46 English Bridge December 2016 www.ebu.co.uk
South West North East
1™ Pass 1´ Pass
2NT Pass 3NT Dble
All Pass
Choose from: (a) ´8; (b) a heart; (c)t4; (d) ®3.
(a) ´8: 10 marks. Partner has suddenly doubled 3NT
after taking no part in the auction. This is a Lightner
variant and partner is asking for an unusual lead -
usually dummy's first bid suit. Here the ´8 is clear in
my view. Partner was charmed holding AKQ10x!
(b) a heart: 5 marks. Yes, it is just about possible, I
suppose, that this is the lead partner wants, but why
should we be able to read that? With our heart
holding it is also unlikely that this is the case. Has
partner really got AKQJx in the suit?
(c) t4: 3 marks. Without the double I would have
led this in a heartbeat, but the double changes
everything and a low diamond is now simply
insulting partner. A case can be made for the tA so
you can see the dummy to make sure you get the
right switch but (a) an important tempo will be lost
which could let the contract through and (b) I didn't
give you that option.
(d) ®3: 1 mark. I cannot see any case for this lead. If
partner had clubs strong enough to double 3NT for
the lead he should have bid them!
HHHHHH
South West North East
1® Pass 1™ Pass
1´ Pass 3® Pass
3´ Pass 4® Pass
5® All Pass
You were rather hoping the opponents would
alight in Four Spades but it was not to be. Now you
have to lead against 5®.
Choose from: (a) ´A; (b) ™10; (c) t4; (d) a club.
(a) ´A: 1 mark. This will be right if and only if you
can give partner a ruff and just how likely is that?
Who is more likely to be short in spades, partner or
dummy? Plus, look at your trump holding - partner
has at most one of them.
(b) ™10: 4 marks. Well yes it could be right if partner
has a couple of heart tricks and we need to cash
them. But that seems long odds to me.
(c) t4: 7 marks. I think it is more likely to cash tricks
Answers to October Problems
by Alan Mould
Prize Leads Quiz Answers
Prize Leads Quiz Answers
click
link
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS:
Master: Nick Goslett, Open: Nigel Osmer,
Hove Lewes
Sponsored by
Hand 1
´ 8 4
™ 7 5 2
t A Q 7 4 2
® J 7 3
Hand 2
´ A Q 10 9
™ 10 9 3
t K 7 4
® 6 5 2