Leads against a part-score by Matthias Huberschwiller

When you lead against a part-score, the strength of both sides is often pretty close – after all, your opponents have not bid game.

If your hand presents a mediocre number of points, you can deduct two things from it: Your partner also has some points and you’ll have several opportunities to get on lead during the deal.

Now chose your lead accordingly.

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ J 6 2
♥ K J 6 3
♦ Q 9 6 2
♣ 10 2

Q: 1 - What do you lead as West?

South	West	North	East
1♠	Pass	2♠	Pass
Pass	Pass

A: ♣10 – North has a weak hand with 6-10 points. As South has most points of his side, if you lead a Heart or a Diamond, you risk throwing yourself into a tenace and to give away a trick.

Leading from a doubleton, on the other hand, can be very effective, especially when you know that your partner has some points.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ K J 6 4 2
♥ J 10 9 8
♦ 8
♣ K 3 2

Q: 2 - What do you lead as West?

South	West	North	East
1 NT	Pass	Pass	Pass

A: ♥J – Against 3NT, you should lead from your longest suit, hoping to establish it. Against 1NT, however, you’ll have several occasions to get back on lead.

A Spade lead bears too much risk to give away a trick. It is better to lead the ♥J and wait for your partner to play a Spade through declarer.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ 9 6 2
♥ K 6 4
♦ Q 9 5 3
♣ A 6 2

Q: 3 - What do you lead as West?

South	West	North	East
1♠	Pass	2♠	Pass
Pass	Pass

A: ♠2 – A lead in any of the other suits is too dangerous and risks giving away a trick.

The only lead that is left is a trump lead, which in addition to being neutral could allow you to prevent declarer from getting one or several ruffs in the short hand.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ Q 6 2
♥ J 9 6 2
♦ A Q 2
♣ 9 8 6

Q: 4 - What do you lead as West?

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

A: ♣9 – You opponents have bid three suits. But leading in the fourth suit, from A-Q-x, where South will very often have a stopper or even length, risks being catastrophic.

Norths “length” in Clubs might not be more than three cards. Therefore, you need to lead your highest Club (top of nothing), hoping that your partner has a length behind the dummy.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ K J 6 2
♥ A 7 4 2
♦ 6
♣ K J 6 2

Q: 5 - What do you lead as West?

South	West	North	East
1♦	Double	Pass	Pass
Pass

A: ♦6 - Wow, your partner has passed the take out double. What does he have in his hand? He has points and length in diamonds.

Leading one of the other three suits risks giving away a trick, it is better to lead a diamond as your partner has a solid length there. He could help draw opponents’ trumps so that you can get your tricks in the other suits later.

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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