Posted 2008-June-01, 07:59
This lead problem is interesting, but I think that thuis is a blended question.
The obvious concern is in finding out primarily if partner has the spade Queen and, secondarily, whether he might have Q-fifth. There is actually a tertiary potential problem, namely how to indicate when partner should overtake if he has Q-fifth and dummy has two cards.
IMO, with AKJ or AK10 tight, the standout lead is attitude, whereas with AKJ10, the obvious lead is honor-count. The last concern (when to overtake from Q-fifth with a doubleton in dummy) is mitigated by this principle. If he sees K-A-J, he knows that you have the 10 and ducks.
The first concern. when partner has Qx or Qxx, is mitigated when partner drops the Queen under the King.
The first concern, when partner has Qxxx, is also mitigated when partner, realizing that you would lead Ace from AKJ/AK10/AKx, drops the Queen under the King.
The fear is Qxxxx. However, that fear, IMO, is misplaced, if your partnership adjusts well. When Opener is almost assuredly in possession of a four-card suit for his lead (here), and dummy hits wit a stiff or void (here), the "honor or count" initial message should, IMO, convert to "short honor or attitude." Both partner and the person making the opening lead should be on the same wavelength to this development.
With four or five small in dummy, it clearly remains honor/count.
With three in dummy, I think it remains honor/count, although this is tougher. Count of 2/4 will not help resolve partner's problem. Perhaps (note to self -- discuss with partner) the rule with a fragment on dummy is to show even if holding exactly four cards but odd otherwise. In other words, an "I have 4" peter.
With two in dummy, the likely drop situation is when Responde has five. Here, whether it is Q-fifth or five small, either one produces four tricks if Opener continues from the top; a fifth if partner has the Queen. The defense is the same. So, I think count is King here, but again limited. Either an "I have 5" peter or, to remain "count consistent," an "I have five" low-high reverse peter, all other lengths grouped together as "I don't have five."
"Gibberish in, gibberish out. A trial judge, three sets of lawyers, and now three appellate judges cannot agree on what this law means. And we ask police officers, prosecutors, defense lawyers, and citizens to enforce or abide by it? The legislature continues to write unreadable statutes. Gibberish should not be enforced as law."
-P.J. Painter.
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