Suppose you choose to lead Hearts, which Heart would you lead from the West hand? Conventional wisdom is to lead high against No Trump from a three-card sequence and low from a two-card sequence unless the third card in the suit is very close to the sequence, such as J-10-8. This is fine against three No Trumps, but we believe most players will lead at the top of the sequence against a Slam. This was an unfortunate choice by West in today’s deal, but he needed the correct card reading to make it pay off.
South won the initial jack of hearts with the ace and cashed the king and queen of diamonds. West’s discard of spades was disappointing, but South continued with three high clubs, which ended in dummy, as East lost a low spade. Two more clubs followed, with East discarding another spade and the eight of hearts. South lost his two lowest spades and West two more. The ace of diamonds forced West to discard his last low spade. Reading the situation beautifully, South led a heart to his king, drew East’s nine, and exited with the king of spades to West’s ace. West had to move a heart from 10-four to declarer’s queen-seven.
Very beautiful game!
