Opening Leads against No-trumps 4 by Paul Bowyer

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

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

Let's remind you of some key points.

In general we lead the fourth-highest of our longest suit against No-Trumps – with exceptions.

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 is to lead the second-highest card from garbage.

Here, we will stick to the style of "Fourth-highest from good suits, second-highest from bad ones".

Whatever your style is, we must emphasize that you need to discuss these matters with your partner.

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ Q 8 3
♥ Q 7 2
♦ Q 6 4
♣ 9 7 5 2

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 ♣7. You may as well lead a Club, even though the suit is going to take a long time to develop.

You choose the ♣7 (second-highest from trash) rather than the fourth-highest to tell partner that you aren’t crazy about a Club return and maybe a shift to another suit might be the best defense.

Remember: Lead LOW for LIKE, lead HIGH for HATE.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ 10 9 8 7
♥ 9 7 5
♦ J 3
♣ Q 7 4 2

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 ♠10. It is usually right to lead from a sequence when you can.

This lead is both passive (it can hardly cost you a trick by opening up a suit) and attacking (in that it may develop a trick or two in Spades).

Further, your Clubs are so feeble it would take a miracle to set them up, let alone get on lead to cash them. Anyway, when in doubt, lead a Spade…

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ 9 7 5
♥ 6 5 4 3 2
♦ 9 7
♣ 7 6 3

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 ♠7. Now leading your long suit is a waste of time as even if you were to set it up you won’t get on lead to cash it.

Best is to play for partner’s hand and hope he has a long suit of his own.

Which suit, though, is a guess. When in doubt, lead Spades…

This hoary piece of advice is based on the fact that opponents frequently bid Spades if they have them but often overlook minor suits in the rush to bid the higher scoring No-trumps.

Well, this may not be the wisdom of Solomon but it is a straw in the wind…

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ 4 3 2
♥ 9 7 6
♦ 9 7 6 3
♣ 10 6 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 ♥7. Again, leading your long suit (Diamonds) is just a waste of time. You can't hope to set them up let alone gain the lead to cash them.

You could (indeed, might) lead Spades following the principles of the previous two examples; the problem being that the ♠3 lead will confuse partner – he is sure to think that the Spade is a fourth-highest lead and will enthusiastically continue the suit whether that’s the right defense or not. The phrase "flogging a dead horse" comes to mind here.

Better to lead an unambiguous ♥7 so partner knows you have trash in the suit ("Lead low for LIKE; lead high for HATE).

You never know – a Heart lead just might hit your partner’s length and strength.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

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

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 ♠10. This set of five questions has dismal hands on lead to 3NT with no guidance in the bidding.

Here, as in the other examples, it looks to be unprofitable to lead from your long suit and the best chance is to play for partner's hand by hitting his long and strong suit. (If, that is, he has one).

Here, the 10-9 linked combination offers a chance of being a useful "filler" to partner, whereas Hearts offers nothing. Leading Diamonds or Clubs isn't likely to get you anywhere.

Maybe partner has ♠Q J × × × and a couple of entries. Well, you can hope, can't you?

Anyway, when in doubt, lead a Spade...

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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