Sometimes a player finds himself in trouble, but a sleepy opponent lets him off the hook. The idea is to be alert for situations in which a player is forced to make a compromising lead.

Most Spades players have discovered the risk of leading away from a king. Partner may have neither the ace nor the queen. But even when this is the case, a king underlead may lose nothing. The opponents may misplay; second hand could fly up with the ace or fail to rise with the queen. One cannot know for sure if an opponent is underleading his king, but one must be alert for situations when he may have no other choice.

East originally had a strong hand and now he must win three of the last six tricks to make his bid. Even at this stage it appears simple enough until we realize that spades have not yet been broken. East reluctantly leads the 4. Here is where South must be alert to East's problem and step right up with the Q. If he does so, East-West will win no heart tricks and will go set. If South were asleep at the switch and played a low heart, the Jack forces North's Ace and East-West have their bid.

East is on lead; E-W need to win 3 tricks. North 10 9 2 A 9 8 West 6 3 J 10 7 6 East A K 8 7 K 4 South Q J 5 4 Q 5

North Q 5 West 9 8 East J 7 South 10 6 East leads the 7.

This type of play usually involves the Second Hand rising with the queen. If one round of the suit has already been played, Second Hand must step up with whichever card is currently third in rank. In this position, North originally led the K from KQ5 and East won the A from an original AJ7. Diamonds were not played again until near the end of the hand when the cards were as shown. On East's lead of the diamond seven, South must go in with the 10. This play should be relatively easy to find, since North is marked with the Q.

North A 10 6 5 4 A 8 J 6 5 10 3 2 West 9 8 10 9 4 3 A 8 7 6 K 8 4 East K J 3 2 K J 6 10 9 4 A 9 7 South Q 7 Q 7 5 2 K Q 3 Q J 6 5 The bidding: East South West North 4 1 2 4 East led the 10

Our final example of this theme is interesting because South has a chance to give his opponent the business in two suits. West won the opening lead with the A and returned the suit, South taking the K and Q. He switched to a club. East-West took their two high clubs and played a third club, South winning. This is now the position:

North A 10 6 5 4 A 8 -- -- West 9 8 10 9 4 3 2 -- East K J 3 2 K J 6 -- -- South Q 7 Q 7 5 2 -- Q East-West need 3 tricks. South leads the Q

South led the Q. West trumped with the 8, North overtrumped with the 10, and East won the trick with the J.

Now needing only two more tricks, East was not very happy to be on lead. He paused to do some thinking, and this hesitation alerted South. It was clear East was down to only spades and hearts, and might just be holding both kings.

East emerged from his trance and played the 2. South was ready and bounced with the Q, winning. Now a spade went to North's Ace and a third spade again left East on lead,this time with nothing but hearts. He tried a low heart and this card, too, lost to South's queen. North won the setting tricks with the Ace of hearts and the last spade.

Up the Queen

Regards,
Popsicle