Leads
Standard Leads
Without any respect to the bidding, here is a list of the "preferred" standard leads.
-top of a solid sequence (eg, QJT9 lead Q)
-top of a semi-solid sequence (eg, QJ92 lead Q)
-K from AK or KQ
-fourth from longest suit (QJ64 lead the 4)
-second highest from a totally crummy suit (87542 lead the 7)
-MUD with 3 small cards (862 lead the 6, play the 8 next and finally the 2)
-NOTES on the last three points:
* if you don't want the suit returned then you should lead high
* if you don't want a shift (say your hand is crap), then you may want to deceive partner by leading low
Against No trump contracts there are a few other leads:
-Q from KQT9. Partner is expected to unblock the J
-A from AKJT(x..). Partner is expected to unblock the Q
-when choosing between two equal suits, lead the more solid suit
-when choosing between two suits, lead the longer even if the shorter suit is of better quality. Say, QJT8 of hearts and 97642 of spades, lead the 4 of spades-- this lead has the possibility of gaining more tricks to defeat the contract.
-if you have no entries to your hand, try to lead partner's suit--that is, the suit you expect partner to have.
Against Trump contracts:
-!!!!!!! DO NOT UNDERLEAD AN ACE !!!!!!!
-The Ace is rarely led out unless
1) it is a singleton or doubleton
2) you have a doubleton AK
3) you're in a contract at the five or higher levels
-TRUMP LEADS:
1) if you're holding three, it is usually best to lead small
2) if you're holding two, it is usually best to lead high
If partner has bid a suit, and you're going to lead it:
-from Hxx(x..) lead low, UNLESS you have a weak hand and want to look at the board to try to make the "killing shift"
-lead the top of a doubleton
-from three or more small cards, lead the second highest one
Jack Denies, Ten Implies
A system of leads where the Jack denies a higher honor while the lead of the Ten *guarantees* a higher honor. With JT, the Jack is led, and of course with touching honors lead the highest.
So, QTxx lead the T or QJTx lead the Q
Journalist Leads
Against NT contracts
* A from AKHx (where H is another honor). 3rd hand unblocks an honor OR gives a count signal.
* K from AK or KQ
* Q from QJ. Q may also be from KQT9 and 3rd hand is requested to unblock the J.
* J denies a higher honor and tends to show the Ten
* T guarantees a higher honor. T from AT9, KT9, AJT, etc
* 9 from T9-- it promises no higher honor than the T.
* 2nd highest or highest from xx(x...)
* lowest card is lead from 1 or 2 honors
Against suit contracts
* with 2 touching honors, the second highest is led
* 8 or lower is led from xx(x...)
* 3rd highest is led from an even number, lowest is led from an odd number
Rusinow Leads (used ONLY on the opening lead)
With two touching honors, the second highest honor is led. So,
* K from AK. 3rd hand should signal with the Q or doubleton
* Q from KQ. 3rd hand should signal with the A or J.
* J from QJ.
* T from JT.
* 9 from T9.
So, an opening lead of an honor shows either the next higher honor OR shortness in that suit. With AK, you lead the A and then the K. With Kx, you lead the K and then the x, etc.
Zero or Two Higher Leads (or Kantar Leads)
A lead of a Ten or Nine shows 0 or 2 higher honors.
The lead of the Jack denies any higher honors.
Leads of other honors are standard.