So far , we ’ ve seen a deal in which we have nothing better to do than lead a singleton , even though the opponent bid that suit ! Then we saw a deal that we don ’ t lead a singleton because we have four trumps . Now let ’ s consider when we would decide to lead a trump .
We ’ re still sitting West , holding a stronger hand this time with 11 highcard points :
♠ 8 4 3
♥ A K J 10
♦ K 10 7 5
♣ 9 3
South opens 1♠ and North responds 1NT . South rebids 2♥ and North goes back to 2♠ . That ends the auction . It ’ s our lead .
It may seem as though the ♥A is a good choice even if an opponent did bid the suit . However , this is a deal that we do lead a suit bid by the opponents but it ’ s not hearts . It ’ s spades , the trump suit ! Here ’ s the entire deal .
Dummy
♠ Q 7
♥ 5 2♠
♦ A 9 6 3 2
♣ 10 6 5 4 2
Us 1NT 2♠ Partner
♠ 8 4 3
♠ 9 6 5
N
♥ A K J 10 ♥ 8 7 4 2
W E
♦ K 10 7 5
S ♦ Q J
♣ 9 3
♣ K Q J 8
Pass Pass Pass
Pass Pass Declarer
♠ A K J 10 2
♥ Q 9 6 3
♦ 8 4
♣ A 7
1♠ 2♥ Pass
Consider this idea on a deal like this . South bid spades and hearts . North preferred spades . We have excellent hearts . That means declarer is likely hoping to get an extra trick by ruffing hearts in dummy .
Let ' s look at this hand from declarer ’ s point of view and count declarer ’ s winners , although we would usually count losers against a suit contract . Declarer has five spade winners , dummy ' s ♦A and the ♣A . That ’ s seven tricks . Declarer could get the eighth trick by giving up a heart and then ruffing a heart .
If we lead a trump , however , we can prevent declarer from getting to ruff a heart in dummy . Declarer wins the first trump and leads a heart . We win the heart and lead another spade to remove dummy ’ s remaining trump . When partner gets the lead and then returns a heart , declarer ends up losing all four heart tricks , a diamond , and a club . Down 1 .
On this final deal , let ' s look at one of the most important guidelines for leading against the defenders ’ trump contract : Lead partner ’ s suit .
When we choose the card to lead in partner ' s suit , there are two exceptions to the straightforward advice of leading the top of a doubleton and low from a three-card or longer suit .
The first exception : If we supported partner ’ s suit during the auction , we lead the top of nothing . Since we supported the suit , partner won ’ t think we have only a doubleton .
The second exception : Don ’ t lead low from three or more cards if you have an ace in partner ’ s suit .
Suppose this is the full layout :
Dummy
♠ Q 7 6 2
♥ K J 5 4♠
♦ Q J 10 8
♣ A 6 1♦ 2♠ Pass
Us Partner
♠ 9 3
♠ 10
N
♥ 9 6 2
♥ A Q 10 8 4
W E
♦ 4 3 2
S ♦ A K 7 5 ♣ Q J 10 9 3 ♣ 8 5 2 Pass Pass
1♥ Pass Pass
Declarer
♠ A K J 8 5 4
♥ 7 3
♦ 9 6
♣ K 7 4
1♠ 4♠
The auction is simple : North opens 1♦ , our partner overcalls 1♥ , South responds 1♠ and North raises to 2♠ . Then South jumps to 4♠ .
Holding a solid club sequence , it might be tempting to lead the ♣Q .
Don ’ t do it ! We have no entry to get to the promoted clubs . We should simply lead partner ’ s suit , hearts . Holding the ♥9-6-2 , we need to avoid leading the top of nothing . That maxim doesn ’ t apply if we didn ’ t support partner ’ s hearts . Instead , we simply lead the ♥2 . Low from a three-card or longer suit .
Partner can take four tricks right away . Two hearts , the ♥A-Q traps the ♥K in the dummy , and the ♦A-K .
If we were to lead the ♣Q , top of the solid sequence , declarer would win , draw trumps , and promote winners in diamonds on which to discard one or more hearts . After winning the ♦A and ♦K , our partner can ’ t effectively lead hearts without establishing dummy ’ s ♥K as a winner .
Below are three example hands against a 4♥ contract .
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
1♦ Pass 1♥ Pass 2♥ Pass 4♥ Pass Pass Pass
What is West ' s opening lead ? 1 . ♠6 ♥A 8 3 ♦10 9 6 2 ♣J 8 6 4 2 2 . ♠8 ♥J 10 7 3 ♦Q 6 2 ♣K Q J 9 8 3 . ♠K 10 5 ♥8 7 4 ♦K J 8 7 ♣K J 3
Answers : 1 . To establish the clubs will require a lot of help from partner . Even if partner has some help , it ’ s unlikely West can get more than one or two tricks before declarer ruffs . Instead , lead the singleton spade , hoping to get a ruff . Since West holds the ♥A , declarer won ’ t be able to draw all of West ' s trumps right away .
2 . Leading the singleton is unlikely to work out best . West will probably get a trump trick anyway , even if the opponents have the ♥A , ♥K , and ♥Q . Instead , lead the ♣K , top of a solid sequence . Perhaps West can force declarer to ruff too often and declarer loses control of the hand .
3 . Nothing looks good here . It ' s best to avoid a diamond since the opponents bid that suit . West could guess whether partner has something in either spades or clubs , but maybe this is the time to lead a trump .
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