Bridge Column for December 11, 1994 
Both sides vulnerable.  South deals.
                              NORTH
                              S: A Q 10 9 7 4     
                              H: Q            
                              D: 10 6        
                              C: A Q 10 2
            WEST                             EAST
            S: J 8 3                         S: K 6 2        
            H: 8 5 4                         H: A 7 2      
            D: A Q 8 7 4                     D: K 9 5             
            C: K 7                           C: J 8 6 5     
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: 5   
                              H: K J 10 9 6 3
                              D: J 3 2
                              C: 9 4 3    
                  SOUTH    WEST    NORTH    EAST                  
                   2H      Pass     2NT     Pass
                   3H      Pass     Pass    Pass
     It has often been said that there is no such thing as a
blind opening lead, just deaf opening leaders.  Here is an
example of how paying attention at the table can help you improve
your opening leads.
     This hand took place during a team of four match (seven
board swiss teams with victory point scoring).  South made a
minimum weak two bid in first seat.  North's two no trump call
was an asking bid.  South is requested to show a feature (ace or
king) outside the heart suit if he has one.  Having none, South
simply rebids his hearts and the final contract is three hearts.
     East has remained alert during this exchange.  He doesn't
have a great deal of information but he can say with a fair
degree of certainty that South does not hold the king of diamonds
because he would have bid three diamonds at his second
opportunity if he held that card.  There is no reason to not lead
the ace of diamonds.  If North has that card he will most likely
score it anyway, and if East has it there is no problem.
     On the lead of the ace of diamonds East signals with the
nine.  A small diamond goes to the king and East then cashes the
ace of hearts before leading a third diamond.  North has lost the
first four tricks but could still make this contract until West
leads the king of clubs, removing an entry to the dummy which
would be necessary to establish the spade suit for a club
discard.  A small club must be lost for down one.
     At the companion table South also opened a weak two hearts. 
North bid four hearts directly.  I think that North was counting
on South having a little bit more for his vulnerable weak two
bid.  Here, West had no information at all and so led the three
of spades.  The ace was played from dummy.  The queen of hearts
was led and West won the ace.  West could now lead a small
diamond and defeat the contract but instead tried to cash  the
king of spades which was ruffed by South who then drew trumps and
played a club to the ace.  Four rounds of spades provided a
resting place for three diamonds and one club.  A diamond was
ruffed in the South hand and a club was led to the king.  The
contract was made with an overtrick.  
     A good argument could be made that the result at the second
table was East's fault.  Upon winning the ace of hearts, a
diamond switch defeats the game contract.  After all, if the king
of spades was going to cash, it was always going to cash.  This
does not take any credit away from West at the first table.  He
got the defense off to the right start by being a good listener. 
Stay alert - any information may be very valuable.