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 Opening leads against slams by Linda J Green

When we choose an opening lead, it is not an art but a science. Even the best thought out leads will sometimes work out badly for us. However, when it comes to leads against slams, we have a few guidelines to help us along the way.

Against a No Trump slam, we should lead passively (lead from what we do not have).
Against a suit slam, we should try to be aggressive (lead away from a King, if we have an outside Ace in anticipation of finding partner with a Queen to set up a fast trick).
Timing is everything before they get discards, so the race is on!

Question 1

  Your Hand
♠ 7 6
♥ Q 6 5 2
♦ K 5 4 2
♣ 8 7 6 		 
Q: 1 - Which card do you lead against a slam?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1♠
Pass3♠Pass4 No Trump
Pass5♥Pass6♠
PassPassPass


 Your choice:
A: 2♦ - As partner did not double the artificial bid of 5♥ for a lead we have 2 choices. As we have an honor in the diamond suit it is best to be attacking against a slam and hope to build a trick in a suit where you have values. If partner has the Q♦ and the declarer loses the lead we have a quick trick set up to try and defeat the slam.

Your result so far:
Open Question

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Question 2

  Your Hand
♠ A 7 6
♥ J 4 3 2
♦ Q 6 5 3
♣ 9 8 		 
Q: 2 - What suit do you lead against a slam?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1♦
Pass1♥Pass2♠
Pass4 No TrumpPass5♠
Pass6♠PassPass
p


 Your choice:
A: 6♠ - When the opponents settle in a 3rd suit, and you hold length in their two bid suits, a trump lead works out best, to try and prevent them from crossruffing the hand.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 3

  Your Hand
♠ 7 6 5
♥ J 10 5 4
♦ J 10 8 2
♣ 8 7 		 
Q: 3 - As South which suit do you lead on this auction?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1♠
Pass2♣Pass3♠
Pass4 No TrumpPass5♠
Pass6♠PassPass
Pass


 Your choice:
A: J♦ - As the quality of the diamond suit is better than the heart suit, and only the 9♦ is missing - it is considered a full sequence.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 4

  Your Hand
♠ K 5 4 3
♥ Q J 6
♦ 9 8 7 6
♣ 5 4 		 
Q: 4 - As South which suit do you lead against a slam in a No Trump contract?
SouthWestNorthEast
---2 NT
Pass6 NTPassPass
Pass


 Your choice:
A: 9♦ - Against a 6NT contract, it is advisable to lead from what you do not hold, PASSIVE. Often a high level No Trump contract, one has to look for certain cards. We do not help them! Sometimes we have to lead a doubleton, or from a tripleton where we do not hold any honors.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 5

  Your Hand
♠ K 6 5 4
♥ 9 8
♦ Q 7 6 2
♣ 5 4 3 		 
Q: 5 - As South what do you lead against a slam?
SouthWestNorthEast
-1♣ Pass1♥
Pass4♥*Pass4 NT
Pass5♠Pass6♥
PassPassPass


* 18-19 HCP ( this is not a "shut-out" bid. Opener is bidding the limit of the hand)

 Your choice:
A: 2♦ - Partner did not double the artificial response to Blackwood of 5♠ for a lead. You have the choice of two unbid suits, one chooses the other suit diamonds hoping to build a quick trick in that suit.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Overall Results

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