Mix and Match by Ben Norton

A: ♥2. It’s a choice between the majors. With all things being equal you’d prefer to lead from 10 x x x than J x x x, since the latter carries a substantial risk of giving a trick away. However, West could have a lot more than a minimum raise to game here, especially given partner’s original Pass.

Your opponents have at least 26-high and declarer will likely make nine tricks if left to his own devices, so employ an active defense. It will be easier to set up tricks in Hearts than in Spades, since you need slightly less help from partner. Picture him with K Q x x in both suits and a Heart lead all but guarantees three tricks, whereas a Spade doesn’t.

Your result so far:

A: ♠6. A Diamond is out so it’s between the other three suits. Declarer denied a four-card major with his 1NT response so rates to have Club length. Which is more attractive to lead from then, ♠x x x or ♥J x x? If there were any indication that you needed to set up tricks quickly, you’d favor a Heart, but that’s not the case here.

The play in 1NT is rarely a race, especially when you know your side has at least half the deck, which you do after partner’s second Double. Prefer a safe Spade lead to a Heart.

Your result so far:

A: ♠4. Between your two long suits, a Spade is a better shot. As per Dyke’s Law, leading from Ace-fourth against 3NT is rarely a good idea, since if you need to attack that suit you often have time to do so later. It’s only when partner has five cards in the suit, or declarer has enough tricks for his contract in two other suits that the lead is necessary, while more often than not it hands declarer a cheap trick with an unsupported honor.

What’s more, the fact that West didn’t use Stayman suggests he has the minor suits, making it unlikely partner has Diamond length while increasing the odds of him having a major. Bearing all this in mind, a Spade lead, although intrinsically a passive option, is superior here.

Your result so far:

A: ♠Q. Why would East jump to 3NT? It’s clearly not based on raw power since he’s a Passed hand. He must have supporting Club honors along with a Diamond stop and is hoping to run nine quick tricks with the aid of his partner’s six-card Club suit. Therefore a Diamond lead is not a good option. Declarer almost certainly has the ♦K and that may well be his ninth trick. Alternatively he could have enough tricks in the rounded-suits.

Either way you must attack with a top Spade. If this isn’t immediately fatal to declarer’s cause it certainly won’t do you any harm, and may well generate an entry to partner’s hand so he can fire a Diamond through. With the agreement that a King lead against No-trumps asks partner to unblock an honor, you must start with the Queen, which will collect an attitude signal.

Your result so far:

A: ♦3. Partner’s Double can’t be for penalties having pre-empted, nor can it be an Action Double at the five-level, especially given you’ve already raised him. His Double is Lightner, asking for an unusual lead. He’s almost certainly void in dummy’s suit, Diamonds, a suspicion which is confirmed by your unprecedented length there.

Having pieced this together you may conclude that the ♦A is best, but that will just do declarer’s work for him, giving away a tempo by establishing dummy’s King and possibly giving away a trick altogether if dummy has six Diamonds and declarer two, when leading a low one would likely score two ruffs for your side without setting up the ♦K in the process. Trust your partner and lead a low Diamond, the three as a suit preference signal for Clubs. Partner will ruff, return a Club and hopefully score a second ruff.

Your result so far: