Plan the Defense

by: HeyMrTamMan (47/M/new mexico)

It helps to consider the bidding and make a plan before choosing an opening lead.

Has partner overcalled? Lead of partner's suit is almost always correct. Did partner double an artificial bid (Stayman, Jacoby)? Lead it! And if partner did NOT double, he probably doesn't want it led.

Have the opponents bid a suit? Don't lead it!! (unless I am declaring LOL). It's always tempting to lead a singleton, but if the opponents have bid that suit twice you will only help declarer set the suit up for discards.

Sometimes it's good to lead declarer's second suit if you have length in that suit. Partner may be able to overruff dummy. This is risky business unless you hold the trump Ace. Usually declarer just pulls trump and runs his second suit -- the one you just helped him establish!

Have the opponents bypassed a major suit? Leading an unbid major works more often than not.

Does it sound like declarer will need to ruff on dummy? Consider a trump lead, especially when responder is weak and has taken a preference at the two-level (1H-1NT-1D-2H, for example). A trump lead is also called for when the opponents have bid to a high level in a competitive auction. This often reduces declarer's ability to crossruff.

When defending against no trump, try to establish tricks in the hand which has entries. Establishing your long suit won't help much if your hand has no entries. If you can tell from the bidding that partner holds almost all the high cards, leading an unbid short suit often establishes that suit in partner's hand.

Has RHO opened Two No Trump or Two Clubs? In that case a passive lead is often best. Leading away from an unguarded honor almost always costs a trick when RHO has opened Two No Trump.

When defending a slam and holding an Ace and a side-suit King or Queen, partner is probably broke (the bidding will help you here). It often helps to make a passive lead and hope for a losing finesse by declarer.

Passive leads should always be considered at match points, where giving away an overtrick can be costly. But at IMPs your goal is to set the opponents, and overtricks are trivial.

Some situations call for an aggressive attacking lead. When the opponents are known to have a double fit, you must lead one of your sides two suits before declarer establishes his second suit for discards.

Against a Gambling Three No Trump, it usually works to lead an ace. A look at dummy will often identify the suit to attack next. Don't waste time! Once declarer gets in he will reel off 9 tricks. Some honor holdings tell you what to lead against almost any contract. Leading the King (or Ace) from AK in an unbid suit is almost automatic at a suit contract; so is King from AK. Top of sequence leads -- Q from QJ10 or QJ9 -- are likewise reasonably safe and establish tricks for the defense.

A trump lead is usually called for when you have good honor holdings in all side suits. It's safe and it often stops declarer from ruffing out your winners. Also a good idea when partner has overcalled and you have values in the other two side suits.

A holding of four trump usually calls for the lead of an unbid suit which declarer must ruff in his hand. This shortens his trump and helps establish your fourth trump. Declarer may even lose control of the hand. This is called the 'forcing game'. Likewise, when holding a singleton trump, bear in mind that partner usually holds four (the bidding may indicate otherwise of course) and a forcing lead usually works here too.

Finally, learn standard leads! Low from an honor and top of nothing (or MUD, if your prefer) will help partner read your holding (and declarer's) in that suit. Against No Trump, learn interior sequence leads (Q from AQJ10x, J from AJ109x or AKJ10x). These leads knock out declarer's stopper while retaining an entry to your established suit.

By the way, the best book here has gotta be Opening Leads by Robe