As West you are the opening leader on these 13 deals from major events in 2013. Decide which of your 13 cards you would lead, then enter its suit and rank. For example, if you would lead the 3, type C3.
In case youre not worried about the number 13 already, remember that bridge is a timed event. You have 13 minutes to choose 13 opening leads. After that I will have to pull the plug on your computer! Ill start you out with an easy one (only 2 IMPs at stake on Problem 1), and your clock wont start until you enter your first answer.
After you have chosen all your leads, go back and compare your choices 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. Your goal is to be plus IMPs at the end. Good luck!
Your lead against 3 NT
2013 Bermuda Bowl Qualifying, USA2 vs Brazil
Marty Fleisher led the 8. Made 3, -400.Joao-Paulo Campos led the 6. Made 5, -460.
2013 Bermuda Bowl Qualifying, Indonesia vs England
Taufik Asbi led the Q. Down 1, +100.David Bakhshi led the A. Made 4, -630.
Your lead against 4
2013 Bermuda Bowl Qualifying, Brazil vs England
Paulo Brum led the 5. Down 3, +300.David Gold led the 3. Made 4, -620.
Your lead against 2
2013 Bermuda Bowl Qualifying, Italy vs South Africa
Lorenzo Lauria led the J. Down 2, +100.Neville Eber led the A. Made 2, -110.
2013 Spingold Final, Bridge24 vs Grue
Michal Nowosadzki led the A. Down 1, +100.Joe Grue led the J. Made 4, -620.
1. singleton club
2013 Spingold Quarterfinal, Bridge24 vs Nickell
Rafal Jagniewski led the 4. Down 1, +100.Jeff Meckstroth led the J. Made 4, -630.
2013 USBC Quarterfinal, Fleisher vs Milner
Michael Rosenberg led the A. Down 1, +100.John Schermer led the 10. Made 2, -110.
2013 USBC Quarterfinal, Milner vs Fleisher
Neil Chambers led the J. Down 1, +50.Chris Willenken led the 2. Made 3, -400.
1. both majors
2013 USBC Quarterfinal, Kranyak vs Diamond
Kevin Dwyer led the 5. Down 1, +50.Brian Platnick led the Q. Made 3, -140.
Your lead against 1 NT
2013 USBC Quarterfinal, Nickell vs Mahaffey
Bobby Levin led the 6. Down 1, +100.Jim Mahaffey led the 6. Made 3, -150.
Bobby Levin led the 4. Down 1, +100.Sam Lev led the 6. Made 2, -110.
2013 USBC Quarterfinal, Nickell vs Gordon
Nick Nickell led the 2. Down 1, +100.Michael Seamon led the 5. Made 5, -660.
2013 USBC Round of 16, Diamond vs Milner
Geoff Hampson led the A. Down 1, +50.Chris Compton led the 10. Made 4, -420.
Alert! If you havent already, go back and compare each of your lead choices with those of two experts in real life.
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.
Was 13 a good number for you? If you finished on the plus side, you can scratch triskaidekaphobia off your list! If not, gin rummy may be the game for you, with only 10 cards!
© 2013 Richard Triskaideka-Pavlicek