Three No-trump Frenzy by Ben Norton

A: ♠5. A Diamond lead is a possibility. As little as the Queen in partner’s hand could set the suit up, but by then declarer could have nine tricks. Your Heart holding is a big warning sign, beneath dummy’s likely tenace. This suggests an active Spade lead.

Even though partner didn’t overcall 1♠, he might have five of them. After all, he can’t have much in the way of high cards and a bid in the ‘sandwich’ position at game all shouldn’t be made on rubbish.

Your result so far:

A: ♦J. A major suit lead won’t do any good, with both opponents having shown length there. A Club might work out alright, leading through dummy’s holding to partner’s hoped-for strength, but you’ll only be able to play them once.

Your best shot is a Diamond, and the Jack at that. This is your one time on lead so make the most of it. The Jack will be necessary to pick the suit up when partner has a holding such as A Q 10 x behind dummy’s K x x.

Your result so far:

A: ♠4. You’re on your own this time. Partner will have nothing to contribute, so you must look to establish your own suit. A passive Spade is preferable to an attacking Diamond, which rates to give a trick away. It might be necessary to get Spades on the go immediately if partner has unprecedented length in the suit.

Meanwhile, if it turns out that you need to attack Diamonds in the later play, you’ll have enough time to do so. After all, it’s very likely that declarer will have to knock out both of your rounded-suit Aces to come to nine tricks.

Your result so far:

A: ♦8. Your opponents have nothing in reserve and the cards don’t seem to be lying particularly well for them, as such you should defend passively. A major-suit lead stands to give too much away, so a Diamond through dummy’s length it is. This lead will most likely be safe.

Your result so far:

A: ♥5. A Heart lead rates to be more productive than a Spade, since you already have a quick trick in Spades, but not in Hearts. A Diamond is out of the question, having much less offensive potential, especially after West has failed to bid Stayman. It’s down to which Heart you should try. A low one is best when partner has a short honor holding or two or three small cards, but could easily concede a cheap trick to the Jack.

On the one hand, you’re hoping to bring the Heart suit in, in which case an honor lead is best. On the other hand, since West Passed originally you can tell that declarer won’t have a wealth of extra values at his disposal, so you should have one eye on giving nothing away.

If it turns out that Hearts isn’t the right suit to attack, leading an honor could well enable declarer to pick up three tricks there, whereas a low one won’t. You do have a second place to look for tricks after all, in Spades. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

Your result so far: