Here is another spectacular deal from the 2009 U.S. Team Trials. Do you want to get frustrated with another opening lead problem?
If not, skip the next paragraph.

You hold : 7 4
J 9 7 4
4 3
J 10 8 5 3
.  Jeff Meckstroth opens 1  on your left. Eric Rodwell responds 1 and eventually drives to 6. Your partner doubles. Declarer redoubles. Your lead.

Well, if you get it wrong, you can always claim I didn't give all the details. This was the full deal:

Vul: Both Dir: North	Q K 10 6 5 3 A 8 7 6 5 2 7
7 4 J 9 7 4 4 3 J 10 8 5 3		2 A Q 8 2 K Q J 10 K Q 6 2
	A K J 10 9 8 6 5 3 -- 9 A 9 4

West	North	East	South
	1!	Pass	1
Pass	2	Pass	2*
Pass	3	Pass	3
Pass	4	Pass	6
Pass	Pass	Double	Redouble
Pass	Pass	Pass
*GF

A trump is the only lead to beat 6XX. At the table, a heart was led (there is that Lightner idea again--see the previous article in this series). Declarer was able to ruff one club in dummy and make 12 tricks for a score of ... 2070!  A trump lead beats it one (400). Notice poor East's hand--hard to imagine the opponents have a slam!!

At the other three tables where this deal was played, North did not open. East opened a minor and South overcalled 4. This was passed back to East who doubled for takeout. Where the opening was 1, both West players passed the doubled and led a diamond--minus 1190 (making 6). At the table where the opening was a strong club, West also passed and didn't find a trump lead--minus 1190 again. However, one of those 1190's gained 13 Imps when compared to 2070. Wild happenings, indeed.