L127Bottom from a heap!What do we lead? by linda j green

Against suit contracts-you do not have an attractive opening lead-no singleton-no top of a sequence -no partner's bid suit.The best thing to do in these situations is to eliminate the NO-NO's ,and then choose what is left.
Bottom from a heap is a complete no-no. as well as underleading away from an Ace ! Do not lead from a suit which only has an Ace unless the Ace is from Ace/ King at trick one.
Let us look at these situations and listen to the bidding to guide us on what to lead against suit contracts

Question 1

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

Q: 1 - As South what do we lead?

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

A: 7♣.Three suits have to be eliminated as although we would like to lead a trump we cannot lead from a trick we might make the K♠. Clubs is the only plausible lead and we have learnt that " Low Likes" we want it back "High Hates" we do not want it back . We lead the second highest to discourage partner .
Leading 4th highest from a worthless suit deceives partner.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ K Q 7 6
♥ Q 3
♦ J 10
♣ Q 9 8 4

Q: 2 - As South what do you lead?

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

* Invitational 15/16 HCP 6-card suit.

A: K♠. Here we cannot lead from the bottom of a heap!. Responder denied a major and most probably has the club suit. By- passing hearts and spades and not showing a diamond fit with a balanced hand- we lead from what we hold. Top of a sequence . Two cards touching in a suit contract.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ A 5 4
♥ Q J 3
♦ 9 7 6 2
♣ K J 10 9

Q: 3 - As South what suit do we lead?

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

A: 7♦. Here again leading one of the bid suits is a no-no. It is safest to lead second highest from the diamond suit rather than from an interior sequence of the club suit.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ Q 10 9
♥ Q 6
♦ Q 9 8 3 2
♣ K 5 3

Q: 4 - As South what suit do you lead?

South	West	North	East
-	1♦	Pass	1♥
Pass	2NT*	Pass	4♥
Pass	Pass	Pass

* = 18/19 HCP balanced -at least a doubleton heart.

A: 10♠. With no attractive lead- no singleton- no top of a sequence- no partner's bid suit hoping partner has either the Jack King or Ace( one of 3 cards) shows an interior sequence. Leading away from the King of clubs when the opening hand is in dummy may cost a trick expecting 2 out of three cards Ace or Queen.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

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

Q: 5 - What suit do you lead?

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

A: 8♠. We lead bottom from the heap! How many points do you think your partner holds? ZERO. Opener shows 18/19. Responder has 6-9 HCP. We lead passively from what we do not hold. We cannot lead Aces from spaces without the King.

Your result so far:

Open Question

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