Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Hi here are the answers.
1) Suit: A
NT: x (4th best)
*You need at least three touching honours to lead from the top in NT. This is because you need extra strength to set up the suit, unlike in trump contracts, where your main aim is to get fast tricks because declarer can easily ruff your 'set-up' suit. And remember never to underlead Aces in suit contracts.
2) Suit: T
NT: T
*T is an honour.
3) Suit: 2
NT: 7
*3/5 best corresponds to 3rd best if you have 3 or 4 cards or 5th best if you have 5 or more cards. If you have the latter, it's not 3rd OR 5th. It means lead 3rd best when you have <5>4 cards.
4) Suit/NT: K
*Doubleton, always lead top regardless of what it is. Times when you lead 2nd are usually in middle or late stages of the play, but let's ignore that for the time being. Leads from Kx are highly discouraged unless partner has indicated an interest in that suit.
5) Suit: Q
NT: 6
*Same logic, you need three or more touching honours (e.g. QJT) to lead Q in NT. I'd only lead the Q in this case if I've longer length or the 8.
6) Suit/NT: 9
*3/5 best in suit and 4th best in NT applies ONLY when you have at least one honour in that suit. If you have no honours in that suit (worthless), lead middle-up-down for a trebleton holding and top-of-nothing for 4cards or more holding.
7) Suit: 2
NT: 3
*T is an honour here, although the suit is lousy. Unless I've the 9 and 8, I wouldn't risk leading the T. Especially with such length.
Amendment: Previously for the suit-combination play, AQxx opposite Jxx should be cashing the Ace before guessing the side with the K. Reason is because you can catch both sides with Kxx or Kx, compared to finessing where you can only catch that onside.
hongaik madesix at 8:56 PM
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