[lamford]

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MontrealtQ, High standard team event.

The opponents have a non-descript auction, and it is your lead. What would you do and what alternatives do you seriously consider. For those reading the recent articles on self-kibitizing, you ARE allowed to look at your own hand and the auction before the opening lead.

[KingCovert]

Hmmm, well, South surely has either the A♠ or K♠, and I don't think North is bidding 6♠ off two aces. So... The A♦ and A♥ are marked. Not shocking, most don't open 4♠ with outside aces in 1st/2nd seat.

Given the quality of our diamond suit, it seems likely that North has a strong side-suit to provide a source of tricks. It seems like hearts, but, possibly clubs. If the hearts are cashing such that declarer can take enough diamond discards, that's a threat.

So, you could lead the 6♠, some heart, K♦, or A♣, and possibly a small club if you're really crazy.

I think if partner has a heart trick, then, I'd wager that we're defeating this contract anyways. Soooo... I'm going to assume that they don't.

A 6♠ lead, K♦ lead, heart lead all allow the potential for diamond discards on cashing hearts, so, I'm seriously considering a small club here.

Yeah, it's the 2♣ or the K♦ for me. I think, in a moment of inspiration, I might lead the club. I'm used to partner telling me how dumb I am though when I do things like this. Hahahaha

[nige1]

Lamford "MontrealtQ, High standard team event. The opponents have a non-descript auction, and it is your lead. What would you do and what alternatives do you seriously consider. For those reading the recent articles on self-kibitizing, you ARE allowed to look at your own hand and the auction before the opening lead."

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I rank
1. ♦K In real life, this is the only lead I'd consider.
2. ♣A Conceivably partner has ♣K, ♣ singleton, or a trump trick. Or we might just save an overtrick.

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[lamford]

nige1, on 2020-July-20, 22:21, said:

I rank
1. ♦K In real life, this is the only lead I'd consider.
2. ♣A Conceivably partner has ♣K, ♣ singleton, or a trump trick. Or we might just save an overtrick.
[/hv]

Not unexpectedly the KD beats the contract as declarer has a doubleton, and nowhere for the second diamond to go. The player led the ace of clubs, and now the losing diamond went on the KC in dummy. A low club might work, as declarer has a stiff jack, but I agree that I would not consider another lead.

I would also be terrified that if another lead was necessary, and I made it, I would be classed as a self-kibitzer. We live in strange times.

[Tramticket]

At the table, I lead the king of diamonds. So does everyone else. Because this is a discussion forum, I consider a club. But in real life I lead a diamond with no second choice.

If I did look elsewhere, a low club must be as good as the ace. The ace wins if partner has a singleton, but this is very unlikely. Either works if partner has the king and a low club might cause a problem if partner has the Q. But I'm not lwading a club.

[KingCovert]

I sort of broke down my thinking earlier, but, yeah. K♦ is the pragmatic lead. I think the A♣ can never be right. Whenever the A♣ is right, so is a small club. But, the opposite isn't true. It's the psychological game, playing the K♣ on top of a low club is only right if I've under-lead my ace. No one is under-leading AQ♣. And, most don't under-lead aces against slams. I suppose, if declarer plays the K♣, it's a sign of either how poor a player they are, or how much they respect you as a player. Hahaha