[VixTD]

Another hand from the county match (scored by cross-IMPs), this time a lead problem:

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There were two popular leads, which I've included in the poll. Admittedly the auction may not have been the same at all tables.

[billw55]

Small diamond for me. In this auction neither opponent has denied spades. There may be a slight negative inference in that partner did not double 2♦, but he hardly could looking at my own holding. OK, he doesn't have ♦AQJxx, but there are still lots of perfectly good diamond holdings he could have.

[gszes]

Normally dia would appeal when holding this hand BUT the bidding makes it clear we are in trouble since hearts are breaking 33 and a pressure lead might force declarer to take a desparate LOP (playing for 33 hearts). I prefer the spade 9 which is geared more toward possibly disrupting communications vs actually being a huge inner. P has about as much power as we have so who knows maybe a spade is just what we need. A club might accomplish the same but a bit too much risk it gives away a trick for at best uncertain reward.

[nige1]

VixTD asks "Another hand from the county match (scored by cross-IMPs), this time a lead problem:
There were two popular leads, which I've included in the poll. Admittedly the auction may not have been the same at all tables."

I rank
1. ♠
2. ♦
3. ♣

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[Jinksy]

Obviously not a heart.

Not a diamond because,
a) P with most of the (hoped-for) defensive strength could not X 2♦. That doesn't prove anything, but it reduces expectation from leading the suit.
b) KTxx is an awful awful holding to lead from, that threatens carving the contract and rarely establishes a fifth trick.

Not a spade because,
a) P could not open 2♠ or bid it over 2♥. Again, proves nothing but reduces expectation.
d) Our hearts are lying badly, so we probably need an aggressive lead to beat the contract. The club jack offers marginally more support to help P establish his suit.

Therefore a small club.

[BillPatch]

billw55, on 2015-October-21, 12:18, said:

.... In this auction neither opponent has denied spades....

In American bidding responder has virtually denied spades. 90% because they actively use the Smolen convention to describe that hand, and the other 10% who also eschew a transfer with such hand but would show the longer major on the second round after Stayman. Are the opponents in this match assumed to be immune from such Americanisms?

[StevenG]

BillPatch, on 2015-October-22, 12:23, said:

In American bidding responder has virtually denied spades. 90% because they actively use the Smolen convention to describe that hand, and the other 10% who also eschew a transfer with such hand but would show the longer major on the second round after Stayman. Are the opponents in this match assumed to be immune from such Americanisms?

Of course we don't do American bidding. We're not American.

edit. That sounds intentionally rude. Maybe, at the time, it was meant to be. But wnen we're asked a question about bidding from England, we should assume standard English methods. I'm sure that if anything weird was being played, we would have been told.

[Jinksy]

It would certainly be nonstandard to play Smolen over weak NT. Partly because - well, what would be the point? - and partly because most weak NT players have not discussed their continuations in that much depth.

[phil_20686]

Jinksy, on 2015-October-23, 03:44, said:

It would certainly be nonstandard to play Smolen over weak NT. Partly because - well, what would be the point? - and partly because most weak NT players have not discussed their continuations in that much depth.

I always played (rev) smolen when I played acol. I would have assumed that it was a standard bit of kit for virtually everyone who is reasononably common. Honestly, I think smolen is really common in acol pairs in england.

[helene_t]

Responder would have shown spades one way or another if he had them. It doesn't matter if they play Smolen or not.

[StevenG]

phil_20686, on 2015-October-23, 04:02, said:

I always played (rev) smolen when I played acol. I would have assumed that it was a standard bit of kit for virtually everyone who is reasononably common. Honestly, I think smolen is really common in acol pairs in england.

I've never knowingly played against Smolen in over 20 years playing club bridge or better.

[mcphee]

I can't find a reason to lead something other than a D.

[VixTD]

My partner got a spade lead, which bests the contract (except against almost double-dummy play), and both our teammates with the West hand led ♦2, which lets it through. I thought the diamond an awful lead, but I see it's leading the poll by quite a margin. The full hand:

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[billw55]

Sure, on this layout a spade works. Make a change as small as swapping the ♠J and T, and it isn't so good. And how often will south have ♦AQxxx?

Still I am curious, I think it is worth a sim. Should be pretty easy to set conditions.

[TMorris]

StevenG, on 2015-October-23, 04:44, said:

I've never knowingly played against Smolen in over 20 years playing club bridge or better.

Neither have I over a similar period bar 1 pair for a very short period

[wank]

ktxx is obviously terrible. north has effectively denied spades so seems pretty clear. obv aftertiming but this is a pretty clear example of the stuff in you get in the david bird book.