L126 Double Trouble-What to lead? by linda j green

Opening leads against various doubles in competition cause us many headaches! Double trouble for sure, what do they all mean!
If a suit bid is artificial, a double shows that suit, 5-cards or longer with a minimum two of the top 4 honors!

e.g. over Stayman: 1NT-p-2♣-X- (artificial) double by opponent.

However, when Blackwood is used at a high level a double at the 5-level is LEAD DIRECTING, asks partner to lead that suit. You may have the Kxx or KQx and an outside Ace. Before they get to set up their long suit, we double asking for that suit led while you control their long suit for discards.

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ Q J 9 2
♥ 8 7 6
♦ J 10 9 3
♣ 8 5

Q: 1 - As South what do you lead?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1NT
Pass	2♣*	Double	2♥
Pass	4♥	Pass	Pass
Pass

* Stayman asking for a 4-card major

A: 8♣. Top of a doubleton. Partner doubled the artificial suit of Stayman for a lead promising two of the top 4 honors and a 5-card suit

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ 8 7
♥ Q J 7 2
♦ J 6 5 3
♣ 10 9 8

Q: 2 - As South what do you lead?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1NT
Pass	3NT	Double	Pass
Pass	Pass

A: 8 ♠. It is a known convention that when no suit is bid and partner doubles that we lead spades! Top of a doubleton. They have the minors and partner had no room to bid the glorious solid long spade suit.
Conversely: If you are looking at honors in spades, lead your shortest major, hearts.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

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

Q: 3 - As South what suit do you lead and which card?

South	West	North	East
-	1♣	Pass	2NT
Pass	3NT	Double	Pass
Pass	Pass

A: 9♣. Top of a doubleton. Why did our partner double? A message was sent to you! Please lead dummy's FIRST BID SUIT! When a suit or suits are bid, it is a known fact that it is the first bid suit of the dummy. Partner may have AKJT5 of that suit or with an outside Ace as well and wants to set up the long suit before the Ace is played.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

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

Q: 4 - As South what suit do you lead?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♣
Pass	1♥	Double	1NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

A: Q♦. As partner showed the two unbid suits at least 4/4 and a good hand, our diamond suit has better quality. When you have a broken sequence, it is best to lead the top to show the card behind it.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ 8 7
♥ 8 7 4
♦ 7 6 5 4
♣ Q J 10 2

Q: 5 - As South what suit do you lead and which card?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♠
Pass	2♦	Pass	3♠
Pass	4♠	Pass	4NT
Pass	5♥	Double	6♠
Pass	Pass	Pass

A: 4♥. We have a natural lead of the Q♣. However, our partner doubled an artificial response to Blackwood asking for a lead of the heart suit.
It is not dangerous to double, after all, they agreed spades as the trump suit.
We lead a low card from 3 so partner can know how many cards in declarer's hand. If we lead a high card we will be showing a doubleton. The length is very important. It does not promise an honor at all. We often have an outside ace, and timing is everything before they get to set up a long suit.

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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