To lead or not to lead a trump? by Matthias Huberschwiller

The trump lead is a lead often feared by most of the bridge players.

But whenever the declarer needs or wants to ruff, leading a trump is often a good deal.

How do you manage to distinguish the deals where a trump lead is excellent from those where it will allow your opponent to make the contract?

Question 1

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

Q: 1 - You are West. What do you lead?

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♦	Pass
1♥	Pass	2♥	Pass
2NT	Pass	3♥	Pass
Pass	Pass

A: ♥2 – The opponents have stopped in a part score contract, and no lead seems good.
A trump lead from three small cards has the advantage that you avoid giving away a trick in one of the other suits on top of giving you the chance of limiting ruffs for the declarer.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ Q 9 6 3
♥ K 6 3 2
♦ 7 6 4
♣ J 10

Q: 2 - You are West. What do you lead?

South	West	North	East
1♠	Pass	1NT	Pass
3♣	Pass	5♣	Pass
Pass	Pass

A: ♥2 - Here, we know that the opponents have a good fit in Clubs.
Therefore, a trump lead will not allow to limit any tricks from ruffs.
Your Spade opposition is not very strong, so declarer will be able to establish his Spades and discard losers from dummy.
Whenever it is likely that declarer’s plan will be to discard losers, you need to lead aggressively, so that you establish tricks for the defense before declarer develops his tricks.
Therefore, you need to lead fourth best in Hearts.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ Q 10 8 7
♥ 7 6 2
♦ 6 4 3
♣ A 4 3

Q: 3 - You are West. What do you lead?

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

A: ♠7 – North has continued South’s preempt, but he does have some points.
How do we know? Your partner has passed over 4♥ despite his Heart shortness, so he does not have a very strong hand.
This means that declarer has enough material to win his contract without the need to get several ruffs.
Therefore, you need to establish your tricks before the declarer gets ten!
You need to lead your fourth best in Spades, hoping to find partner with something helpful there.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

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

Q: 4 - You are West. What do you lead?

South	West	North	East
1♠	Dble	3♠	Pass
4♠	Pass	Pass	Pass

A: ♠7 - It is difficult to choose facing only bad options!
Leading from any of the honors is very dangerous because declarer has a good hand and you risk playing into a tenace.
The least risky is to lead a trump and to wait that declarer plays the other suits himself.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

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

Q: 5 - You are West. What do you lead?

South	West	North	East
4♠	Dble	Pass	Pass
Pass

A: ♦3 – Yes, this hand is identical to the previous!
But the bidding sequence is completely different.
This time, declarer has a weak hand with a long Spade suit.
A trump lead bears the risk of capturing an honor in partner’s hand.
As a good part of opponents’ points can be expected in dummy, you need to lead aggressively in order to establish trick for the defense.
Leading from an Ace is too dangerous; therefore you need to lead fourth best under your King of Diamonds.

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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