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 When should I lead a trump? by linda j green

There is a big difference between making an opening lead against a dummy that has trump support, as opposed to one that does not.

By listening to the bidding, one can usually gauge if they have found a trump fit. Another situation exists, when partner may leave in a doubled contract, converting it to penalties at a low level- one or two level. Let us make a decision on the following hands, whether to lead a trump or not?

Question 1

  Your Hand
♠ K J 4 3
♥ 8 7 6
♦ K Q 7 6
♣ 9 8 		 
Q: 1 - As South should you lead a trump? If not, what suit do you lead?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1♠
Pass1NTPass2♥
PassPassPass


 Your choice:
A: ♥6. Yes. Lead a trump. Responder is short in spades especially when you have strength in that suit. It is almost always right to lead a trump to prevent declarer from trumping losing spades in dummy. (If you do not have strength in spades, your partner will have them). Therefore when the opponents settle in a 2nd or 3rd suit try to stop the cross-ruff of trumping in two hands.

Your result so far:
Open Question

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Question 2

  Your Hand
♠ 7 6 5
♥ Q 4
♦ Q 8 6 3
♣ K J 5 2 		 
Q: 2 - As South do you lead a trump? If not, what suit do you lead?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1♠
Pass2♥Pass2♠
Pass4♠PassPass
Pass


 Your choice:
A: ♣2. No. We do not lead a trump. Responder is known to have a 5-card heart suit. Declarer will generally set up dummy's long suit to discard losers in other suits. When dummy is expected to have a long side suit, make an attacking lead in your stronger side suit.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 3

  Your Hand
♠ 7 6 5
♥ Q 9
♦ Q 9 7 3
♣ A J 5 4 		 
Q: 3 - As South do you lead a trump? If not, what suit would you lead?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1♠
Pass2♥Pass2♠
Pass4♠PassPass
Pass


 Your choice:
A: ♦3. No. Lead a low diamond as this is a side suit without an Ace. It is never ever right to make an opening lead that underleads an Ace AGAINST A SUIT CONTRACT! Invariably declarer has the king. Wait for partner to lead that suit to capture the king with your Ace.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 4

  Your Hand
♠ 8
♥ K Q 3 2
♦ Q J 7 6
♣ A J 5 4 		 
Q: 4 - As South what suit should you lead?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1♠
DoublePassPassPass


 Your choice:
A: ♠8. When partner leaves in a "take-out" double, converting the double into a penalty double at the one or two level, it is very often the right thing to do to lead a trump. The reason is that partner's spades are better than declarer's promising at least 3 or 4 sure trump tricks and an outside Ace. It is necessary to draw all their trumps so they are unable to use their poor trumps to ruff other suits.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 5

  Your Hand
♠ A J 9
♥ 8 6 5
♦ Q 5 2
♣ K 7 6 3 		 
Q: 5 - As South what suit do you lead?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1♥
Pass3♥*PassPass
Pass


* =invitational showing 10-12 HCP

 Your choice:
A: ♥5. When one is not sure what to lead having broken strength in each side suit excluding trumps and partner has not bid lead a trump. When the opponents have not shown a long side suit it is best to be passive and not give anything away.
NEVER lead a singleton trump! (unless partner has passed your take-out double) The reason is that you will disclose the bad division and maybe finesse partner who could have made a trump trick. If 4 cards are missing, and partner has Qxx you have blown the distribution.

Your result so far:
Open Question

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