Hot shot

There were an almost inordinary number of interesting lead problems in Turkey. Some were solved to satisfaction, some were not. We got the majority right but leads are a tricky business. Here's one of the easier. You have:

T84
Q6
7542
Q932

The auction goes:
- 1D
1H 1S
2C 2N
3D 3N
p

What's your choice?

It's often correct to attack dummys first suit in these sort of auctions as you know declarer is short (no preference). I led the queen of hearts and hit the jackpot.

_____A7
_____9743
_____KJ8
_____AJ75
T84_______Q953
Q6________AKJ852
7542______3
Q932______T4
_____KJ62
_____T
_____AQT96
_____K86

That's a way to keep partner happy ;-)

At least two players I know of (Bertheau & Martens) led a low H from the other hand after 1D-1H;1S-3N. Not so against teammates in our match after same auction.

I don't like that auction even if practical bidding surprisingly often, at the table, gets better results than a scientific, explorative approach. Against us North should have jumped to 5D over 3N as the stiff H was pinpointed.

When you're going scientific, don't forget to think.