'Blind' Leads to 3NT by Ben Norton

‘Blind’ Leads to 3NT

The most common auction in bridge is 1NT-3NT, so it pays to have a good grasp of what to do on lead after this sequence. It’s all but impossible to construct a plan for the defense before you lead, except when you hold the majority of your side’s assets, so the best you can do in most scenarios is find a lead that rates to do well offensively, by setting up the suit, but won’t risk too much at the same time.

Your left-hand-opponent has a very wide range in terms of high cards for jumping to 3NT, so the opponents may well have more than enough strength to make game, which indicates that you have to lead aggressively after this auction, else watch declarer collect nine tricks by his own devices more often than not. Bearing this in mind, what will you lead as South on each of these hands?

Question 1

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

Q: 1 - What do you think?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1NT
Pass	3NT	Pass	Pass
Pass

A: ♠2. The ♦10 would be a good passive option, but you’re not interested in that since it harbors very little offensive potential, being from a three-card suit. What’s more, you know from the auction that East-West are unlikely to have a major suit fit, so a major lead rates to be more successful than a minor.

There’s little to choose between Hearts and Spades, save that in Hearts you already have a trick to cash, but you don’t necessarily have any set up in Spades yet. As such, a Spade lead is best. If it turns out that Hearts is the suit to attack, you’ll probably have the time to do that later.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

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

Q: 2 - A similar problem…

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1NT
Pass	3NT	Pass	Pass
Pass

A: ♥3. Again you have a choice between Hearts and Spades. In general leading from J x x x is not a great idea, because in the long run it will give away just as many tricks as it gains. In contrast, leading from Q x x x won’t blow as many tricks, and has better offensive chances because you need less from partner to set the suit up.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

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

Q: 3 - What are your thoughts?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1NT
Pass	3NT	Pass	Pass
Pass

A: ♥8. If you had an entry or your Spades were stronger, you’d lead your five-card suit, but here you have nothing in the way of values and even if you set the Spades up, you won’t be able to get back in to enjoy them. When you have nothing it’s best to lead your shortest major, hoping to set up partner’s suit, who probably has the high cards to get in and cash them.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

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

Q: 4 - What about this time?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1NT
Pass	3NT	Pass	Pass
Pass

A: ♠7. This is a bit more tricky. Leading from A x x x is not only dangerous but is likely unnecessary, as according to Dyke’s Law, if you need to play on that suit you can do it later. For now you should kick off with another suit. However, it’s not clear which one. A Diamond from A x x will blow a trick often and besides, a major suit lead is indicated. A Heart from J 9 x will often bear similar results to leading from J x x x, whereas a Spade is less likely to give a trick away.

Even if you treat the Ten as an honor in your leading methods, it’s best to start off with the ♠7, your second-highest to show a poor suit, since you hardly want partner to continue the suit unless he has length and strength there, in which case he won’t need any encouraging.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

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

Q: 5 - Yet another 3NT…

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1NT
Pass	3NT	Pass	Pass
Pass

A: ♦6. There’s no reason not to lead your longest suit here, but the matter of which card is of interest. Against a suit contract you’d lead the King, so as to not give away a cheap trick and set up a quick trick at the same time, but against No-trumps the emphasis is on establishing long suits, for slow tricks. Therefore your best shot is to lead a low one. In this way you can keep the suit flowing when partner has H x, whereas leading the King would block it. If you had the ♦10 you might consider leading the King, thanks to your improved intermediate cards.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Overall Results

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What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
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