Should You Lead Your Singleton? by Matthias Huberschwiller

In this quiz, you will be on lead against a suit contract holding a singleton. It often makes for a good lead, but should you always lead it?

Good luck!

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ J 10 9 8 7
♥ 9 6 3
♦ 7
♣ 8 6 4 2

Q: 1 - What do you lead as South?

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

A: ♦7 - Your singleton is a perfect lead here. You hope to ruff a Diamond before declarer gets to draw trumps.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ 7
♥ A 6 5 2
♦ 10 9 8 6
♣ Q 6 4 2

Q: 2 - What do you lead as South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♠
Pass	2♠	Pass	4♠
Pass	Pass	Pass

A: ♦10 - You cannot lead your singleton when it's in the trump suit. You can't ruff Spades, and you could give away the layout if partner has something in that suit.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

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

Q: 3 - What do you lead as South?

South	West	North	East
-	1♣	1♥	1♠
Pass	2♠	Pass	4♠
Pass	Pass	Pass

A: ♣6 - Even though your partner has overcalled 1♥, you need to lead your singleton Club rather than your partner's suit. He won't be mad!

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

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

Q: 4 - What do you lead as South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♥
Pass	2♣	Pass	2♥
Pass	4♥	Pass	Pass
Pass

A: ♣5 - You can lead your singleton even when it's in an opponent's suit.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

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

Q: 5 - What do you lead as South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♠
Pass	2♠	Pass	4♠
Pass	Pass	Pass

A: ♠Q - There is no point in leading your singleton. You would be ruffing "with your own money", since you have two natural trump tricks.

Lead from your Spade sequence. You might prevent declarer from taking short-hand ruffs.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Overall Results

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What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
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