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 Opening Leads Mix and Match by Andy Hung

Opening Leads. They're the card that sets the tempo of all bridge hands, and it is the first strike that the defense gets. Sometimes declarer's contract is rock solid and the lead doesn't matter, or sometimes the contract is too high and declarer is destined to fail.

What is important is that we must make every effort to choose the best opening lead that will give us the best chance to defeat the contract. Are you ready?

Question 1

  Your Hand
 K 9 3
 5 4 2
 K Q 8 4 3
 8 3
 
Q: 1 - You are South.

SouthWestNorthEast
-223
34Pass5
PassPassPass

West opens a Weak-Two in Hearts and partner overcalls 2. East introduces his own suit with 3 and we support partner with 3. Likewise, West also supports his partner with 4 and this is raised to 5. What do you lead?

 Your choice:
A: 3.

Before leading a Diamond we should take our Spade tricks while we can. There's no need to 'tell' partner about our K by leading it - in fact, the K lead would promise the Q so we can't do that. Instead, lead the 3. Our low Spade lead promises an honor anyway, so partner should be able to work out that we hold the K from the 3.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 2

  Your Hand
 J 9 6
 9 8 4 2
 K 9 5 3
 Q 4
 
Q: 2 - You are South.

SouthWestNorthEast
-3Pass4
PassPassPass

East jumps to 4 over his partner's preemptive 3 opening. What do you lead?

 Your choice:
A: 3.

This auction calls out for an aggressive lead. Declarer should have good Spades, and he can use dummy's Clubs for discards, so we must take/establish our tricks as quick as possible!

With the K, it looks right to lead a Diamond.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 3

  Your Hand
 A Q 10 8 6 3
 K Q 10 5
 K 3
 4
 
Q: 3 - You are South.

SouthWestNorthEast
---1
1Pass23
45DoublePass
PassPass

Our 1 overcall is greeted with a 2 raise from partner. This was all we needed to hear for a jump to 4 but our annoying opponents have decided to take the sacrifice in 5 given the favorable vulnerability for their side. What do you lead?

 Your choice:
A: 4.

Trump leads are often regarded as 'giving up' type of leads because you are essentially handing over the tempo advantage that the defense has over to declarer.

However, in this type of situation where your side has the majority of the strength and the opponents are known to be sacrificing, trump leads become very attractive. Why? Well, if your opponents are sacrificing, where do you think they will get their tricks from? They will come from trumps as well as ruffs!

West (dummy) could potentially have three trumps and a side singleton, so a trump lead can cut down those (potential) ruffs. If we have any tricks in the other three suits, fear not, we have control in all three side suits so we are not in a hurry.

Leading the A here could cost if declarer has Kx doubleton, and the K could also cost if declarer has the Ace and dummy has the Jack.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 4

  Your Hand
 7 6 5
 4
 A K J 9 6 4 3
 3 2
 
Q: 4 - You are South.

SouthWestNorthEast
3Pass55
PassPassPass

You are on lead against 5 after your preemptive 3 opening gets raised to 5, but is out-competed by East's 5. What do you lead?

 Your choice:
A: K.

Leading against a 5-level contract or higher, it is good to play Ace leads to ask for attitude, and King leads to ask for count. Here is the perfect spot for it, so lead the K to ask for a count signal. That way, you'll know whether to cash the A at trick two, or to find a switch if you work out that declarer has no more than one Diamond.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 5

  Your Hand
 A K 6
 6 3
 8 7 4 3
 6 5 3 2
 
Q: 5 - You are South.

SouthWestNorthEast
-112
24PassPass
Pass

You are on lead against 4. What do you lead?

 Your choice:
A: A.

This is not a high-level contract, so that special leading convention does not apply. Lead the A here to say you have the K also.

(You can certainly extend the leading convention down to the 4-level with your favorite partner if you wish, but like always, you should always discuss with your partner beforehand.)

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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