Tip of the Month
WITH TRUMP LENGTH, LEAD FROM LENGTH

By Andrew Robson

There are two diametrically opposite defensive strategies against trump contracts. You can lead from shortage and try to make your trumps by ruffing; alternatively you can lead from length and try to force declarer to shorten his trumps so you gain trump superiority.

Dealer: South. N/S Vul.     K Q 7   K Q 3   8 7 5 3   8 7 6     A 5 4 2   7   K J 9 4 2   J 9 4 8 A 6 4 2 Q 10 6 Q 10 5 3 2     J 10 9 6 3   J 10 9 8 5   A   A K

West	North	East	South
			1
Pass	2 (a)	Pass	2
Pass	3 (b)	Pass	4
End
(a) Merely a stepping stone. North correctly avoids the cumbersome 2NT response. (b) Almost worth 4 with such great fitting honours. The hand would be much less valuable if the honours were in the minors.

Much has been written recently - especially by Swedish expert Anders Wirgren - in favour of leading from shortage. However . . .

With four (or more) trumps you should generally lead from length in a side suit and try to force declarer . . . witness this month's deal.

West correctly led the 4 to East's Q and declarer's A. At trick two declarer led the 3 to dummy's Q, then continued with the K, East discarding. West took his A and played a second diamond. Declarer trumped, and realised that if he drew all West's trumps, he would have none left himself. He correctly played the 5 to dummy's K and East's A. East played his third diamond and declarer reluctantly trumped. He played a second heart and West ruffed to play a fourth diamond. Declarer trumped in hand with his last trump. Unable to reach dummy to draw West's last trump, he played a third heart. West ruffed to defeat the contract.

If West had led the 7 rather than 4, declarer would make 4 easily: East would win with the A and lead a second heart for West to ruff, but then he would only score his A in addition.