[Cyberyeti]

Teams:

---

This was one where what I led didn't work at the table, getting a sense check.

[wank]

diamond. you need 1, most likely 2, diamond tricks anyway. if you lead one you might also get a ruff/trump promo.

[steve2005]

Diamond looks best.
No rush for clubs your only getting 1 at most.

[The_Badger]

If you didn't have the ♣A it would be a ♦; with ♣A I agree with the other commentators it is a still a ♦ lead. You could lose a tempo by leading ♣A and see it embarrassingly ruffed. I'd rather set up a trick or two in partner's sidesuit while I have the chance.

[ahydra]

I agree with a diamond. The argument for the CA is that it might go away, which it still might, but when we hold KJx of what is presumably their side suit and a 10-fit in clubs, it suggests the ace will more likely be ruffed than be lost.

ahydra

[Tramticket]

There are a lot of points around!

We need to go active, so not a trump. Will the ace of clubs go away if we don't lead it? I don't think so.

I am a little nervous of partner correctly reading my 3♦ lead as a doubleton - I don't want partner to win trick 1 with the A♦ and return a diamond. But with that small caveat I agree with a diamond.

[Cyberyeti]

OK I feel better now, this was the hand:

---

Trump lead, A♣ and a trump, small club and a trump or heart all beat it, diamond establishes a diamond for a heart discard while there's a trump entry on the table to enjoy it.

[The_Badger]

Just very unlucky, I feel. Next hand

[WellSpyder]

My partner led ♣A and continued a second ♣. But then East had opened 4♠ rather than 1♠ and I wimped out of backing into the auction with 4NT (or double), so partner didn't have any real reason to think the second club wouldn't stand up.

[The_Badger]

 WellSpyder, on 2017-November-20, 06:44, said:

My partner led ♣A and continued a second ♣. But then East had opened 4♠ rather than 1♠ and I wimped out of backing into the auction with 4NT (or double), so partner didn't have any real reason to think the second club wouldn't stand up.

East's actual hand with its ninth spade and outside ace is somewhere between a pre-empt and Namyats territory, I feel (though technically with its poor suit it isn't a Namyats bid). Could easily miss a slam if partner has the right controls opening 4♠. Then again, opening 1♠ will invariably let the opponents into the auction. Just one of those hands that's just the luck of the draw.