Leads after competitive bidding sequences by Matthias Huberschwiller

A: ♥Q – The two possible leads are Hearts or Clubs.

I prefer a lead from the sequence in Hearts for two reasons:
- Your partner has not promised any honours in Clubs and you could lead into a tenace in South’s hand.
- South has bid 3♠ over 3♣ after passing over 2♠. This means it is also possible that he has a singleton in clubs and in this case you have no hope of establishing tricks there.


Your result so far:

A: ♠3 – Would you have passed your partner’s double?
This double has to be for penalty, if he wanted to bid, he could have done so.

You have no lead that looks particularly appealing. What does North have?
He is rather short in Spades and does not have enough points to double in the first round of the bidding.

Your partner is long in trumps and your best chance is to try shortening opponents’ trumps in order to promote trump tricks for your partner. The best way to do this is to lead from your length in Spades.


Your result so far:

A: ♥2 – You opponents have sacrificed in 5♥, hoping that going down will be cheaper than letting you win your game contract.

Your partner has a solid hand with spades and you have diamonds and clubs. Where will they make their tricks?

With their trumps! You need to prevent this by leading a small heart, thus limiting the number of ruffs that they can make.


Your result so far:

A: ♦4 – North didn’t want to let your partner play 2♠ and has made a take out double in order to find a fit, here in diamonds. North has a rather weak hand (he passed in the first round) and a shortness in Spades.

You could lead a spade, but if you have Spade tricks to take, they will not go away (especially as you control Hearts and Clubs), unless declarer manages to ruff them!

So you need to privilege a trump lead, which is not dangerous because if your partner has an honour, it is in front of declarer’s tenace anyway.


Your result so far:

A: ♣4 – Would you have dared to pass 1♠ at a real bridge table?
As you are long in Spades, you partner must be short there. If he can re-open with a take out double, your opponents will get a heavy penalty.

As you have very nice Spades, you should try to draw declarer’s trumps in order to prevent him from taking tricks through ruffing. But you cannot play trumps yourself; they need to be played from your partner’s side.

What is better to throw him in than to lead his suit? As you have passed over his take-out double, he will understand that you have several good Spades.


Your result so far: