{"id":2643,"date":"2011-07-31T13:34:10","date_gmt":"2011-07-31T21:34:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/?p=2643"},"modified":"2013-01-08T20:24:12","modified_gmt":"2013-01-09T04:24:12","slug":"polling-you-71-active-leads-against-suit-contracts-day-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/?p=2643","title":{"rendered":"Polling You #71, Active Leads Against Suit Contracts, Day 2"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">(please click Title\/Heading to view entire article)<br \/>\n<\/span>\u00a0<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"http:\/\/survey.constantcontact.com\/poll\/a07e4hnb1nggqsi31nv\/start.js?v=1&amp;w=300\">\/\/ <![CDATA[\n\n\/\/ ]]><\/script><\/h3>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavaScript needs to be enabled for polling to work.<br \/>\n<a href='http:\/\/www.constantcontact.com\/survey\/index.jsp?cc=ViraWidPOL'>Online Surveys<\/a> by Constant Contact.<\/noscript>&#8212;&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p><strong>In our last episode we explored the basics of opening leads against suit contracts.\u00a0\u00a0 Recall the sequence leads, basic \u201cfourth best\u201d (from an honor) and \u201ctop of nothing\u201d leads work often work well against both Notrump and suit contracts \u2013 provided we are not underleading an Ace.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>In this lesson, we examine situations when making an aggressive \u201cactive\u201d lead may help us generate extra tricks.\u00a0 Recall as defenders we must pay special attention to prevent the declarer from finding extra tricks through ruffs, cross-ruffs, and side-suit promotions after the declarer pulls trump.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/bridgehands-videos.s3.amazonaws.com\/Polling_You_71_Part_1_everyone\/Polling_You_71_Part_1_everyone.html\">Click here to view Part 1 of the video commentary<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"..\/..\/freecontent\/Polling_You_71_Part_2_freecontent\/Polling_You_71_Part_2_freecontent.html\"><strong>Free Membership &#8211; Click here to view Part 2, hands #3-4\u00a0of our video commentary<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><a href=\"..\/..\/premiumcontent\/Polling_You_71_Part_3_premiumcontent\/Polling_You_71_Part_3_premiumcontent.html\">Premium\/ULTRA Members &#8211; Click here to view Part 3, Hands 5-7 of our video commentary<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Active Defense Situations:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Opponent may setup a long side suit<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Opponent may setup ruffs\/cross-ruffs, etc.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Opponents are in a high-level contract (5+ level)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Partnership tenaces (finesses) are in jeopardy<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Desperate times call for desperate measures!<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>While active leads have their place, here are some situations to consider when making an aggressive lead may not be wise:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Partner give clear lead direction<\/strong>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Partner opened, overcalled a major suit (thus 5+ card suit), doubled an artificial bid by the opponents<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Trump lead reduced opponents ruffing ability<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Safe sequence lead is best (as Ace from Ace-King)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Opponents have minimal strength (part score contract)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Partner cannot hold helpful honor<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Right Hand Opponent (declarer) bid strongly, but not in a slam contract<\/strong>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Open 1 Notrump (15-17), rebid 2 Notrump (18-19), open 2 Notrump (20-21)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Opener reverses as: 1C \u2013 1H; 2D \u2026 (17+ points)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Opener makes a strong jump shift as: 1D \u2013 1H; 3C\u2026 (19+ points)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Of course, as thoughtful defenders both the opening leader and partner should be attentively listening to the auction, including mannerisms, gestures and the like made by the opponents.\u00a0\u00a0 At the top of our short list, leading against suit contracts includes:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>count, Count, COUNT and <\/strong><em>Think<\/em><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Count points<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Count Distribution<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Count Tricks (auction level)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Integrate auction inferences into partnership plan<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h3>Polling You #71, Hand 1<\/h3>\n<p><!-- Board 3: Diagram --><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"><strong><em>Board 3<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\nSouth Deals<br \/>\nE-W Vul<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\">\u2660 A 8<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2665<\/span> A K Q J 8<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2666<\/span> J 10 9<br \/>\n\u2663 10 8 4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"left\">\u2660 9 3<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2665<\/span> 9 4 3 2<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2666<\/span> A 3 2<br \/>\n\u2663 K J 9 2<\/td>\n<td>\n<table border=\"1\" frame=\"box\" rules=\"none\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\">N<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"left\">W<\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td align=\"right\">E<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\">S<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td align=\"left\">\u2660 6 4 2<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2665<\/span> 10 7 6 5<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2666<\/span> 8 7 6<br \/>\n\u2663 A 7 6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\">\u2660 K Q J 10 7 5<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2666<\/span> K Q 5 4<br \/>\n\u2663 Q 5 3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!-- Board 3: Auction --><\/p>\n<table>\n<colgroup span=\"1\">\n<col span=\"4\" \/> <\/colgroup>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><em>West<\/em><\/td>\n<td><em>North<\/em><\/td>\n<td><em>East<\/em><\/td>\n<td><em>South<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>1 \u2660<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Pass<\/td>\n<td>2 <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2665<\/span><\/td>\n<td>Pass<\/td>\n<td>2 \u2660<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Pass<\/td>\n<td>3 \u2660<\/td>\n<td>Pass<\/td>\n<td>4 \u2660<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>All pass<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!-- Board 3: Play --><\/p>\n<table>\n<colgroup span=\"1\">\n<col span=\"5\" \/> <\/colgroup>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><em>Trick<\/em><\/td>\n<td><em>West<\/em><\/td>\n<td><em>North<\/em><\/td>\n<td><em>East<\/em><\/td>\n<td><em>South<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1. W<\/td>\n<td>\u2663 2<\/td>\n<td>\u2663 4<\/td>\n<td>\u2663 A<\/td>\n<td>\u2663 3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2. E<\/td>\n<td>\u2663 J<\/td>\n<td>\u2663 8<\/td>\n<td>\u2663 7<\/td>\n<td>\u2663 5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3. W<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2666<\/span> A<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2666<\/span> 9<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2666<\/span> 6<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2666<\/span> 4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>4. W<\/td>\n<td>\u2663 K<\/td>\n<td>\u2663 10<\/td>\n<td>\u2663 6<\/td>\n<td>\u2663 Q<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>5. W<\/td>\n<td>\u2663 9<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2665<\/span> 8<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2666<\/span> 8<\/td>\n<td>\u2660 5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>South opens 1 Spade with 14 High Card Points plus 2 distribution points for a great 6 card long suit.\u00a0 North responds 2 Hearts with 15 HCP, also with an excellent Heart suit (although the worthless 3-3 in the minors is a negative).\u00a0 South rebids 2 Spades which may or may not show a 6 card suit depending on partnership agreements.\u00a0 With an Ace-doubleton, North rebids 3 Spades and South signs off in 4 Spades with no interest in slam (Heart misfit).<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>With 8 HCP, West figures declarer may get pitches on dummy\u2019s 5+ card Heart suit and partner East could hold a useful minor suit honor. Leading the Club 2, luck is with the defenders when East produces the Ace.\u00a0 East returns the Club 7 (top of doubleton remaining count), ducked by South to West\u2019s Jack.\u00a0 Just in case South held a Club doubleton, West first wins the Diamond Ace before cashing the Club King to set declarer one trick before declarer could pitch losers on dummy\u2019s Hearts.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>Polling You #71, Hand 2<\/h3>\n<p><!-- Board 3: Diagram --><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"><strong><em>Board 3<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\nSouth Deals<br \/>\nE-W Vul<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\">\u2660 A J 6<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2665<\/span> A J 9 8 7 2<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2666<\/span> K<br \/>\n\u2663 9 8 3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"left\">\u2660 K 10 5 2<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2665<\/span> 4 3<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2666<\/span> J 10 9 7<br \/>\n\u2663 A 7 2<\/td>\n<td>\n<table border=\"1\" frame=\"box\" rules=\"none\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\">N<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"left\">W<\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td align=\"right\">E<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\">S<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td align=\"left\">\u2660 Q 9 8 4<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2665<\/span> Q 10 6 5<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2666<\/span> A Q 6 5 2<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\">\u2660 7 3<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2665<\/span> K<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2666<\/span> 8 4 3<br \/>\n\u2663 K Q J 10 6 5 4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!-- Board 3: Auction --><\/p>\n<table>\n<colgroup span=\"1\">\n<col span=\"4\" \/> <\/colgroup>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><em>West<\/em><\/td>\n<td><em>North<\/em><\/td>\n<td><em>East<\/em><\/td>\n<td><em>South<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>3 \u2663<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Pass<\/td>\n<td>3 <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2665<\/span><\/td>\n<td>Pass<\/td>\n<td>4 \u2663<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Pass<\/td>\n<td>5 \u2663<\/td>\n<td>All pass<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!-- Board 3: Play --><\/p>\n<table>\n<colgroup span=\"1\">\n<col span=\"5\" \/> <\/colgroup>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><em>Trick<\/em><\/td>\n<td><em>West<\/em><\/td>\n<td><em>North<\/em><\/td>\n<td><em>East<\/em><\/td>\n<td><em>South<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1. W<\/td>\n<td>\u2660 2<\/td>\n<td>\u2660 A<\/td>\n<td>\u2660 8<\/td>\n<td>\u2660 3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2. N<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2665<\/span> 3<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2665<\/span> 2<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2665<\/span> 5<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2665<\/span> K<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3. S<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2666<\/span> 7<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2666<\/span> K<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2666<\/span> A<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2666<\/span> 4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>4. E<\/td>\n<td>\u2660 K<\/td>\n<td>\u2660 6<\/td>\n<td>\u2660 4<\/td>\n<td>\u2660 7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>5. W<\/td>\n<td>\u2660 5<\/td>\n<td>\u2660 J<\/td>\n<td>\u2660 Q<\/td>\n<td>\u2663 5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>6. S<\/td>\n<td>\u2663 2<\/td>\n<td>\u2663 8<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2666<\/span> 2<\/td>\n<td>\u2663 6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>7. N<\/td>\n<td>\u2663 A<\/td>\n<td>\u2663 3<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2666<\/span> 5<\/td>\n<td>\u2663 Q<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>8. W<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2665<\/span> 4<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2665<\/span> A<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2665<\/span> 6<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2666<\/span> 3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>9. N<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2666<\/span> 9<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2665<\/span> 7<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2665<\/span> 10<\/td>\n<td>\u2663 10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>10. S<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2666<\/span> 10<\/td>\n<td>\u2663 9<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2666<\/span> 6<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2666<\/span> 8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>11. N<\/td>\n<td>\u2663 7<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2665<\/span> 8<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2665<\/span> Q<\/td>\n<td>\u2663 J<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>South preemptively open 3 Clubs with a solid 7 card suit and a questionable stiff Heart King.\u00a0 Sure enough, North responds 3 Hearts a forcing bid with hopes partner South has a three card suit (or honor doubleton) \u2013 nothing like a double fit in Hearts and Clubs.\u00a0 With a problematic Heart singleton, South rebids 4 Clubs wondering if 4 Hearts might be best with a great honor albeit a singleton.\u00a0 Not wanting to miss game with Club support and 3 useful controls (2 major suit Aces and a singleton Diamond, North presses on to 5 Clubs.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>On lead and hearing of North\u2019s Heart suit, West lads the Spade 2 through North\u2019s strength, won with the Ace and East encouraging with the Spade 8.\u00a0 Declarer plays a low Heart to South\u2019s singleton King and decides to ruff losers by returning a Diamond to East\u2019s King.\u00a0 East returns the Spade 4 to West\u2019s King and plays a third Spade that is ruffed by South.\u00a0 Next declarer plays a low Club, ducked by West (in case East holds a singleton King) to the dummy\u2019s 8.\u00a0 On the second Club, East pitches a Diamond and West win\u2019s the Club Ace to set the South by one trick before the declarer could pitch a loser on the dummy\u2019s Heart Ace.<\/strong><\/p>\nPlease login or register to view this content.<br \/>\nPlease login or register to view this content.<br \/>\nPlease login or register to view this content.<\/h3>\n<h3><strong>Happy Bridge Trails and Tales,<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3><em><strong>BridgeHands<\/strong><\/em><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(please click Title\/Heading to view entire article) \u00a0 JavaScript needs to be enabled for polling to work. Online Surveys by Constant Contact.&#8212;&#8212;- In our last episode we explored the basics of opening leads against suit contracts.\u00a0\u00a0 Recall the sequence leads, basic \u201cfourth best\u201d (from an honor) and \u201ctop of nothing\u201d leads work often work well [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[39],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2643"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2645,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643\/revisions\/2645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2643"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2643"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2643"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}