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 Opening Lead for Intermediates 21 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
 9 6 3
 K 5 4
 K 8 6 3
 K 4 2
 
Q: 1 - You are South.

SouthWestNorthEast
---2NT
Pass3Pass3
Pass4PassPass
Pass

You are on lead against 4 after West finds out about four Spades via a Simple Stayman inquiry over the strong 2NT opening bid. What do you lead?


 Your choice:
A: 3.

We should always strive to steer away from a trump lead, but this is a good example where a trump lead is in fact best. East has shown a strong balanced hand with the 2NT opening bid. If we lead away from one of our Kings, it is sure to meet its fate into an AQ.

We want declarer to take a finesse into our King, so it's time for a passive lead here with a trump.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 2

  Your Hand
 K Q 3 2
 10 9
 J 7 4 2
 Q 8 2
 
Q: 2 - You are South.

SouthWestNorthEast
---2NT
Pass3Pass3
PassPassPass

You are on lead against 3 after West bids 3 transfer and subsequently passes out 3. West has effectively shown a truly weak hand with five-plus Hearts. What do you lead?


 Your choice:
A: 10.

Best to go for a safe lead here. It is too dangerous to lead away from an honor that will go into the strong 2NT hand. The K lead could work out alright if partner has the A or J, or it could turn very badly if declarer has AJ10.

As West (dummy) is known to have a very weak hand, there's no need to be aggressive. Start with the 10 and watch declarer take some (losing) finesses.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 3

  Your Hand
 10 9 3
 Q 8 7 5
 Q 8 7 5
 5 2
 
Q: 3 - You are South.

SouthWestNorthEast
---2NT
Pass3Pass3
Pass6Pass6
PassPass

A wild board here! East opens a strong 2NT and West transfers via 3. East accepts the transfer to which West now LEAPS to 6. We don't know what West has, but he surely will have a good hand with at least ten or eleven cards in Spades and Clubs! East prefers Spades and corrects to 6, and that is that.

What do you lead? (Take your time!)


 Your choice:
A: 5 (with 5 a very close second choice).

Whatever you lead, you must lead a red suit! East has a strong hand, and West also has a good hand with Spades and Clubs. We must therefore take/establish our red suit trick(s) before declarer can discard them on dummy's Clubs.

With equal holding in both red suits, it is purely a guess as to which suit to lead. The only small and very minute clue is that partner did not double the 3 transfer bid, so at least that tells us that partner does not have length AND strength in Hearts. Although it's not much, but it is still better than nothing.

Give yourself full marks if you chose to lead the 5 as well. As East and West both have strong hands, it could well be that no lead will defeat the contract! Maybe we can hope that the opponents have missed out on a grand slam!

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 4

  Your Hand
 A 9 7 4 3
 J 10 8
 Q 2
 9 6 3
 
Q: 4 - You are South.

SouthWestNorthEast
---2NT
Pass3NTPassPass
Pass

You are on lead against 3NT. What do you lead?


 Your choice:
A: 4.

Underleading Aces is NOT a good idea against SUIT contracts, but is perfectly OK against No-trump contracts. Leading the 4 here is best as it is your longest and strongest suit.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 5

  Your Hand
 K 2
 Q J 9 7 4
 A 10 3 2
 A 8
 
Q: 5 - You are South.

SouthWestNorthEast
---2NT
Pass3Pass3
Pass3NTPassPass
Pass

You are on lead against 3NT after West shows five Hearts (via a transfer bid) and enough points for a game. What do you lead?


 Your choice:
A: 2.

We know that West has five Hearts (from the transfer bid) and East has two Hearts. Therefore, partner is marked with a singleton Heart so there is no future in that suit for the defense. Go for your second longest suit - here, it's Diamonds.

If your Heart suit was KQ1098, that would now be a totally different story, and it would be correct to lead a Heart (the K to be exact).

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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