Neither vulnerable. East deals.

Neither vulnerable. East deals.

NORTH

xK J 5 4

uA K Q

v9 8 2

wJ 8 3

WESTEAST

xQx10 6

uJ 10 6 4 3u9 5 2

vQ J 7 6vA 5 3

wK 10 4wA Q 7 6 5

SOUTH

xA 9 8 7 3 2

u8 7

vK 10 4

w9 2

The bidding:

EASTSOUTHWESTNORTH

Pass2xPass4x

PassPassPass

Opening lead: ?

We have often remarked on the importance of the opening lead. At the recent World Championships in Sao Paulo, Brazil, there were several times when the opening lead determined the outcome of a hand.

This one is from the Seniors match between Brazil and Italy, where four spades was reached at both tables after a weak-two opening by South.

With Brazil sitting East-West, the opening lead was the queen of diamonds. East won with the ace, took two club tricks and reverted to diamonds.

Declarer won, drew trumps and cashed dummy’s hearts, discarding his losing diamond, and claimed 10 tricks.

At the other table the opening lead was the jack of hearts. Declarer won, drew trumps and cleared the hearts, discarding a club from hand.

Next, he led the two of diamonds from the table and finessed the ten. West won with the jack and led a club to partner’s ace and declarer ruffed the club return.

He crossed to the table with a trump and ran the nine of diamonds to the queen. West returned a diamond to partner’s ace — down one.

Two points. First, we like the diamond lead — as little as the ten with partner could promote a trick for the defense.

Second, two finesses was the right way for declarer to tackle the suit. It wins if East holds either the jack or queen, whereas rising with the king wins only if East has the ace.

2009 Tribune Media Services