Opening Lead for Intermediates 9 by Andy Hung

Opening Leads. They're the card that sets the tempo of all bridge hands, and it is the first strike that the defense gets. Sometimes declarer's contract is rock solid and the lead doesn't matter, or sometimes the contract is too high and declarer is destined to fail.

What is important is that we must make every effort to choose the best opening lead that will give us the best chance to defeat the contract. Are you ready?

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ 10 7
♥ K 5
♦ J 6 2
♣ Q J 9 8 7 2

Q: 1 - You are South.

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♥	2♠
Pass	3♠	Pass	Pass
Pass

A low level competitive auction completes with your RHO declaring in 3♠. What do you lead?

A: ♥K.

We have two choices here, either a Heart or a Club. As the Heart (partner's suit) gives us the possibility of a third round ruff, we should therefore lead the ♥K.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ 8 6
♥ A Q J 10 7 6
♦ 7 5 2
♣ 5 4

Q: 2 - You are South.

South	West	North	East
2♥	Double	Pass	3NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

Having opened a Weak-Two in Hearts, the opponents land in 3NT. What do you lead?

A: ♥Q.

We know where the ♥K is from the bidding - clearly it's with declarer. However, that doesn't mean we should not lead it, quite the contrary actually. If we lead another suit hoping to get partner on lead to switch to a Heart, that would be a good outcome if declarer had a doubleton King of Hearts as we can then run the suit. If declarer has three Hearts however, we will need to get partner on lead TWICE and that might just be too much to ask for.

A better plan is to lead the ♥Q to knock out declarer's ♥K and run the Heart suit whenever partner gets on lead and returns a Heart.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ A J 10 8 6 4
♥ 6 5
♦ 10 8 7 5
♣ 5

Q: 3 - You are South.

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♣
2♠	Double	Pass	3♣
Pass	3♠	Pass	3NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

After overcalling a Weak-Two in Spades, your LHO checks the situation in Spades by asking for a Spade stopper and East admits to one. What do you lead?

A: ♠J.

So what if declarer has a Spade stopper, you still want to knock it out to establish your Spades! With the A J 10 (an interior sequence) it is best to lead the ♠J here to prevent declarer winning a free trick if he has, say, ♠KQ9.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ K 8 6
♥ A 6 5 4
♦ J 10 9 4
♣ Q 4

Q: 4 - You are South.

South	West	North	East
-	1♥	3♣	3NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

West opens 1♥, partner makes a weak jump overall of 3♣, and East ends the proceedings with 3NT. What do you lead?

A: ♣Q.

Don't be tempted with a Diamond lead. Partner has shown a long Club suit. You are hoping to knock out declarer's Club stopper in order to set up partner's suit.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ 7 6 3
♥ A K 10 7 6 2
♦ 6
♣ 8 5 2

Q: 5 - You are South.

South	West	North	East
2♥	Double	4♥	4♠
Pass	Pass	Pass

A typical competitive auction ends with you needing to lead against the opponents 4♠ contract. What do you lead?

A: ♥A.

Obviously the choice is between a top Heart or the singleton Diamond. Both are quite reasonable and either could be right. I think a top Heart is usually best because it allows you to see dummy first and you will still get a chance to switch to your singleton.

The singleton Diamond lead here isn't wrong of course, but a top Heart will usually work out better.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Overall Results

Your results: out of Average:

What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
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