Quiz 8L31   Main


Who’s On Lead? Yes!


  by Richard Pavlicek

No, I need to know his name. Who!

The player on lead. What is his name? No, What is declarer. Oh, never mind! This time it will be you on lead. Decide the card you would lead, then enter its suit and rank. For example, if you would lead the C 2, type C2.

Compare your choice with the two experts who faced the exact same situation in real life and led differently. Click “Score Me” at any time to see your running score. If you finish plus after 10 boards, you win! If you end up minus, Who wins.

Problem 1

IMPsN-S VulWest

Pass		NORTH
Pass
Pass		East
Pass
Pass		South
1 NT

S 10 9 7 2
H A J 9 3
D 9 6
C A 5 2		Table

Your lead against 1 NT        


In real life…

1998 Spingold Final, Nickell vs Baze

1 NT South S 6 4 3
H 8 7 4
D Q 10 8 7
C Q 8 6
S 10 9 7 2
H A J 9 3
D 9 6
C A 5 2		Table S K Q J 8
H 5 2
D K J 5 2
C 10 9 7
West leadsS A 5
H K Q 10 6
D A 4 3
C K J 4 3

Paul Soloway led the S 2. Down 1, +100.
Michael Whitman led the H 3. Made 1, -90.

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Problem 2

IMPsE-W VulWest

Pass
Pass		North

1 S
Pass		EAST
Pass
Pass
Pass		South
1 D
2 D

S J 10 9 3
H A 8
D K J 5
C 8 7 6 2		Table

Your lead against 2 D        


In real life…

1999 Bermuda Bowl Semifinal, Norway vs Brazil

2 D South S K Q 6 4 2
H 10 6 4
D Q 4
C Q 9 3
S J 10 9 3
H A 8
D K J 5
C 8 7 6 2		Table S 8 7 5
H J 9 3 2
D 8 3 2
C A K 5
West leadsS A
H K Q 7 5
D A 10 9 7 6
C J 10 4

Tor Helness led the C 6. Down 1, +50.
Ricardo Janz led the S J. Made 3, -110.

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Problem 3

IMPsN-S VulWest

1 H
Pass		North

Dbl
Pass		East

Pass
Pass		SOUTH
Pass
1 S

S 10 9
H A 9 7 6 3
D A 4 3
C K Q 5		Table

Your lead against 1 S        


In real life…

2000 Olympiad Playoff, USA vs England

1 S South S K Q 5 2
H K 10 2
D K Q 5
C J 8 7
S 10 9
H A 9 7 6 3
D A 4 3
C K Q 5		Table S 8 7 4
H 8
D J 10 9 8 6
C A 9 4 2
West leadsS A J 6 3
H Q J 5 4
D 7 2
C 10 6 3

Howard Weinstein led the C K. Down 1, +100.
Gunnar Hallberg led the S 10. Made 3, -140.

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Problem 4

IMPsNone VulWEST
Pass
Pass
Pass		North
1 D
3 D
Pass		East
Pass
Pass
Pass		South
1 H
3 NT

S Q 9 8 3
H A K 9 4
D 9 4
C Q 7 3		Table

Your lead against 3 NT        


In real life…

2000 Olympiad Semifinal, Poland vs USA

3 NT South S A 2
H 6
D A K J 10 8 6 3
C 10 8 2
S Q 9 8 3
H A K 9 4
D 9 4
C Q 7 3		Table S J 7 6 4
H J 5 3
D 5
C A K 9 5 4
West leadsS K 10 5
H Q 10 8 7 2
D Q 7 2
C J 6

Adam Zmudzinski led the H A. Down 3, +150.
Howard Weinstein led the S 3. Made 3, -400.

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Problem 5

IMPsE-W VulWest

Pass
Pass		North

1 S
Pass		East

Pass
Pass		SOUTH
1 D
2 D

S Q 5 4
H K 8 5
D A Q 2
C J 8 7 6		Table

Your lead against 2 D        


In real life…

2000 Olympiad Qualifying, Iceland vs China

2 D South S A K 9 8 2
H J 10 6
D 9 4
C 9 5 2
S Q 5 4
H K 8 5
D A Q 2
C J 8 7 6		Table S J 10 7 6 3
H A 9 7
D 7 6
C K Q 4
West leadsS —
H Q 4 3 2
D K J 10 8 5 3
C A 10 3

Adalsteinn Jorgensen led the C 7. Down 1, +50.
Weimin Wang led the S Q. Made 3, -110.

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Problem 6

IMPsNone VulWest

Pass		North

Pass		East

Pass		SOUTH
5 C

S 9 6 2
H 10 5 4 3
D Q 10 5
C A Q 3		Table

Your lead against 5 C        


In real life…

2001 Spingold Round of 16, Schwartz vs Brachman

5 C South S K 5 4
H A K Q J 2
D A K 7 6 4
C —
S 9 6 2
H 10 5 4 3
D Q 10 5
C A Q 3		Table S A Q 10 8 3
H 8 7 6
D J 8 3 2
C 4
West leadsS J 7
H 9
D 9
C K J 10 9 8 7 6 5 2

Zia Mahmood led the C A. Down 2, +100.
Eric Greco led the D 5. Made 5, -400.

Bravo Zia! With no idea what to lead, get a free look at dummy first.

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Problem 7

IMPsE-W VulWest

Pass		North

Pass		EAST
Pass
Pass		South
1 NT

S 10 7 3
H J 9 8 3
D A K 9 4
C A 8		Table

Your lead against 1 NT        


In real life…

2002 USBC Final, Schwartz vs Nickell

1 NT South S Q 8 5
H A Q 6 4
D 7 2
C 9 7 6 5
S 10 7 3
H J 9 8 3
D A K 9 4
C A 8		Table S K 9 4
H 10 2
D 10 8 6 3
C K Q 3 2
West leadsS A J 6 2
H K 7 5
D Q J 5
C J 10 4

David Berkowitz led the H 3. Down 1, +50.
Richard Freeman led the D A. Made 1, -90.

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Problem 8

IMPsE-W VulWest

Pass
Pass
Pass		North

1 H
2 D		East

Pass
Pass		SOUTH
1 D
2 C
Pass

S A 9 4 2
H Q 2
D J 10 6 5
C Q 10 3		Table

Your lead against 2 D        


In real life…

2003 Bermuda Bowl Final, Italy vs USA1

2 D South S K J 7 5
H A 8 6 5 4
D 7 3 2
C 4
S A 9 4 2
H Q 2
D J 10 6 5
C Q 10 3		Table S 10 3
H K J 10 7 3
D 4
C A J 7 6 5
West leadsS Q 8 6
H 9
D A K Q 9 8
C K 9 8 2

Alfredo Versace led the H Q. Made 3, -110.
Nick Nickell led the D 5. Made 6, -170.

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Problem 9

IMPsBoth VulWest

Pass
Pass		North

3 NT		East

Pass		SOUTH
1 NT
Pass

S A 9 3
H Q 7
D Q 9 7 2
C 9 8 5 4		Table

Your lead against 3 NT        


In real life…

2003 Bermuda Bowl Quarterfinal, Bulgaria vs Norway

3 NT South S 10 4 2
H J 9
D K J 10 8 6
C A 6 2
S A 9 3
H Q 7
D Q 9 7 2
C 9 8 5 4		Table S J 8 6
H 10 8 6 5 2
D 4
C K Q J 3
West leadsS K Q 7 5
H A K 4 3
D A 5 3
C 10 7

Kalin Karaivanov led the C 4. Made 3, -600.
Glenn Groetheim led the S 3. Made 5, -660.

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Problem 10

IMPsE-W VulWEST
Pass
Pass		North
Pass
Pass		East
Pass
Pass		South
1 NT

S A K 8 3
H J 3
D 9 8 5 3
C Q 10 6		Table

Your lead against 1 NT        


In real life…

2005 USBC Semifinal, Schwartz vs Ekeblad

1 NT South S 9 4
H K 9 6 4
D Q 7 4
C J 8 7 5
S A K 8 3
H J 3
D 9 8 5 3
C Q 10 6		Table S 10 7 6 2
H A 10 8
D K J 6 2
C 9 4
West leadsS Q J 5
H Q 7 5 2
D A 10
C A K 3 2

David Berkowitz led the D 8. Down 2, +100.
Ron Rubin led the S A. Made 1, -90.

Results and IMP scores are determined from actual play, so the winning lead is not necessarily correct in theory nor proves anything. This is the way it happened! Scoring gives full credit (plus IMPs) to any lead that would have worked as well as the winning lead.

Well, did you end up on the plus side? If so, you win! If not, Who wins! If you’re clueless and say, “I don’t know,” Third place!

Quiz 8L31   MainTop   Who’s On Lead? Yes!

© 2009 Richard Pavlicek
Credits to Abbott & Costello’s Who’s On First?