Spadework

Sydney Morning Herald

Tuesday January 1, 2008

Ron Klinger

On each of today's deals from the semifinals of the 2007 Spring National Open

Teams, the opening lead was critical.

Bd. 29: North dealer : Both vulnerable

NORTH

At our table the board was passed in.

At the other table:

West North East South

Ewart Nagy Howe Lilley

--- Pass 2H (1) Pass

2S (2) Pass Pass Pass

(1) Weak, majors or minors

(2) Pass or correct

Lead: SQ!

When opener shows a two-suiter and responder chooses one of those suits, a trump lead is very attractive when you are strong in opener's other suit. That

prompted Zoli Nagy to lead a spade, even though one would not normally lead a trump from a holding of Q-x.

Declarer let the SQ hold and Nagy continued with the S4, taken by the ace.

On the H2 from dummy, David Lilley rose with the HK in order to cash the SK. He exited with the H6 and North took three heart tricks to beat the contract by one.

That was +100 and +3 Imps. In the other match Reid-Newell were living beyond their means when they reached 4S after East opened with a onebid, showing hearts. An indifferent defence allowed declarer to make nine tricks. At the other table Nigel Rosendorff was in 2S after East opened 2H, majors or minors. North led the D2 and West captured South's DJ. The HJ was taken by North, who switched to the S5.

Rosendorff played low from dummy and South went in with the king (the S10 was the winning move). Even with the spade return declarer now had eight tricks for +110 and +5 Imps.

Bd. 31: South dealer : N-S vulnerable

NORTH

At every table the contract was 4H. Jamie Ebery was declarer as East after a multi-2D from Rosendorff and 4H by Ebery. Peter Newell played it from West after opening 1D, showing hearts, 1S from North, double by East, 2S South, 3H West and 4H East. At both tables a diamond was led and in the fullness of time declarer lost one diamond one club and two spades. No swing.

In the other match:

West North East South

Ewart Nagy Howe Lilley

--- --- --- Pass

2D (1) 2S 2NT (2) 3S

4H Pass Pass Pass

(1) Multi

(2) Strong inquiry

Lead: SA?

Against a trump contract it is attractive to lead a top honour from a suit headed by the A-K. When the king is not held, leading the ace has a high degree of risk and Nagy paid the price here. He switched to a diamond at trick 2, but declarer had no trouble making ten tricks for +420.

At the other table West opened 2D and rebid 4H when East responded 2S, indicating a good hand for a heart contract. Pauline Gumby, North, led a diamond and declarer lost four tricks in due course for 10 Imps away.

Cogito ergo pontem ludo: I think, therefore I play bridge.

Tomorrow's problem:

West dealer : East-West vulnerable

West North East South

Pass Pass Pass 1H

Pass 1S Pass 2C

Pass ?

What would you do as North with these cards:

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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