Trump leads by Matthias Huberschwiller

A: ♠2 – When your opponents have bid a suit before finding their fit, it is an ideal situation for a trump lead. Chances are high that declarer’s plan will involve a cross ruff, especially as you have a Club length behind him.

Leading a small trump allows you to hold the number of ruffs low.


Your result so far:

A: ♥3 – Leading any of the other three suits is dangerous, especially as declarer has the strong hand. Even a lead from the ♠J could help declarer play the suit right if your partner has an honor.

Thus, the least dangerous lead is a trump lead. If your partner has an honor there, it could have been finessed anyway and you might prevent a ruff in the short hand.


Your result so far:

A: ♥3 – This time, a trump lead is a lot less attractive: Leading from jack third is very dangerous; you lose a trick nearly every time that partner has an honor.

A lead from your queen fifth in Hearts is good as soon as partner has an honor that helps establish your queen and even if he has nothing it is likely that declarer doesn’t have a Heart loser either way.


Your result so far:

A: ♥2 – You know that dummy has long Clubs. If you lead a trump, this might give enough time to declarer to discard his losers on dummy’s Clubs.

Here you need to lead aggressively, your fourth best Heart, in order to get your tricks as quickly as possible.


Your result so far:

A: ♣2 – As North has passed after hearing about South’s two-suiter, he is certainly very short in Hearts with only a small fit in Clubs. What do you think South’s declarer plan will be?

He will ruff his Hearts with dummy’s Clubs. In order to prevent him from that, you need to lead a trump, despite your jack fourth. You probably give up a trump trick, but you have the hope of preventing declarer from several ruffs.


Your result so far: