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Quiz 8L01 by Richard Pavlicek
As West on these 10 deals, you are on lead against 3 NT. Your hand may be a dog, but only a doggone fool would come unleashed. Choosing the best lead could win some tasty biscuits, I mean IMPs. Decide your lead, then compare your choice with two experts who faced the same situation in real life and led differently. For fun, keep track of your IMPs won and lost. If you’re plus after 10 boards, you get a treat. Bone appetit!
Problem 1
Both Vul
| West Pass Pass | North Pass 3 NT | East Pass All Pass | South 2 NT |
 8 6 J 9 3 2 Q 5 4 3 A 10 2 |  |
Against 3 NT, what do you lead?
In Real Life
1999 Spingold Final: Nickell vs Beatty
Both Vul | 7 5 4 10 8 6 10 8 K J 8 5 4 | |
| 8 6 J 9 3 2 Q 5 4 3 A 10 2 | | K 10 9 3 A Q 4 7 6 2 9 6 3 |
| 3 NT South | A Q J 2 K 7 5 A K J 9 Q 7 |
Eisenberg of Beatty led the 2 (down 2 +200) +13 IMPs.
Other winning leads: 8-6 J-9-3 10-2 +13 IMPs.
Freeman of Nickell led the 3 (made 3 -600) -13 IMPs.
Other losing leads: Q-5-4 A -13 IMPs.
| To keep score, find the IMP result of your lead and keep a running total. If your lead is unlisted, it is mediocre (worse than the winners but better than the losers) so take a push (0 IMPs). Goal is to finish plus. |
Problem 2 Both Vul
| West Pass | North 3 NT | East Pass All Pass | South 1 NT |
| 8 7 6 3 J 5 4 J 4 3 Q 6 3 | |
Against 3 NT, what do you lead?
In Real Life
2003 Bermuda Bowl Qualifying: Brazil vs Bulgaria
| Both Vul | Q 5 4 Q 8 K Q 8 6 K J 7 2 | |
| 8 7 6 3 J 5 4 J 4 3 Q 6 3 | | K 9 2 K 9 6 2 9 7 2 10 8 4 |
| 3 NT South | A J 10 A 10 7 3 A 10 5 A 9 5 |
Branco of Brazil led the 8 (made 4 -630) +2 IMPs.
Other winning leads: 7-6-3 J-4-3 Q-6-3 +2 IMPs.
Gunev of Bulgaria led the 5 (made 6 -690) -2 IMPs.
Other losing leads: J-4 -2 IMPs.
Quit
Problem 3 E-W Vul
| West Pass All Pass | North 3 | East Pass | South 3 NT |
| 9 5 3 K 10 7 6 5 3 A 10 6 5 | |
Against 3 NT, what do you lead?
In Real Life
2005 USBC Semifinal: Robinson vs Welland
| E-W Vul | A 8 2 J 10 9 8 7 5 3 J J 2 | |
| 9 5 3 K 10 7 6 5 3 A 10 6 5 | | K Q 4 6 2 A Q 9 8 4 9 8 3 |
| 3 NT South | J 10 7 6 A Q 4 K 2 K Q 7 4 |
Zia of Welland led the 7 (down 4 +200) +12 IMPs.
Other winning leads: 9-5-3 10-6-5-3 +12 IMPs.
Boyd of Robinson led the 5 (made 3 -400) -12 IMPs.
Other losing leads: K A-10-6 -12 IMPs.
Quit
Problem 4 Both Vul
| West Pass Pass | North 1 3 NT | East Pass Pass All Pass | South 1 2 NT |
| 9 5 4 K 4 2 K 10 9 5 J 9 6 | |
Against 3 NT, what do you lead?
In Real Life
2005 Bermuda Bowl Qualifying: Japan vs England
| Both Vul | J 10 6 Q 7 6 5 7 4 2 A 10 8 | |
| 9 5 4 K 4 2 K 10 9 5 J 9 6 | | Q 8 2 J 9 3 Q J 8 3 Q 5 2 |
| 3 NT South | A K 7 3 A 10 8 A 6 K 7 4 3 |
Ju.Hackett of England led the 10 (down 1 +100) +12 IMPs.
Other winning leads: K-9-5 +12 IMPs.
Miyakuni of Japan led the 4 (made 4 -630) -12 IMPs.
Other losing leads: 9-5 K-4-2 J-9-6 -12 IMPs.
Quit
Problem 5 N-S Vul
| West 3 All Pass | North Pass | East Pass | South 3 NT |
| K 9 8 5 2 9 5 K J 10 6 5 4 | |
Against 3 NT, what do you lead?
In Real Life
2006 USBC Round of 32: Fout vs Onstott
| N-S Vul | J 7 5 4 J 8 7 Q 8 6 2 A 7 | |
| K 9 8 5 2 9 5 K J 10 6 5 4 | | A 6 2 Q 10 6 4 3 10 4 3 9 2 |
| 3 NT South | Q 10 3 A K 9 A K J 7 Q 8 3 |
Ehlers of Fout led the 10 (down 1 +100) +12 IMPs.
Other winning leads: J-6-5-4 +12 IMPs.
S.Cohen of Onstott led the 5 (made 4 -630) -12 IMPs.
Other losing leads: K-9-8 2 9-5 K -12 IMPs.
Quit
Problem 6 None Vul
| West Pass | North 3 NT | East All Pass | South 1 NT |
| 10 8 4 2 J 7 6 9 8 5 3 6 3 | |
Against 3 NT, what do you lead?
In Real Life
2007 Bermuda Bowl Semifinal: Netherlands vs Norway
| None Vul | 9 7 5 8 4 A J 2 Q J 9 8 4 | |
| 10 8 4 2 J 7 6 9 8 5 3 6 3 | | A Q 6 3 A 9 5 2 10 A 10 7 5 |
| 3 NT South | K J K Q 10 3 K Q 7 6 4 K 2 |
Bakkeren of Netherlands led the 4 (down 1 +50) +10 IMPs.
Other winning leads: 10-8-2 +10 IMPs.
Brogeland of Norway led the 6 (made 4 -430) -10 IMPs.
Other losing leads: J-7-6 9-8-5-3 3 -10 IMPs.
Quit
Problem 7 N-S Vul
| West Pass Pass Pass | North Pass 2 3 NT | East 1 Pass All Pass | South 1 NT 2 |
| 10 8 7 5 J 10 9 5 8 7 A 7 3 | |
Against 3 NT, what do you lead?
In Real Life
2007 Bermuda Bowl Qualifying: USA1 vs Argentina
| N-S Vul | K J 9 4 2 Q 4 9 4 K 10 5 2 | |
| 10 8 7 5 J 10 9 5 8 7 A 7 3 | | 6 3 K 8 6 A Q 6 5 2 9 6 4 |
| 3 NT South | A Q A 7 3 2 K J 10 3 Q J 8 |
Pellegrini of Argentina led the J (down 1 +100) +13 IMPs.
Other winning leads: 10-9-5 +13 IMPs.
Zia of USA1 led the 8 (made 5 -660) -13 IMPs.
Other losing leads: 10-8-7-5 7 A-7-3 -13 IMPs.
Quit
Problem 8 Both Vul
| West Pass | North 3 NT | East Pass All Pass | South 1 NT |
| 8 5 4 3 J 10 2 Q 10 9 3 K 10 | |
Against 3 NT, what do you lead?
In Real Life
2008 Spingold Round of 32: Ivatury vs Gromov
| Both Vul | 10 7 2 K 8 A 5 4 2 A J 8 7 | |
| 8 5 4 3 J 10 2 Q 10 9 3 K 10 | | A 9 6 Q 7 6 5 3 — 9 6 5 4 3 |
| 3 NT South | K Q J A 9 4 K J 8 7 6 Q 2 |
Gromov of Gromov led the J (down 1 +100) +13 IMPs.
Other winning leads: 8-5-4-3 10-2 +13 IMPs.
Drijver of Ivatury led the 10 (made 5 -660) -13 IMPs.
Other losing leads: Q-9-3 K-10 -13 IMPs.
Quit
Problem 9 None Vul
| West Pass Pass | North 1 3 NT | East Pass Pass All Pass | South 1 1 NT |
| J 10 Q 8 2 J 9 8 7 J 9 8 4 | |
Against 3 NT, what do you lead?
In Real Life
2009 Vanderbilt Quarterfinal: Katz vs Pszczola
| None Vul | K 7 6 A 10 9 5 A 4 2 Q 10 5 | |
| J 10 Q 8 2 J 9 8 7 J 9 8 4 | | 8 5 4 3 2 K 7 4 K 5 3 A 6 |
| 3 NT South | A Q 9 J 6 3 Q 10 6 K 7 3 2 |
Levin of Katz led the J (down 2 +100) +11 IMPs.
Other winning leads: 10 +11 IMPs.
Cohler of Pszczola led the 9 (made 3 -400) -11 IMPs.
Other losing leads: Q-8-2 J-8-7 J-9-8-4 -11 IMPs.
Quit
Problem 10 None Vul
| West Pass Pass All Pass | North 1 2 NT | East 1 Pass | South Pass 1 NT 3 NT |
| 10 7 Q J 8 7 9 5 2 8 7 5 2 | |
Against 3 NT, what do you lead?
In Real Life
2009 USBC Playoff: Fleisher vs Nickell
| None Vul | 6 3 K 2 A J 10 7 4 3 K Q J | |
| 10 7 Q J 8 7 9 5 2 8 7 5 2 | | A J 8 5 4 A 9 6 5 8 A 9 6 |
| 3 NT South | K Q 9 2 10 4 3 K Q 6 10 4 3 |
Meckstroth of Nickell led the J (down 2 +100) +11 IMPs.
Other winning leads: Q-8-7 +11 IMPs.
Fleisher of Fleisher led the 10 (made 4 -430) -11 IMPs.
Other losing leads: 7 9-5-2 8-7-5-2 -11 IMPs.
| Winning leads are determined from the actual deal and are not necessarily correct in theory or the long run. To qualify as an “other winning lead” it must fare at least as well as the actual winning lead if both are judged on a double-dummy basis. Similarly, “other losing leads” fare at least as badly as the actual losing lead. Results and IMP scores are from actual play, not double-dummy. |
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“Outside of a dog…” paraphrases a quote by Groucho Marx.
© 2009 Richard Pavlicek