Leads after short bidding sequences by Matthias Huberschwiller

A: ♥9 – Before leading a Spade without thinking, look at your hand : Your suit is very ugly and you will never be able to get back on lead to establish it.

The sequence 1NT – 3NT rather asks for the lead in a major, so you need to lead the ♥9, hoping to find a length in your partner’s hand as well as the necessary entry (entries) to cash his established Hearts.


Your result so far:

A: ♦7 – What do you know about your opponents’ hands ? Dummy has shown a weak hand with five hears. This is not the moment for an aggressive lead, because you risk falling into a tenace in declarer’s hand.

It is better to lead a neutral Diamond; if you capture your partner’s honour, declarer could have played the finesse himself anyway.


Your result so far:

A: ♠A – You know that declarer has established Diamonds. It is interesting to see the dummy to find out in which suit you could get tricks immediately because if you give up the lead, you know that declarer can take his seven Diamond tricks.

Therefore you need to lead an ace if you have one, here the ♠A. At the sight of dummy, you’ll be able to know if you need to continue with a Spade or switch to a Heart or even Club.


Your result so far:

A: ♥J – Against 1NT, you’ll have several occasions to get on lead, so it is not necessary to always lead the longest. However, it is important not to give away a trick immediately.

It is more interesting if Spades are played by your partner. Therefore, you need to lead the ♥J and hope that at the sight of dummy partner will understand to lead a Spade through declarer.


Your result so far:

A: ♣9 – Why has your partner doubled 3NT after having passed in the first round of the bidding ?

It is a Lightner double and asks for an unusual lead. The only lead that partner can ask for, after passing in the first round, is a lead in opener’s suit, this is to say in Clubs.


Your result so far: