Trumps as opening lead

[KamalK]

Hello,

 

What is/are the situation/s that calls for opening lead of trumps?

 

I have often been advised at tables during play but have never really understood.

 

Thanks in advance. Regards

 

Kamal

[Guest Jlall]

When they're gonna ruff stuff and you have good holdings in that stuff, or when you just want to make some passive lead because you have a ton of HCP.

[jikl]

A good example is when the bidding goes something like this:

 

1♦ - 1♥

1♠ - 2♠

4♠

 

They are going to crossruff this unless they have the power to make it otherwise.

 

Sean

[Sambolino]

disagree. this bidding itself gives no clear clue about trump lead

[jikl]

Sorry, in a 4 card system it does, so I will use this instead:

 

1♥ - 1♠

2♣ - 3♣

4♣ - 5♣

 

Obvious enough now?

 

Sean

[Sambolino]

maybe a bit closer but still not automatic - depends on my holding

[pclayton]

I read some rules somewhere. Maybe in the "Breaking Ground" section of Killing Defense. A few good spots:

 

1. Where dummy takes a weak preference to Opener's 2 suiter (but there are exceptions to this).

 

2. When partner makes a penalty double (or penalty pass) of a part score.

 

3. When nothing else makes sense and you want to go passive.

[andy_h]

Agree with most of the crowd. The most obvious ones are when dummy has taken a preference to one of opener's suit (it's a general guide, but as Phil says there are sometimes exceptions), when the opponent's are sacrificing and your side has pretty much all 3 suits controlled and want to stop the ruffs, and when nothing else looks attractive and you want to go passive. One general and easy rule that I give my students when they ask "how do I know if it's safe to lead trumps or not" is that when the opponent's have bid and raised then it is safe to lead trumps most of the time. Of course that's not a good set rule because you may have other leads etc. but that guide is for like leading trumps against an auction of say 1S-2S-4S vs. 3H-all pass or somewhere along those lines.

 

Just remember not to be blinded by these rules, because there are always lots of exceptions to different situations.

[mikeh]

Agree with most of the crowd. The most obvious ones are when dummy has taken a preference to one of opener's suit (it's a general guide, but as Phil says there are sometimes exceptions), when the opponent's are sacrificing and your side has pretty much all 3 suits controlled and want to stop the ruffs, and when nothing else looks attractive and you want to go passive. One general and easy rule that I give my students when they ask "how do I know if it's safe to lead trumps or not" is that when the opponent's have bid and raised then it is safe to lead trumps most of the time. Of course that's not a good set rule because you may have other leads etc. but that guide is for like leading trumps against an auction of say 1S-2S-4S vs. 3H-all pass or somewhere along those lines.

 

Just remember not to be blinded by these rules, because there are always lots of exceptions to different situations.

Sorry to quibble, but I can't remember the last time I led trump against a power auction such as 1♠ 2♠ 4♠. The lead may be 'safe' in that it is unlikely to blow an otherwise winnable trick in the suit, but it rates to be highly unsafe in that it hands the declarer a tempo. Even at mps, where giving an overtrick away on the lead can be horrific, count me in for a more aggressive lead, unless my hand is such that I simply have no choice but a trump: xxx KJx KJx KJxx would probably get me leading trump after 1-2-4♠ B)

 

Other than that, I agree.

 

BTW, I would advise any student to ignore aphorisms such as 'when in doubt, lead trump'. I'd reverse it: I think you should have a good reason to lead trump, rather than it being the default lead.

[pclayton]

I think Lew Mathe said never lead trump. Frequently a trump lead, except in defined circumstances, works out poorly.

 

You really need a reason to lead trump, not v.v..

[kgr]

Most clear for me is

1S-1NT

2H-...

And opps play in S or H and you hold good cards (like AQT8) in the 2nd suit.

1S-1NT

2H-all pass

[pclayton]

Oh yes, one more.

 

When they open a mini-roman 2♦, you should lead trump every time. The only I didn't do this was when I held Kx of trump and it still would have been right LOL.

[andy_h]

Agree with most of the crowd. The most obvious ones are when dummy has taken a preference to one of opener's suit (it's a general guide, but as Phil says there are sometimes exceptions), when the opponent's are sacrificing and your side has pretty much all 3 suits controlled and want to stop the ruffs, and when nothing else looks attractive and you want to go passive. One general and easy rule that I give my students when they ask "how do I know if it's safe to lead trumps or not" is that when the opponent's have bid and raised then it is safe to lead trumps most of the time. Of course that's not a good set rule because you may have other leads etc. but that guide is for like leading trumps against an auction of say 1S-2S-4S vs. 3H-all pass or somewhere along those lines.

 

Just remember not to be blinded by these rules, because there are always lots of exceptions to different situations.

The lead may be 'safe' in that it is unlikely to blow an otherwise winnable trick in the suit, but it rates to be highly unsafe in that it hands the declarer a tempo.

Heh, that was what I was trying to say, in that it is unlikely to blow a trick in that suit. I totally agree that it is very unsafe as it gives the declarer tempo..in fact, I really dislike leading trumps unless there is a reason for me to because that would mean I'm not even taking any advantage of being the side that's on lead. Earlier this year in January during the Australian Youth Week we had a guest speaker that came to talk to all the juniors. It was Bobby Richman and he gave a talk on 4card overcalls and trump leads. I thought it was good because it gave good insight to the improving players. And as one would expect, throughout the rest of the week you would constantly hear people saying *in bobby's accent* "Junior, monitor your trump leads"

 

I can't remember the last time I led trump against a power auction such as 1♠ 2♠ 4♠

Really? I can distinctively remember at least having 2-3 situations (less than 5 lol) like that which came up against me and I was very reluctant to lead a trump because I hated it. But my hand just had very unattractive holdings from left right and center and opted for a trump and it worked! Maybe I was just lucky? :P I only remember 1 of the situations in which dummy had some form of 3154 or something and it was a killer lead :D

[Quantumcat]

When they have talked about 2 suits, but only agreed one, and you have a good holding in non agreed suit. They will probably want to ruff it good.

[han]

Auctions where one of the opponents has shown a 2-suiter (for example after Michaels) often call for a trump lead. Often declarer will try to set up the second suit with ruffs.

 

However, it still depends on the situation. Sometimes you will be able to overruff. Sometimes you have to get your side suit tricks before it is too late. Sometimes you have to shorten the two suited hand. Sometimes leading a trump will give away a trump trick that you won't get back.

[cherdano]

I read some rules somewhere. Maybe in the "Breaking Ground" section of Killing Defense. A few good spots:

 

1. Where dummy takes a weak preference to Opener's 2 suiter (but there are exceptions to this).

I am surprised by this rule, or maybe I misunderstand this.

For example, I don't think 1S 1N 2C 2S is a trump lead auction at all. (On the other hand, against 1S 1N 2C P I would need a very good reason not to lead trump - and no, a trump holding of QTxx or Kx doesn't count as a good reason.)

[awm]

Auctions where one of the opponents has shown a 2-suiter (for example after Michaels) often call for a trump lead. Often declarer will try to set up the second suit with ruffs.

I disagree with this one. I think a forcing defense against the two-suited hand is far more frequently right than a trump lead.

[Walddk]

I read some rules somewhere. Maybe in the "Breaking Ground" section of Killing Defense. A few good spots:

 

1. Where dummy takes a weak preference to Opener's 2 suiter (but there are exceptions to this).

I am surprised by this rule, or maybe I misunderstand this.

For example, I don't think 1S 1N 2C 2S is a trump lead auction at all. (On the other hand, against 1S 1N 2C P I would need a very good reason not to lead trump - and no, a trump holding of QTxx or Kx doesn't count as a good reason.)

I echo Arend's thoughts and would like to add that in my view the same applies if either declarer or dummy, perhaps via a gadget (often a 2♦ opening), has shown a 4441 hand.

 

Then a trump lead is almost mandatory, regardless of your holding.

 

Roland

[Finch]

Auctions where one of the opponents has shown a 2-suiter (for example after Michaels) often call for a trump lead. Often declarer will try to set up the second suit with ruffs.

I disagree with this one. I think a forcing defense against the two-suited hand is far more frequently right than a trump lead.

This discussion is just proving how difficult it is.

 

A forcing defence against a two-suiter is correct when the side suit is running (or nearly running).

 

Leading trumps against a two-suiter is correct when declarer wants to ruff out the side suit.

 

As others have said, the one time you absolutely know it is right to lead trumps is when

i) Your side has the majority of the high cards

ii) You and your partner between you have stuff in all non-trump suits

 

so a good start is to think about if declarer has a second suit, and look at your holding in that suit.

 

The other 'standard' trump lead auction is when they have alighted in declarer's second suit e.g. 1S - 1NT - 2C - 3C and similar.