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 Opening Lead for Intermediates 7 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
 J 6 4
 Q 8 5 2
 J 10 6 3
 K 3
 
Q: 1 - You are South.
SouthWestNorthEast
---1
Pass2Pass2
Pass4PassPass
Pass
You are on lead against 4. What do you lead?

 Your choice:
A: 2.

The opponents have bid three suits and are playing in one of them. Their likely weakness is in the unbid suit (Hearts), so it's never a bad idea to lead the unbid suit!

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 2

  Your Hand
 Q 6 5
 7 5
 Q 9 6 4
 Q 7 4 2
 
Q: 2 - You are South.
SouthWestNorthEast
---1
Pass2Pass2NT
Pass3NTPassPass
Pass
The opponents are in 3NT after trying to find a major suit fit. What do you lead?

 Your choice:
A: 4.

This time your opponents have only bid two suits so you should be choosing between either minor. As your Diamonds are a little stronger than your Clubs (the 9 could be a powerful card!), you should favor a Diamond lead.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 3

  Your Hand
 8 7 3
 A 8 7 5
 K 10 7 4
 J 3
 
Q: 3 - You are South.
SouthWestNorthEast
-1Pass1
Pass2Pass4
PassPassPass
You are on lead against 4. What do you lead?

 Your choice:
A: 4.

A trump lead is not an option as the auction does not scream out for one. A heart lead is also out. This leaves us with a Diamond or a Club. Honor doubleton leads can be quite dangerous as it gives up on the suit more often than not (it is a very gambling lead). By a process of elimination, we should lead our fourth best Diamond.

This makes sense because we can foresee what will happen if we lead a passive trump. Declarer will draw trumps and set up the Hearts by knocking out our A after which it may be too late for us to set up our Diamond trick(s).


Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 4

  Your Hand
 8 6 3
 A 6
 6 5 4 2
 Q J 8 7
 
Q: 4 - You are South.
SouthWestNorthEast
---1
Pass2Pass3
Pass4PassPass
Pass
The opponents have a double fit and have chosen to play in Hearts. What do you lead?

 Your choice:
A: 5.

Before making the standard lead of the Q, listen to the auction. The opponents have announced that they have a Diamond fit. Along with our four small Diamonds, we can deduce that partner has a singleton Diamond! Holding the A as trump control, we can lead a Diamond now and give partner a Diamond ruff when we get in with the A. Yes, this doesn't beat the contract just yet, but it is a trick that we (the defense) will want to take.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 5

  Your Hand
 9 7 5 4
 8 4
 Q 9 6 4
 A 6 2
 
Q: 5 - You are South.
SouthWestNorthEast
-1Pass1
Pass3Pass4
PassPassPass
Not a very pretty hand but we just have to make do with what we are dealt with. What do you lead against 4?

 Your choice:
A: 4.

Again, this is still not the right time to lead a passive trump. Dummy has indicated a Club suit that can potentially be used as a source of tricks (after our A is knocked out). As Spades and Diamonds are the unbid suits, leading one of those suits is indicated. Since our Diamonds are stronger than our Spades, we should lead a Diamond.

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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