Choices-choices! by Linda J Green

How often do have choices when making an opening lead? Many times ,either in a suit or No Trump contract. Listening to the bidding is of the utmost importance when helping one make a decision. Let us see what we should lead on the following hands ! Oh dear me- which suit do I lead?

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ A 4 3 2
♥ 9 8 4
♦ Q J 5 2
♣ J 10

Q: 1 - As South which suit do I lead?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♣
Pass	1♥	Pass	1NT*
Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
Pass

* = 12-14 HCP

A: 2♦. Partner had the opportunity to overcall one spade. Aces are our entries. Keep it. Lead the other minor. They do not expect that!. We cannot lead the Q as we need almost 3 cards touching ( QJ92) or 3 cards touching each other .Two touching does not constitute a sequence.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ K J 4 3
♥ 9 8
♦ A 9 5 4 2
♣ Q 5

Q: 2 - As South which suit do you lead?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1NT
Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
Pass

A: 3♠. When the opponents do not use Stayman it is best to lead a major verses a 5 -card minor. They are usually long in the minors.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ A Q 7
♥ 10 4
♦ 8 7 6
♣ K Q 8 5 2

Q: 3 - As South what suit do you lead?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♣
Pass	1♦	Pass	1♥
Pass	2♠*	Pass	2NT
Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
Pass

* as 1 spade is natural - 2 spades asks for shape or delayed support or a stopper in the 4th suit. This is forcing to game.

A: 5♣. When one club may have 3 cards lead your longest suit . Leading from the spade suit would only give them a trick despite being the unbid suit.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ J 10 9 6 3
♥ A Q J 2
♦ 8 7
♣ 9 4

Q: 4 - As South what suit do you lead?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♦
Pass	1♠	Pass	2♣
Pass	3♦*	Pass	3 NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

* = invitational

A: J♠. Leading a Q♥ would hand them a trick with the K♥ they can never make. By not leading the unbid suit shows you have a reason.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ K J 4 3 2
♥ 9 8
♦ A Q 6 5
♣ 10 9

Q: 5 - As South what suit do you lead?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1NT
Pass	2♣*	Pass	2♥
Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
Pass

* = Stayman looking for a 4-card major

A: 5♦.As responder showed a 4-card spade suit by going to game in No Trumps one has only one choice - the other 4-card suit. Listening to the bidding can help enormously when trying to find the opening lead when one has 2 choices!

Your result so far:

Open Question

Overall Results

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What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
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