This week I’ve focused on the opening lead, when the fate of many contracts is sealed. Look at the West cards and auction. Pick a lead against four hearts.

The actual West led the king of trumps. He shifted to a spade, and South won with the ace and passed the ten of trumps to West’s jack. South won the next spade, lost a trump to the ace, ruffed the spade return, drew trumps and claimed. Making four.

“I led a high trump to see dummy,” West said.

“Maybe you haven’t heard,” East growled. “You get to see dummy no matter what you lead.”

West’s four trumps suggest a forcing defense, and the suit South is likely to have to ruff is West’s longest. If West’s opening lead is a diamond, South will win and start the trumps. West takes the jack, leads another diamond, wins the next trump with the king and forces South to ruff diamond.

When West takes his ace of trumps, he leads a fourth diamond, forcing out South’s last trump. West’s low trump wins the setting trick.

Daily question >> You hold: ? K 7 ? Q 8 6 5 4 ? A K ? Q J 10 3. Your partner opens one spade, you respond two hearts and he next bid three clubs. What do you say?

Answer >> Your partner’s three clubs is a “high reverse” and (in most partnerships) promises extra strength. Slam is possible. Raise to four clubs to set the trump suit. If partner bids four hearts or four spades next, you will cue-bid five diamonds. Partner’s hand may be A Q 10 8 3, A 2, 8 7, A K 8 4.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

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