aces
Answer: ♣3
Before I start, I warn you that experts disagree on what you are expected to do here. But partner's double of three no-trump is surely based on the desire for a lead other than hearts. (If he wanted you to lead hearts, he would simply have passed, expecting you to lead his suit.) My guess is he has hearts and good clubs, so I would lead a club.
This Hand of the Day was originally published on aces.bridgeblogging.com.
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Explanation mixes East & West!!!
I think declarer does better to win the queen and cash everything BUT the clubs.
QH
Hook the JH
AH
AD
KD
AKJ of clubs.
Now, declarer knows that East holds five spades, so when East leads the 10, south can rise with the jack with much more confidence than otherwise. Making three as advertised.