Leads at Matchpoints by Matthias Huberschwiller

A: ♥10 – Underleading an Ace bears a big risk of giving away a trick if your partner does not have the King.

As your opponents have not tried to find a major, you should lead one of them and it is the ten of Hearts that you need to choose.


Your result so far:

A: ♠4 – As you have a five-card suit, you can (and should!) lead it, even small from an Ace. The chance of establishing several tricks from length outweighs the risk of giving away the King in trick one.

Your result so far:

A: ♥10 – Leading from your length in diamonds under the King fourth bears the risk of giving away a trick. Playing matchpoints it is better to lead neutrally, here the ten of Hearts and to hope for your partner to lead a diamond later.

Your result so far:

A: ♥A – Given the bidding, you need to look for a lead in one of the majors. But which one?

You don’t really have a hint as to what partner could have. You must not put all your eggs in the same basket!

The right move, especially in Matchoints is to lead the Ace of Hearts. If you partner is interested, he will encourage you. Otherwise, you will still have time to switch to a Spade, after seeing the dummy.

Your result so far:

A: ♣A – Playing for IMPs you’d probably have led a small trump, hoping to be able to get three tricks. In matchpoints, however, the goal is not to set the contract.

Your opponents tried to bid a slam and stopped because they are missing two Aces. There is a risk of Diamonds discards from dummy, so you need to lead one of your Aces to make sure you hold the contract to 5♥ just made.

As you are shorter in Clubs than in Spades, the risk of your Ace being ruffed away is smaller, but you can still count a point for you if you led the ♠A.

Your result so far: