Opening Leads against No-trumps 3 by Paul Bowyer

We continue with a series on opening leads against No-trumps.

You are always South, on lead to East's contract.

There are some points to make here that may need explaining.

In general we lead the fourth-highest of our longest suit against No-Trumps but there are exceptions. We will explore these exceptions as we progress.

One of these exceptions is when leading from a poor suit (defined as a suit headed by a Nine-spot or a lower card). Here, the style is to lead a high(ish) card to say that we have no real interest in the suit.

So, the principle is that a low card shows interest in the suit ("please lead this suit back, partner") and a highish card shows little interest in the suit ("only lead this suit back if you want to, partner").

This can be summarized as "Lead LOW for LIKE and Lead HIGH for HATE".

Some players like to lead "Top of Nothing", meaning that they lead the highest card from garbage. This is not recommended for a variety of reasons – the modern style, taking hold worldwide, is to lead the second highest card from garbage.

Whatever your style is, we must emphasize that you need to discuss these matters with your partner. Here, we will stick to the style of "Fourth-highest from good suits, second-highest from bad ones".

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ J 10 9
♥ 9 3
♦ A K 8 4 3
♣ J 10 4

Q: 1 - You are South, on lead to 3NT after an uninformative auction.

What is your choice of lead?

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

A: The ♦4. It is clear to lead Diamonds, the question is which card?

With no intermediate cards it is now right to lead the fourth-highest card and that's the ♦4.

This wins big time when partner has ♦Q ×, and the suit can be run off for five instant winners, or maybe ♦× × and an outside entry. Here, the defense maintains communication and maybe can come to four Diamonds and partner's extra trick.

In either of these cases leading the Ace of Diamonds would rupture the communications and prevent the defense from establishing and running off the long suit.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

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

Q: 2 - You are South, on lead to 3NT after an uninformative auction.

What is your choice of lead?

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

A: The ♦A. With a five-card suit headed by the Ace-King it is usually best to lead the fourth-highest card (see Q1). However, with only four cards it is better to start with the Ace. Why?

Well, unless partner has five Diamonds, there is no prospect of taking the first five tricks. If partner is well at home in Diamonds (maybe he has ♦Q × ×) then the lead of a top honor won't block the suit.

If Diamonds is not the suit to attack (and dummy may make that clear) then you can shift, maybe to a killing Spade. A low Diamond lead, though, may surrender a tempo.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ J 10 9
♥ 9 6 3
♦ 8 7 5 4
♣ J 10 4

Q: 3 - You are South, on lead to 3NT after an uninformative auction.

What is your choice of lead?

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

A: The ♠J. Now, with a hopeless hand, you have no reason to lead your four-card suit. Even if you could establish your long suit, how could you regain the lead in order to cash any of it?

In these circumstances you should look to partner to make (all?) the setting tricks. If 3NT is going to fail (however unlikely you may think that is) partner will have to have a five-card suit and an entry or two.

So, you have to "play for partner's hand" by guessing what partner's long suit is. It may be anything, but Spades is as good a guess as any, and you do have a safe sequence there.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ J 10
♥ 9 6 3
♦ 8 7 5 4
♣ 9 7 5 3

Q: 4 - You are South, on lead to 3NT after an uninformative auction.

What is your choice of lead?

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

A: The ♠J. The same answer as last time, really. What leverage can you hope to exert by leading one of your feeble minor-suits?

Holding a trash-heap like this you must look to your partner to make all your side's tricks. If 3NT is going to fail (and you have to stay positive; reflect that the opposition have not bid a slam) partner will have to have a five-card suit and an entry or two.

So, once again, you have to play for partner's hand by leading his suit. Spades is likely to be North's long suit and the ♠J 10 may just be the fillers he needs.

Well, you have to hope, don't you?

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ Q 7 2
♥ 9 7 5 2
♦ A Q 5
♣ J 9 5

Q: 5 - You are South, on lead to 3NT after an uninformative auction.

What is your choice of lead?

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

A: The ♥7. Now you have no reason not to lead your longest suit.

However, holding a poor suit you should select the Seven-spot to tell partner you aren't crazy about him returning a Heart if and when on lead. The phrase "flogging a dead horse" comes to mind here.

It may be right for North to shift suits, and by leading HIGH for HATE partner may be able to judge the situation.

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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