Lead Question

[Vilgan]

If you are leading against 3 NT and choose to lead a suit you have AQT9 in, what is the correct one to lead?

 

The auction was something like this

 

1♣ 1♠ 2♥ P

2NT P 3NT all pass

 

I had K97xx A53 AQT9 x. As its matchpoints I decided not to lead a spade and instead lead a diamond. I decided to lead the Q as if either dummy or declarer had Jx, it seemed like the T or 9 might let declarer have 2 diamond tricks when they are entitled to only one. I don't see partner getting in ever.

 

However, everybody I asked said the normal lead for them is the 9.. 4th best. So like.. is the 9 the standard lead here? Pretty sure partner doesn't have the king, and if he drops the J under my queen, I am not unhappy about it.

[whereagles]

There's no "standard" lead from AQT9 because we hardly want to lead from that :)

 

Anyway, on the given auction, I might have tried the ♦A. You have no clue who might have the ♦K, so the ace seems better. Besides, pard is unlikely to be able to get in, and even if he does, we'd probably welcome a spade switch more than a diamond continuation.

[Apollo81]

I concur, lead the ♦A since you don't know the diamond position and you have entries.

 

In general with AQ109 the right lead tends to be the card under dummy's card - so if dummy has the K then lead the Q, if dummy has the J then lead the 10. This creates a tenace over declarer's card if dummy wins the trick. If the honors aren't "1 each" in declarer's and dummy's hand then it doesnt matter as much.