Leads with a very weak hand by Matthias Huberschwiller

A: ♥7 – After this bidding sequence, it is recommended to lead a major.
Leading from five small cards is unlikely to be useful. Even if you manage to establish your Spades, you will not be able to get back on lead to cash them.
The best shot is to lead a Heart for your partner.


Your result so far:

A: ♣6 – Leading a Heart, the dummy’s suit is out of the question as is leading a Diamond, which is declarer’s suit.
You need to choose between Spades and Clubs, but how?
Your partner has not bid over 1♥ although he should have around ten points. We can conclude that he is not very likely to have a long Spade suit, but he can have five or more clubs and a hand he thought not worthy to be bid on the two-level.
Therefore, you need to lead the ♣6, Top of Nothing.


Your result so far:

A: ♦8 – It may be tempting to lead a Club, but with a weak suit without middle cards and no entries to your hand, the chances of establishing the suit are feeble.
You need to lead for your partner and choose between Hearts and Diamonds. How to choose this time?
Your partner could have doubled 2♥ if he held five good cards in the suit, whereas he could not show a good suit in Diamonds. Therefore, you need to lead a Diamond.


Your result so far:

A: ♦8 – There is no reason to lead a trump and you won’t lead a Club into dummy’s strength, so you need to choose between Spades and Diamonds.
With weak hands, it is often better to lead short suits because that is where partner is more likely to have length and values. Also, your only chance to get a trick for the defense is to ruff a diamond before declarer can draw all the trumps.


Your result so far:

A: ♠6 – Your opponents have just the 33 HCP needed for 6NT. Therefore, you need to find a neutral lead in order to avoid giving away trick number 12.
A Club lead is out of the question, a Diamond lead could help declarer to solve the suit (if your partner has the Queen, for example), and a Heart lead could give away precious information about possible losing finesses in the suit.
Leading a Spade from four small in declarer’s suit is the least dangerous option – if your partner has an honor in the suit, it is in front of the force no matter if you lead the suit or not.


Your result so far: