Goings On

The second lead is as important

By Phillip Alder ( China Daily ) Updated: 2015-07-25 11:34:37

[Photo/China Daily]

Willie Tyler, a ventriloquist, comedian and thespian, said, "The reason lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place is that the same place isn't there the second time."

That sounds logical, although an overbid on the power of lightning. The key word for today's deal, though, is "second."

A defender's opening lead imparts information about his holding in that suit, but sometimes it takes his second lead to tell partner exactly how to defend.

How does that apply in this deal? South is in three no-trump, and West leads the heart three. South takes East's queen with his king, crosses to dummy with a spade, and runs the club queen. What should happen after that?

The auction was simple and straightforward. North, with a balanced hand and no thought of a slam, correctly did not mention his minor suit.

West knows that South holds the heart jack, because if East had had that card, he would have played the jack, not the queen, at trick one. When playing third hand high, one tables the bottom of touching cards. So, unless South started with an unlikely king-jack-doubleton, West must try to get East on lead for a heart return through declarer's jack. How?

Clearly, the answer is in diamonds. But which diamond should West lead?

As he wants East to return a heart, West should lead his nine, the high card denying interest in that suit. Then, East should win with his ace and return the heart nine, resulting in down two.

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