L117 Dilemma? What to lead when there are two unbid suits. by linda green

How often do we have choices of two unbid suits when making an opening lead and not sure which one?

Listening to the bidding, and trying to calculate whether dummy has a long suit or declarer has a long suit can be a dilemma!
Let us learn to take inferences from the opponents bidding at the table.

Question 1

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

Q: 1 - As South what suit do you lead?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♦
pass	1♥	pass	3♦*
pass	pass	pass

* Not forcing = invitational 6-card suit 15-16 HCP

A: Q♣. The hand with a more solid sequence offers us a better choice with only one card missing than the top of an interior sequence.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

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

Q: 2 - As South what suit do you lead?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♣
pass	1♥	pass	1 NT
pass	pass	pass

A: 6♦. Partner had the opportunity to bid 1 spade over 1 heart. Opener does not have 4 diamonds opening 1 club. By the process of elimination lead the unbid minor as invariably the declarer expects you to lead the unbid major.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ Q 6 5
♥ J 10 8 6 5
♦ 9 4
♣ A K 7

Q: 3 - As South what card do you lead?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♠
pass	1NT	pass	2♦
pass	2♠	pass	pass
pass

A: Ace♣. When we have an outside Ace and king combination it is best to tell partner where we have values first. Looking at the dummy we can now get a picture of what suit to switch to if necessary.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

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

Q: 4 - As South what suit do you lead?

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

A: 6♦ Who was going to win this war?When we have the opponents in a misfit we lead from the one suit that has one higher honor so as not to give away a trick. This allows partner to hold one of 3 cards A-K or J which is better than leading from the KJ combination which may cost a trick expecting partner to hold 1 of 2 honors either the Ace or Queen.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ K J 5 4
♥ Q 8 7 6
♦ 9 5
♣ A 3 2

Q: 5 - As South what suit do you lead?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♦
pass	1♠	pass	1NT
pass	3♦*	pass	pass
pass

* Not forcing = invitational with 5 diamonds and unbalanced.

A: 6♥. We cannot lead an unsupported Ace♣ without the King. "Aces are meant to capture kings"!
Leading a low unbid suit is best hoping to find partner with an honor -either the Ace - K or J.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Overall Results

Your results: out of Average:

What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
More informations on our website: www.VuBridge.com

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