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 Doubleton Leads? by linda j green

Should you lead a doubleton? How many times do you want to and refrain as you are indecisive about whether to lead a doubleton?
There are only four reasons to lead a doubleton:
1. Partner bid the suit, lead the top of a doubleton (if you hold 3 or more in the suit lead LOW to show length, but not away from an Ace in a suit contract)
2. It is the only unbid suit, and no other lead stands out.
3. If you have a high card (an Ace or King) in the trump suit and have no decent alternative.
4. You have all the remaining high card points and partner is rated to have zero points - lead passive - from a doubleton.

Question 1

  Your Hand
♠ 9 8 7 6
♥ A 4 3
♦ Q 10 9 3
♣ 9 7 		 
Q: 1 - As South what suit do you lead?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1♥
Pass2♥Pass4♥
PassPassPass


 Your choice:
A: 9♣ - As you have the Ace of trumps as a quick re-entry you hope to get a ruff in the club suit. However, leading the 10 diamonds (an interior sequence) is an attractive lead as an alternative. If the diamond suit was Q654, that suit is far less attractive, and the doubleton would be a much better choice.

Your result so far:
Open Question

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Question 2

  Your Hand
♠ Q J 9 4
♥ 8 7 6
♦ A 5
♣ Q J 7 3 		 
Q: 2 - As South what suit do you lead?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1 NT
Pass2♥*Pass2♠
Pass3NTPassPass
Pass


* Transfer to spades showing a 5-card suit.

 Your choice:
A: 3♣ - Listening to the bidding helps one to decide on a lead. The opponents have shown 5 spades and declarer did not support the transfer so has only 2 spades. Leading the Q♠, a broken sequence is correct in normal bidding but with 5 spades on the left, not a good idea. Leading a doubleton with an unsupported Ace will not build extra tricks in a NT, so leading a low club will give us a chance to build extra tricks. 2 touching cards in a NT contract is not a sequence.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 3

  Your Hand
♠ K J 5 4 3
♥ 7 6
♦ K J 5 4 3
♣ 2 		 
Q: 3 - As South what suit do you lead?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1NT
Pass3NTPassPass
Pass


 Your choice:
A: 4♠ - As the opponents did not use Stayman, leading the major is a better alternative. Dummy most probably will not have 4 spades. If the bidding had gone 1NT-2♣-2♥-3NT, indicating a 4-card spade suit the diamond leads stands out a mile!

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 4

  Your Hand
♠ J 10 9 8 4
♥ K Q 2
♦ J 10
♣ 8 6 3 		 
Q: 4 - As South what suit do you lead?
SouthWestNorthEast
-3♣Pass3NT
PassPassPass


 Your choice:
A: K♥ - If the bidding was 1NT-3NT the Jack spades is a clear cut lead. However, knowing they intend to run the long club suit, timing is what counts. They are rated to have spade honors and the heart suit will build tricks far more quickly. All you hope for is that partner has the Jack or Ace of hearts. Often this is a killing lead. Do not lead the doubleton diamond. Xmas will come first!

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 5

  Your Hand
♠ 9 8
♥ K J 7
♦ A Q 10 3
♣ Q 7 6 5 		 
Q: 5 - As South what suit do you lead?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1NT
Pass2NTPass3NT
PassPassPass


 Your choice:
A: 9♠ - When the opponents do not use Stayman, they usually have the minors. Having the majority of the HCP's, it is best to lead the top of a doubleton, which will not give any suit distribution away.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Overall Results

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