Correct lead

[Wackojack]

One partner I play with has strong views on the correct lead from J1082. Assuming the opponents bidding has been uninformative except that the points between them are roughly equal. e.g. 1NT (12-14) - 3NT. You have no obvious lead other than your 4-card spade suit. Your standard leads are 4th highest and top of sequence. Do you lead the 2 or Jack and why? With a known strong hand on your right and weak on your left or vice versa, would you change your selection?

 

I would be grateful for your views.

[Echognome]

Like every other lead problem, knowing the rest of your hand is important.

 

That being said, the correct textbook lead in standard is the J as this is a near sequence. Playing Rusinow leads it would be the 10.

[whereagles]

With JT9x or JT8x, the book lead is the jack. With JT7x or worse, it is 4th best.

[SoTired]

IMHO and without going thru all the possibilites:

J108x is different than J107x. With J107x, leading the J could cost a trick unless partner has the protected Q or 9. With J108x, you are also saved when declarer has the 9.

 

Since whether declarer or dummy is the stronger hand does not affect who might have the 9, I don't think their relative strength matters.

[P_Marlowe]

The Jack.

 

The same in case the suit is JT7x.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[pigpenz]

i play jack

thats about as close as you can come to j109x with out having the real thing

[kgr]

From JT8x I would play the J. Playing the J can cost a trick if LHO has the 9.

Same as from KQTx.

... but is it really the same and where does it stop?

What do you play from?:

T97x

986x

[SoTired]

I treat 987x as xxxx since no honors

[Guest Jlall]

jack is also useful for unblocking purposes. If declarer has A9x opp Qxx it is necessary as well, etc.

[Wackojack]

OK Let me make the case for leading the 2. It wins over leading the Jack for the following:

 

1. Most hands with 9 in dummy:

 

e.g. J1082 Q94 73 AK65 (here it would be wrong for declarer to put in the 9)

or J1082 Q94 K73 A65

or J1082 Q974 K A653 or any stiff honour with partner

or J1082 9743 KQ A65

or J1082 Q975 K4 A63

 

2. Some hands with 9 with declarer

 

e.g. J1082 Q75 K4 A63

Here leading the 2, defenders can always make 2 tricks in the suit. If Jack is led, this hand may be endplayed to take only one trick in the suit.

 

3. 9 in dummy

 

e.g. J1082 KQ75 9 A643

 

Lead of 2, then declarer can only make 3 tricks. Lead of Jack, then declarer finesses twice against leader for 4 tricks.

 

 

I have been selective, taking only the cases where leading the 2 has an advantage. However, I am beginning to think that there are less cases where leading the Jack has the advantage.

 

Can anybody show that I am wrong?

 

PS Another advantage is that if partner leads the Jack and you see the 9 either in your hand or in dummy, then you can infer that it is not from J108x, most likely J108xx. :)