Leads after long bidding sequences by Matthias Huberschwiller

A: 10♣ - You could be tempted by leading the unbid Diamond suit, but South should have a stopper there and your partner, who is not broke, could have overcalled 1♦ if he wanted you to lead them.

North's Club suit could be as few as 3 cards, and against 1NT you should try to lead passively, to not give a trick away immediately.

Your result so far:

A: 2♠ - North has used Fourth-suit-forcing to ask his partner for a Spade stopper. Even if South has a stopper, your partner rates to have something to help you set up the Spades.

Your result so far:

A: 7♦ - Dummy has shown a 5-5 hand with enough strength to go to game.

What should you lead?

No suit seems to be appealing. You need to try and avoid giving away a trick right now. It's usually best to lead through an opponent's suit, rather than into it.

You need to choose a Diamond lead, because your partner must have honors behind dummy. When he gets on lead, seeing the dummy, you can bet he'll play a Club back to set up your tricks there.

Were you to lead a Club, you would be playing straight into declarer's Ace-Queen.

Your result so far:

A: Q♦ - North has bid Stayman, so he must have 4 Spades along with the 5 Clubs he's shown. With declarer having shown 4 Hearts, your best hope is to lead a top Diamond, aiming to set up your partner's (hopefully) long Diamonds.

Your result so far:

A: 2♥ - Do you want to lead your singleton? You would be ruffing with your trumps, from which you would always make 2 tricks.

You do better by leading a Heart, to try to set up some tricks.

Your result so far: