ahydra Posted April 29, 2013 Report Share Posted April 29, 2013 My chosen lead on this one was a complete disaster. What would you lead? [hv=pc=n&w=s94ha6542dq4cqt83&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=1sp1np4sppp]133|200[/hv] (The opps are playing Acol, so 1NT is about 5-9 points, NF.) ahydra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamHenry Posted April 29, 2013 Report Share Posted April 29, 2013 I expect declarer to hold 7 or 8 trumps, including 2 of the top 3 (usually), and some outside values. If partner has Qxx, leading a trump gives away the suit; there are other layouts where it costs (e.g. partner has Jxxx). There are two risks. One is that of going too passive, and giving away a trick e.g. by picking up partner's trumps; the other is of being too aggressive (e.g. ♥A), setting up dummy's KQJx when declarer ruffs at trick 1. I think the risk is greatest in the majors, so I would choose a minor. At MPs, I'd go for the small club: that requires only that partner has a club honour, or that dummy has AKJ and declarer has some clubs, to be safe. I would forgive a partner who led anything except a small heart, even if a small heart was the killing lead on the layout. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagles123 Posted April 29, 2013 Report Share Posted April 29, 2013 I'd have led a trump. I say that before I saw the first response lol!! Eagles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Codo Posted April 30, 2013 Report Share Posted April 30, 2013 I I lead a club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamHenry Posted April 30, 2013 Report Share Posted April 30, 2013 I'd have led a trump. I say that before I saw the first response lol!! Eagles You're not daft to think of it, but the typical reason to lead a trump is if you expect declarer to be ruffing losers in dummy. On this auction it's quite likely that dummy has more cards in *every* side-suit than declarer, so the trump lead has little to recommend it. If your hand was x/KJxx/KJxx/KJxx, however, the trump lead looks like the safe option at least until you see dummy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billw55 Posted April 30, 2013 Report Share Posted April 30, 2013 Any lead could give away something. A club seems least risky; it will be ok if partner has any honor in the suit (well, almost). So small club for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billw55 Posted April 30, 2013 Report Share Posted April 30, 2013 edit: double post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P_Marlowe Posted May 3, 2013 Report Share Posted May 3, 2013 I like trump leads, but the problem in the given seq. is,that declarer may have problems reaching dummy, so trumpmay give declarer a free finesse. Clubs seems to be the alternative to trumps. With kind regardsMarlowe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMoe Posted May 8, 2013 Report Share Posted May 8, 2013 ♣8.I hate leading trumps into declarer when s/he holds 7+ cards in the suit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahydra Posted May 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2013 Oops, forgot about this. Thanks all for the replies. [hv=pc=n&s=saqt762hqjdak83c2&w=s94ha6542dq4cqt83&n=s83h983d92cakj764&e=skj5hkt7djt765c95&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=p1sp1np4sppp]399|300[/hv] I led a trump - the 9 - which was a disaster. Not only did it pick up partner's King but I looked like a right idiot when declarer played AK and another diamond :) GIB says a heart lead is the only way to beat, but apparently can it be made with an overtrick on a club lead. This obviously requires declarer to take the finesse at trick one which would be somewhat crazy. ahydra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WellSpyder Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 I led a trump - the 9 - which was a disaster. Not only did it pick up partner's King but I looked like a right idiot when declarer played AK and another diamond :)I expect most of us have lost count of the number of times our opening leads have made us look like right idiots - sometimes the best reasoned leads just work out badly on the actual lie of the cards. As others have suggested, leading a trump isn't necessarily stupid. However, there is no reason to follow your normal leading conventions (eg top of a doubleton) when leading trumps, and if you are going to lead trumps then leading your lowest one unless you have a particular reason to do something else is normal, I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the hog Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 C lead looks obvious to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fluffy Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 Dummy having 2 doubletons includin trumps happens quite often after 1M-1NT, I've seen trumps work quite often, but I love to lead from Q10xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 Club. Its safer that usual because declarer will have most of the strength, and you aren't blowing a trick when dummy has the (A)K and declarer the Jack. Declarer might have AKJ, but that's rare; AJx opp Kxx is more of a concern. Club works great when we can establish a 2nd trick when declarer has AJx, Axx or Kxx. Trump is terrible since it exposes partner's holdings (dummy is sometimes void here) and saves declarer an entry. ♥ isn't good since we are leading around to the strong hand, but it isn't that bad either. ♦Q is a blind shot that could work spectacularly good or bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtK78 Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 [deleted silly post] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosetrees Posted May 11, 2013 Report Share Posted May 11, 2013 In Acol bridge I've been taught that you should lead an unbid suit - so don't lead the spades. Look at leading the fourth highest of your strongest suit - in this hearts, BUT you shouldn't lead away from the Ace in a suit contract, so that rules out the hearts here. I would look at leading the fourth highest of the next longest suit, so 3 Clubs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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