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 Is 4th best the way to go? by linda j green

When it comes to leads, how many of us are so indecisive as what to lead?

Sometimes we do not always lead 4th best. Everything depends on whether we have entries to our hand, or what we expect our partner to hold, when we listen to the auction.

Try to deduce by applying the rule of 40. Add up the declarer's hand - your hand and responder's expected point count. Subtract from 40. Voila!! Easy isn't it! Of course. I always say : " This game is easy if we would only use logic"!

Question 1

  Your Hand
♠ J 10 9 8
♥ Q 8 4
♦ 8 7 6
♣ Q J 10 		 
Q: 1 - As South which card do you lead?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1♣
Pass1♦1♥1 NT
Pass2NTPassPass
Pass


 Your choice:
A: 4♥ - When partner overcalls a suit it is usually for a lead- not to buy the contract. Lead a low card to show length, 3 or 4 cards. This does not promise an honor as partner needs to know how many cards in declarer's hand. Should you lead the Queen and declarer has KJx you will give declarer two tricks.
If you do not lead partner's suit, he may get a new bridge partner!

Your result so far:
Open Question

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Question 2

  Your Hand
♠ Q J 9 6 2
♥ J 10 8
♦ 9 7
♣ K 7 6 		 
Q: 2 - As South what suit and which card do you lead?
SouthWestNorthEast
---2NT
Pass3NTPassPass
Pass


 Your choice:
A: Q♠ - When they did not use Stayman looking for a 4-card major, a major suit lead is nearly mandatory. When one has one card missing (the Ten) this is known as a sequence. Almost 3 cards touching each other. Lead the top to promise the Jack and maybe the ten. Lead the longest major as you have an entry, the King of clubs.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 3

  Your Hand
♠ 9 8
♥ 10 8 6 4 3
♦ J 5 4 2
♣ 6 3 		 
Q: 3 - As South what suit do you lead?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1NT
Pass3NTPassPass
Pass


 Your choice:
A: 9♠ - When they did not use Stayman, we lead a major suit. However, with no entry, we do NOT lead 4th highest. Xmas will come before one can set up that suit. Partner is rated to have values. Lead your shortest major and hope to find partner's long suit. Partner will love you and think you are brilliant to find such a lead!

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 4

  Your Hand
♠ J 10 6 3
♥ Q 8 7 3 2
♦ 8 7
♣ 9 8 		 
Q: 4 - As South what suit do you lead?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1NT
Pass2♣Pass2♠
Pass3NTPassPass
Pass


 Your choice:
A: 8♦ - As partner did not double 2♣, the artificial suit for a lead and responder retreated to 3NT showing a 4-card heart suit, one has no choice but to lead the top of nothing! Listen to the bidding to help guide you as what to NOT lead!

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 5

  Your Hand
♠ 9 8 7 2
♥ Q 5
♦ 10 9
♣ A K J 10 5 		 
Q: 5 - As South what card do you lead?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1♦
Pass1♥Pass2NT*
Pass3NTPassPass
Pass


* shows 18-19 HCP.

 Your choice:
A: A♣ - When we hold almost a full sequence, missing only the Queen ♣, we lead the Ace. This guides partner where our values are and demands that partner drops the Queen, asking for an honor. If we do not have an honor, we drop a low card to show 3 or 5 cards. or high to show 2 or 4 cards. This gives partner the COUNT to calculate how many cards are in declarer's hand. The ten is not an honor.
We do not lead 4th highest.
Should we not hold the Jack of ♣, we would lead the King asking partner for an attitude lead, Do you like it ? If so drop a high card. If you do not like it, drop a low card.

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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