Go Low by Ben Norton

A: ♥3. You could lead from one of your black-suit sequences, but given you have such a weak hand, it may pay to try for ruffs in dummy’s suit instead. Partner should have lots of entries. Who knows, your ♦9 might even threaten a trump promotion.

A Heart lead forced declarer to win the first trick with dummy’s Ace, thereby damaging his communications. He was no longer able to both establish and enjoy a second Spade trick with dummy’s Ace-Jack. On any other lead, he could draw trumps then work on Spades, with the ♥A entry intact.

Your result so far:

A: ♥K. You’re surely going to lead a Heart after partner’s raise, but the question remains; which Heart? If partner hadn’t raised, you might well lead a low one to unblock the suit when he had J x, or keep the lines of communication open facing a small doubleton. However, partner is known to have three Hearts here, and it can hardly cost to lay down the ♥K. The ♥J could be doubleton in an opponent’s hand.

A low Heart would gift declarer a cheap trick with the ♥J, whereas a top Heart established four tricks in the suit for the defense.

Your result so far:

A: ♦J. You should cultivate a style of leading passively against No-trump partials. The play is rarely a race, with each side needing seven tricks, so setting up winners can often wait until you know more about the hand, and can arrange to broach the suit in the correct way. Just put the ball in play.

Still, there’s little to choose between a Diamond and a Spade in terms of safety here, and a Diamond rates to be more productive. Since you have the ♦8 to support your sequence, try the ♦J.

A Diamond lead was necessary to keep your side a tempo ahead, establishing three Diamond tricks to go with two Clubs and the major-suit Aces.

Your result so far:

A: ♣K. Your side clearly has the balance of power, and partner must have a fair Club holding for his penalty double. How will your opponents make their tricks, then? By taking ruffs. Try to cut down on those by leading the ♣K. Even if this costs a trick, it will come back, perhaps with interest.

A trump lead was necessary to prevent any Heart ruffs in dummy, holding declarer to five tricks.

Your result so far:

A: ♦8. The ♠Q lead might appeal, but the usual standards go out of the window when declarer has pre-empted, traditionally announcing a weak hand. The doubleton Diamond lead is quite attractive now, since partner rates to have some strength in the suit, and you have a control card in trumps. Indeed, your ♣8 might even come into the game.

A Diamond lead was necessary to set up a trump promotion for the setting trick. It couldn’t wait, since Diamonds had to be led twice through East to establish the ♣8.

Your result so far: