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Opening Lead Quiz:

 

Notrump Contracts

 

 

1.     Both vul, Pair scoring you hold as West: ♠Q1053 KQ63 1076 ♣63

 

West               North             East                South

  -                     1♣                   Pass                1

Pass                1♠                   Pass                1NT

All Pass                     

 

What do you lead? At IMPs?

 

 

 

2.     Both vul, Pair scoring you hold as West: ♠1053 KQ63 10976 ♣63

 

West               North             East                South

  -                     -                       -                       1

Pass                1                   Pass                1NT

Pass                3NT                 All Pass                     

 

What do you lead? At IMPs?

 

 

3.     Both vul, Pair scoring you hold as West: ♠J853 A3 109764 ♣Q8

 

West               North             East                South

  -                     -                     Pass                2NT

Pass                3♠1                 Pass                3NT

All Pass                     

1Slam ty with 6 clubs

 

What do you lead? At IMPs?

 

 

 

4.     Both vul, Pair scoring you hold as West: ♠853 Q1092 AJ76 ♣J3

 

West               North             East                South

  -                     -                   Pass                1NT

Pass                2♣                 Pass                2

Pass                2NT              Pass                3NT

All Pass                                 

 

What do you lead? At IMPs?

 

 

Opening Lead Quiz:

 

Notrump Contracts

 

Solutions

 

 

 

1.     Both vul, Pair scoring you hold as West: ♠Q1053 KQ63 1076 ♣63

 

West               North              East                South

  -                     1♣                  Pass                1

Pass                1♠                   Pass                1NT

All Pass                     

 

What do you lead? At IMPs?

 

 

 

Solution 1

 

When leading against 1NT contracts, safety is a good policy. This is especially true when the opponents have bid both your suits. They opened a club, so that leaves a diamond. When leading from a three card suit with three small, some people believe that attitude is the most important message and would lead the 10 from this diamond holding (or the 8 from 853).

 

I disagree, and believe count is more important, and would lead the 6. Also at teams. The full deal:

 

 

♠AJ64
♥A85
♦AK
♣AQ92

♠Q1053
♥KQ63
♦1076
♣63

Bridge deal

♠987
♥107
♦QJ942
♣J87

 

♠K2
♥J932
♦853
♣K1054

 

 

 

 

 

2.     Both vul, Pair scoring you hold as West: ♠1053 KQ63 10976 ♣63

 

West               North             East                South

  -                     -                       -                       1

Pass                1                   Pass                1NT

Pass                3NT                 All Pass                     

 

What do you lead? At IMPs?

 

 

Solution 2

 

Again, the opponents have bid your two suits. A diamond may be safe, but easily could cost a trick. Here are two examples where you would regret leading the 10:

 

                      A83

 

10976                             Q

 

                      KJ542

 

 

 

                       QJ3

 

10976                            A

 

                       K8542

 

Anyways, back to the problem at hand, the best lead is the 6 of clubs. Why not a spade? Partner had a chance to overcall 1♠, but didn’t. Ergo, he denies 5 spades with some values. Better chance to hit a club suit in his hand. The full deal:

 

 

♠Q987
♥A1094
♦Q2
♣A8

♠1053
♥KQ63
♦10976
♣63

Bridge deal

♠KJ64
♥87
♦J
♣KQ10754

 

♠A2
♥J52
♦AKJ43
♣J92

 

 

3.     Both vul, Pair scoring you hold as West: ♠J853 A3 10796 ♣Q82

 

West               North             East                South

  -                     -                    Pass                2NT

Pass                3♠1                 Pass                3NT

All Pass                     

1Slam ty with 6 clubs

 

What do you lead? At IMPs?

 

Solution 3

 

Here, the best lead at teams and matchpoints is the same, but for different reasons, the A. You know that the club position is favourable. And that N-S have between 28-32 HCPs. They are going to take a lot of tricks when they get in. A heart lead holds them to 11 tricks and an above average score.

 

At Teams you are hoping to run a suit. It is unlikely, but hearts is the only chance. Why? Partner has at most 5 HCPs. The only holding in a suit where this can defeat this contract is KQxxx. Looking at the full deal, imagine East and South switching their major suit queens.

 

 

♠A4
♥J65
♦K3
♣KJ9854

♠J853
♥A3
♦109764
♣Q2

Bridge deal

♠Q76
♥K10742
♦85
♣1073

 

♠K1092
♥Q98
♦AQJ2
♣A6

 

 

 

4.     Both vul, Pair scoring you hold as West: ♠853 Q1092 AJ76 ♣J3

 

West               North               East                 South

  -                     -                      Pass                1NT

Pass                2♣                   Pass                 2♥

Pass                2NT                 Pass                3NT

All Pass                     

 

What do you lead? At IMPs?

 

Solution 4

 

How come they keep bidding you suits!! Here the opponents took an invitational auction to game. In close games it pays to lead conservatively, regardless the form of scoring. Here a diamond is too risky, a heart is riskier, and a club, who knows??

 

A spade though dummy’s length is a standout. Again the three is the better lead, so partner can distinguish if you ae leading from xx or xxx. The full deal:

 

 

♠A1072
♥K43
♦ 9843
♣A5

♠853
♥Q1092
♦AJ76
♣J3

Bridge deal

♠QJ96
♥65
♦Q5
♣98762

 

♠K4
♥AJ87
♦K102
♣KQ104

 

 

 

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