[matmat]

BAM, all white

Auction:

1♥ - ( x ) - 2♣ - (2♦)
2♥ - (3♦) - 3♥ - (3NT)
P - ( P ) - X - all pass

[FrancesHinden]

Partner thinks it is going off. He should have something in diamonds. I would expect to look at my hand before deciding whether to lead a heart or a club, but I wouldn't consider any other suit.

[benlessard]

I assume it ask for a H lead and partner know the D arent running. It would be lightner only if partner is expected to lead a H. Here without a double a H lead is far from automatic.

[brianshark]

I think that in auctions like this, partner's double means they are going off. Make your normal lead.

Prefer a ♥ lead to a ♣ lead because I think pard will be expecting a ♥ lead on this auction and may be doubling on a single ♦ stopper and a ♥ filler needed to knock out declarer's ♥ stopper. Unless your ♥ suit is anemic, in which case maybe try a ♣ instead.

[pclayton]

I very much doubt our lead matters much. I will tend to lead a club here unless I had a stiff, but it really depends on my red suit holdings. In general I want to push clubs through dummy so pard can lead hearts through the NT bidder.

[matmat]

thanks for the replies thus far.

now, after the auction is over, you look at your hand and see:

KJxx AT9xxx Kx x

does this make the lead any easier?


Now, forget the first part of that post.

P actually held
9xxx 8x x AKQxxx
do you agree with their actions.

[brianshark]

1. Definitely leading a ♥ holding the given hand.

2. I disagree with the 3♥ bid. If you're going to raise on a doubleton, at least have Ax or Kx.

[nige1]

matmat, on Aug 5 2008, 02:58 AM, said:

BAM, all white

Auction:

1♥ - ( x ) - 2♣ - (2♦)
2♥ - (3♦) - 3♥ - (3NT)
P - ( P ) - X - all pass

IMO

• Doubles of games and slams, voluntarily bid by opponents, should be vaguely Lightner -- lead-directing rather than pure penalty.
  
• Simple rules are best: e.g. if we've both bid a suit, then lead your suit not mine.
  
• Hence, without other agreements or indications, this should ask for a ♥ lead.

[TimG]

matmat, on Aug 5 2008, 02:58 AM, said:

1♥ - ( x ) - 2♣ - (2♦)
2♥ - (3♦) - P - (3NT)
P - ( P ) - X - all pass

Wouldn't you be inclined to lead a club here, even with a singleton if your hearts were not great? So, I think responder on the actual hand made an error with his 3♥ bid (and probably his double, even if he had passed 3♦, unless there is a ♣10 missing from his actual hand).

With opener's actual hand, looking at the ♦K, you have to wonder what is going on, don't you? One explanation is that partner has solid clubs. Certainly advancer has a heart stopper, but he may reasonably have been counting on the takeout doubler to have a club stopper. If one of our suits is running, it is most likely clubs.

Conflicting signal, I think. At the table, I probably would have led a heart, but with time to think deeper a club is probably best. One extra thing that a club has going for it is that responder might have the ♣A and be able to switch to hearts at trick two when clubs is the wrong suit. Leading a heart is likely an all or nothing shot (when it matters).