Who’s On Lead?

Abbott and Costello meet RP Bridge

Lou: Who’s on lead?	Bud: Yes!
No, I mean the player.	Who!
The guy on lead.	Who is the player’s name.
Don’t ask me! What’s his name?	No! What is declarer. Who is on lead.
No idea!	Sorry, he’s dummy.
Who is dummy?	No! Who’s on lead. No Idea is dummy.
You got a Director?	Of course, Why!
How the hell should I know!	[giving up bridge]

Apologies to Lou Costello and Bud Abbott, but “who’s on lead” is often the key to winning defense.

Test yourself on these six problems. As East, decide how you would signal on partner’s opening lead, or if you would overtake and lead next. In each case your side wins the first trick. South’s play is shown, though you wouldn’t know this until after your first play.

Choose your defense from Options A-F, which will be rated on a 1-to-10 scale per my judgment.

Bidding is standard (unless noted), and you use standard leads and signals.
For a reference see Standard American Bridge. Assume all players are experts.

In February 2007 these problems were presented as a contest with 1091 entrants from 121 locations. The contest is closed, but you can still quiz yourself and find your score immediately. If you’re lucky, you might even win a valuable prize.*

*Top 10 scorers will be given prominent roles in an Abbott & Costello remake. Winners must be at least 18 years of age.
Employees of PavCo Films are ineligible. Offer void where prohibited by law or north of the Antarctic Circle.

Before you begin, let me remind you of the most important decision on defense: Who’s on lead? Yes!

Problem 1

IMPs	Q J 3		West	North	East	South
N-S vul	J 9 4 2		Who	No Idea	You	What
	5 4					1
	K Q 5 3		Pass	2	Pass	3
		6 4	Pass	4	Pass	Pass
Lead: Q		Q 7 5	Pass
		K 10 7 3
4 South		J 10 9 6

Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
1. W	Q	4	?	2

Your defense?

A. Overtake, lead 4
B. Overtake, lead 5
C. Overtake, lead 3
D. Overtake, lead J
E.  Play the 7
F.  Play the 3

Problem 2

IMPs	K 10 4		West	North	East	South
Both vul	K J 9 7		Who	No Idea	You	What
	K 9 7 6				1	1
	J 5		Pass	3 1	Dbl	3
		Q 9 3	Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: Q		2
		A Q 4	1. 4-card limit raise
3 South		A K 10 8 6 4

Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
1. W	Q	5	?	3

Your defense?

A. Overtake, lead 3
B. Overtake, lead 2
C. Overtake, win A
D. Play the 10
E.  Play the 8
F.  Play the 4

Problem 3

IMPs	8 4		West	North	East	South
None vul	Q 5 3		Who	No Idea	You	What
	10 4 2				2	2 NT
	A K 10 5 2		Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
		A Q 10 7 6 2	Pass
Lead: J		8 7
		J 7
3 NT South		J 8 3

Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
1. W	J	4	?	5

Your defense?

A. Overtake, win A
B. Overtake, lead 10
C. Overtake, lead 8
D. Overtake, lead J
E.  Play the 7
F.  Play the 2

Problem 4

IMPs	K Q 9 4		West	North	East	South
E-W vul	K 8 6 2		Who	No Idea	You	What
	A 8 5			1	Pass	1
	10 4		Pass	2	Pass	4
		7 6	Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: J		A Q 9
		Q 9 7 4
4 South		K J 9 3

Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
1. W	J	2	?	4

Your defense?

A. Overtake, lead 6
B. Overtake, lead Q
C. Overtake, lead 9
D. Overtake, lead 4
E.  Overtake, lead J
F.  Play the 9

Problem 5

IMPs	A K 5 3		West	North	East	South
N-S vul	A 9 3		Who	No Idea	You	What
	10 5					1
	J 7 3 2		Pass	1	Pass	1 NT
		9 8 7	Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
Lead: Q		K 10 2	Pass
		Q 9 7 4
3 NT South		Q 10 9

Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
1. W	Q	3	?	6

Your defense?

A. Overtake, lead 9
B. Overtake, lead 10
C. Overtake, lead Q
D. Overtake, lead 4
E.  Play the 10
F.  Play the 2

Problem 6

IMPs	10 9 3		West	North	East	South
None vul	J 6 5		Who	No Idea	You	What
	A 8 6 2			1	1	1
	A K 6		3 1	Pass	Pass	4 NT
		7 5	Pass	5	Dbl	6
Lead: 10		A K Q 7 3	Pass	Pass	Pass
		J 10 3
6 South		Q 9 4	1. weak

Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
1. W	10	5	?	4

Your defense?

A. Overtake, lead 5
B. Overtake, lead K
C. Overtake, lead J
D. Overtake, lead 4
E.  Play the 7
F.  Play the 3

 Click to see how you did

Challenge 8Y09 Main Analyses

Scores Top Who’s On Lead?

Acknowledgments to Bud Abbott (1897-1974), Lou Costello (1906-59) and “Who’s On First?”
© 2007 Richard Pavlicek