Leads against suit contracts in competitive auction by Huberschwiller

Against a suit contract you need to avoid giving away tricks with your lead.

When partner has bid, his suit is often potentially interesting for the defense.

But is this always the case?

It’s your lead!

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ Q 2
♥ J 9 4
♦ K 8 6 2
♣ 10 9 4 2

Q: 1 - What do you lead as West?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♠
2♥	Pass	4♥	Pass
Pass	Pass

A: ♠Q – Leading from a doubleton in partner’s suit is often good because it may allow either establishing his suit or getting a ruff.

You need to lead the higher from the two cards, here the Queen.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

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

Q: 2 - What do you lead as West?

South	West	North	East
1♥	1♠	1 NT	Pass
3♥	Pass	4♥	Pass
Pass	Pass

A: ♦Q – You have two identical sequences in Diamonds and Spades, but how do you choose between the two of them?

By thinking back to the bidding! North has indicated that he stops the Spades. Therefore, you have better chances to get tricks in diamonds. As you have a solid sequence, you lead the Queen.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

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

Q: 3 - What do you lead as West?

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♣	1♥
1♠	Pass	4♠	Pass
Pass	Pass

A: ♦A – Your partner’s bid in Hearts does not change the priority of your lead.

An Ace with the sequence A-K is always on top of the list, seeing the dummy will allow you to decide if it is better to continue Diamonds or to switch to Hearts.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ 7
♥ A 6 2
♦ 9 4 3
♣ J 10 9 8 6 2

Q: 4 - What do you lead as West?

South	West	North	East
1♥	Pass	2♥	3♦
4♥	Pass	Pass	Pass

A: ♠7 – Despite your partner’s bid in Diamonds, you need to lead your singleton Spade.

The diamonds will serve as entries to your partner’s hand so that he can play Spades for you to ruff!

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

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

Q: 5 - What do you lead as West?

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♣	1♦
1♥	2♦	3♥	Pass
4♥	Pass	Pass	Pass

A: ♠K – Your partner has bid Diamonds. But given the amount of cards you have in that suit, one of your opponents will ruff soon.

In Spades, on the contrary, you have high hopes of establishing tricks rapidly!

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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