Make the right opening lead.
Bridge Column for March 3, 2007, Harvey Bernstein
Special To The Plain Dealer
East-West vulnerable.  South deals.
                              North
                              S: 8 7 6            
                              H: A K 8       
                              D: J 9 7 5     
                              C: A K 3   
            West                             East
            S: A 10 2                        S: Q 5   
            H: Q J 9 3                       H: 10 6 5 4   
            D: 8 4 2                         D: A                 
            C: 9 7 6                         C: J 10 8 5 4 2
                              South                         
                              S: K J 9 4 3
                              H: 7 2        
                              D: K Q 10 6 3 
                              C: Q        
          The Bidding:  
                  South    West    North    East                  
                   1S      Pass     2D      Pass
                   3D      Pass     4S      Pass
                   Pass    Pass
          Opening lead: 4D
     After South opened the bidding, North wanted to make a bid
that would show a good hand and get more information from
partner.  Two diamonds accomplished that but also provided the
defense with some helpful information.
     West could have led a heart, diamond, or club, but selected
the four of diamonds because of the bidding.  If North and South
both had diamonds, there was a good possibility that East would
not have many.  East won the first trick and returned the six of
hearts.  South played the seven, West the nine, and the ace won
this trick in the dummy.  A spade was led to the jack and ace.
     West was pretty sure that his partner would not have
switched to a heart if he could have returned a diamond after
winning the first trick.  The only assumption that he could make
was that the ace was a singleton.  The eight of diamonds was
trumped by East with the queen of spades and in the fullness of
time, the ten of spades became the setting trick.
     The top score on this hand went to the pair who played three
no trump, making four.  Three pairs played four spades making
when West selected a club or a heart to start the defense.  Plus
fifty was worth a score of six out of eight possible matchpoints
for East-West.  
     When selecting an opening lead, play close attention to the
auction and use that information.  Remember, the opening lead may
be a blind play, but the opening leader should not be deaf to the
bidding.  
_______________________________________________________
Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon. 
To reach Harvey Bernstein:
hjb0416@yahoo.com