No Trump Leads by Matthias Huberschwiller

A: ♠2 – You have the choice between the two black suits. How should you choose?

By looking at the bidding sequence. None of your opponents has tried to find a fit in a major. This means that you have good chances of finding partner with something useful in the majors. Choose Spades rather than Clubs.


Your result so far:

A: ♦J – Even though North has opened 1♦, this is not hindering as it is possible that he has only three Diamonds.

On the other hand, what does South have? He doesn’t have a Diamond fit, and he has neither four Hearts nor four Spades. This means that he has a Club length and you don’t want to help him establish it.


Your result so far:

A: ♠9 – Here, it is impossible to lead from your length as it is declarer’s five-card suit. Between Spades and Diamonds, you choose Spades because both opponents have denied having four (with 4 Spades North would have bid 2 Spades - reverse bid - to show game going values AND his spades) and your partner has length there.

With three small cards, you lead the highest as Top of Nothing.


Your result so far:

A: ♥3 – It is excluded to lead one of the minors, but how can you choose between the majors?

When you have the choice between two four-card suits, it is better to lead from the one with the weaker honor, because there's less risk of giving away a trick.


Your result so far:

A: ♥10 – When you have the choice between a five-card suit and a four-card suit, you need to choose the longer one: If you manage establishing it, you’ll get one extra trick.

But which card should you lead?

You have King-Ten-Nine, so you lead the Ten, the top of the inner sequence.


Your result so far: