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 Lead with Barry - Which card/which suit? by MKuemmel

Which card/which suit?

This set poses two sorts of problems. In some cases the suit to lead may be clear – or clear according to me – but the card to lead within that suit may not be so clear.

In some cases there may be a straightforward choice of suits. And in some cases you may need to face both questions. Well nobody said it was going to be easy.

Question 1

  Your Hand
 9 8 4
 A 10 9 3
 J 7
 A 9 4 2
 
Q: 1 - What do you lead as South?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1NT
PassPassPass


 Your choice:
A: 3 - Lead a low heart rather than the 10. When you have a four-card suit of this sort, you will find that although leading the 10 may save a trick from time to time, it is far more likely to cost a trick – when either dummy or declarer also has a four-card suit. However, with the eight or even the seven of hearts instead of the three, leading the 10 to the first trick becomes far more attractive.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 2

  Your Hand
 10 9 8
 K 5 4 2
 10 6 4
 A 6 5
 
Q: 2 - What do you lead as South?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1
Pass2Pass2
Pass3Dbl.3NT
PassPassPass


 Your choice:
A: 4 - There is no reason to lead an unusual diamond spot here. Declarer has guaranteed one or more diamond stop; a small diamond will give partner a more accurate impression of the count in diamonds than leading the 10. In any event, if dummy has a doubleton honor in diamonds you might find that leading the 10 would lose your side a trick. Imagine declarer with J2 facing K93 for example. You might lead the ten only if dummy rated to have all the diamond stoppers and if you had no re-entries.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 3

  Your Hand
 Q J 6 3
 9 5 4
 A Q 10
 A 7 2
 
Q: 3 - What do you lead as South?
SouthWestNorthEast
---2NT
PassPassPass


 Your choice:
A: Q - Although this advice does not conform to the textbooks, I suggest leading a top honor from queen-jack-fourth (even without an intermediate in the suit) rather than fourth highest, when declarer is strong and balanced and dummy will be weak. The frequency of declarer having both the ace and king is sufficiently high that leading the queen will at least break even, or better, for you. even if dummy had four-card length in spades there is probably no entry to it.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 4

  Your Hand
 Q 9 7 5
 J 5 4 3
 Q 4 2
 9 2
 
Q: 4 - What do you lead as South?
SouthWestNorthEast
--11
Pass1NTPass2
Pass3PassPass
Pass


 Your choice:
A: Q - If you are going to lead a diamond on this hand, where dummy appears to have length and declarer shortage, there is certainly something to be said for leading the queen – trying to pin a bare jack or ten in declarer’s hand, or to remain on lead to play through the unguarded king in dummy. Normally one leads low from any three-card holding in partner’s suit but there is an exception to every rule.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 5

  Your Hand
 Q 6
 Q 8 5 3
 J 9 4 3
 J 10 2
 
Q: 5 - What do you lead as South?
SouthWestNorthEast
--11
2244
PassPassPass


 Your choice:
A: Q - On this sequence leading the heart queen may well be more effective than a low heart. The point is that if you retain the lead you may be able to work out that the best defense is to lead a minor suit through dummy’s holding. A low heart lead might take you off lead, and partner will not be able to broach clubs from his side of the table. (I agree with not preempting to three hearts here, by the way – you have too much in bits and pieces on the side. Even if you play Mixed Raises, a two heart call is OK by me.

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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