Bridge - The Scotsman 16/05/13
North transferred into his long suit, then leapt to game, promising at least six spades. What should West lead? With no particularly attractive choice West tried a trump.
Declarer reckoned that West was unlikely to lead away from the queen of trump. She banged out the ace and king, felling the queen. A the heart finesse lost to the king, dummy’s losing diamond disappeared on a heart, and 12 tricks were made.
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Hide AdThe “safe” lead cost one trick when it persuaded declarer not to finesse in spades, and a second when declarer was able to get rid of her diamond loser. A more attacking lead in any other suit does not cost a trick. A heart can be won cheaply, but if declarer finesses in spades East can switch to a diamond before the king of hearts is dislodged. Similarly, the queen of clubs, a dangerous lead in principle, does not cost here A diamond sets up a second defensive trick immediately, and again declarer makes just ten tricks if she finesses spades.
A trump is an attacking lead, designed to cut down ruffs in the short hand, or to prevent a cross-ruff, or because anything else (leading into a strong hand) may cost a trick. It is not a safe lead, so, when in doubt – try something else.