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:
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♠AJ64 |
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♠Q1053 |
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♠987 |
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♠K2 |
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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:
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♠Q987 |
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♠1053 |
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♠KJ64 |
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♠A2 |
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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.
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♠A4 |
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♠J853 |
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♠Q76 |
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♠K1092 |
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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:
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♠A1072 |
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♠853 |
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♠QJ96 |
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♠K4 |
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