Leads

Rev: October 15, 2004

1. General Considerations

1.1 Leading a Trump

If you can attack a contract it is usually best to do so. However, there are times when a trump lead is called for.

Example:

	You have: 64 AJ93 AQT5 KJ6
	The bidding goes: [ 1S Dbl 2S Pass ] : [ 4S Pass Pass Pass ]
	Since leading a side suit is unattractive, lead a trump here.

Example:

	The bidding goes: [ 1H or 1S Dbl 1NT Pass ] : [ 2D Pass Pass Pass ]
	A great time to lead trumps is when dummy denies support for a major suit opener. In the above example responder obviously has fewer than three cards (0, 1 or 2) in the opener’s major. This is a good time to lead trumps.

1.2 Leads In Suits Which Include The Ace

Never underlead an ace against a suit contract at trick one.

If you do not have the king, lead the ace only when:

You are defending against a slam (except 6 NT).

Declarer preempted.

Your ace is singleton.

Your ace is the only unbid suit against 5C or 5D.

Your side promised length and strength in the suit.

You have a seven or eight-card suit.

After trick one, lead the king from AK.

1.3 Short Suit Leads

Singletons are invariably good choices.

Doubletons are overrated, especially with one honor.

The best time to lead a short suit is with trump control, e.g., A63.

Avoid a short suit lead:

When you do not need a ruff; e.g., with trump holdings such as QJ9 and KQT.

When you have trump length. With four trumps it is usually correct to lead long suit to make declarer ruff (this is called a forcing game).

1.4 Basic Leads

In selecting your lead, you must consider your hand as well as inferences from the bidding.

Desirable Leads

Partner’s suit, especially if he promised five or six cards. The proper card to lead is the same one you would have led in any other suit. Therefore lead low from Q63 or K852.

Top of a three-card (or longer) sequence.

Sequences

It is better to lead top of a sequence than fourth-best (or 3rd & 5th against a suit contract)

A sequence must contain an honor (10 or higher)

Against a suit contract, a sequence can be as short as two cards. Lead the king from KQ53, and the queen from QJ64. However, against a notrump contract, lead low from both holdings.

Partner Has Not Bid And There is no Sequence

Prefer to lead a suit the opponents have not shown. In general, try to lead from length against any contract. A lead from QT74 is more attractive than from QT7. It is acceptable to lead away from a king against a suit contract.

Leading Dummy’s Suit

Leading through strength is overrated. Lead dummy’s suit only when partner is likely to have length and strength behind him.

2. Standard Leads Against Suits (3rd and 5th) - Preferred

Sequences:

AKx, T9x, KQx, KJTx, QJx, KT9x, JT9, QT9x, KQT9

Length Leads With an Honor (X = honor) - lowest-card lead usually indicates an honor:

Xxx, Xxxx (start of high-low), Xxxxx (start of low-high) , Xxxxxx (start of high-low)

Length leads Without an Honor:

xx, xxx (MUD to indicate no honor), xxxx (start of high-low), xxxxx (start of low-high), xxxxxx (start of high-low)

Primary signals:

Count is first option

Attitude is given if count doesn't make sense

Suit preference is given if neither count nor attitude makes sense

3. Standard Leads Against Suits (4th best) - Not Preferred

Sequences:

AKx, T9x, KQx, KJTx, QJx, KT9x, JT9, QT9x, KQT9

Length Leads With an Honor (X = honor) - Lowest-card lead usually indicates an honor:

Xxx, Xxxx, Xxxxx, Xxxxxx

Length leads Without an Honor:

xx, xxx (MUD to indicate no honor), xxxx (MUD), xxxxx (MUD), xxxxxx (MUD)

Primary signals:

Attitude is first option

Count is given if attitude doesn't make sense

Suit preference is given if neither attitude nor count makes sense

4. Standard Leads Against Notrumrp

Length Leads ---> 4th best

xx, xxx (MUD), xxxx (MUD if no honor), xxxxx (MUD if no honor), T9x, KQx, KJTx, QJx, KT9x, JT9, QT9x, KQT9

Primary signals: attitude then count

AKxx(x) – only against notrump

K ask for attitude

AKJx(x) – only against notrump

A ask to unblock honor; if no honor then give count

5. Journalist Leads – “Ten Promises and Jack Denies” (Non-Standard)

Usually against notrump, though some play it against suit contracts. Purpose is to promise or deny one of the top three honors. Whenever the opening lead is a 10, the leader promises the A, K or Q and an interior sequence. Whenever a Jack is lead, the leader denies having the A, K or Q and shows a sequence headed by the Jack.

Used when you have:

A high honor with an interior sequence – lead the 10 which indicates having the A, K or Q

A “interior sequence” is defined as QJTx, JT9x or T9xx (98xx is not considered a sequence here).

An interior sequence with nothing above it – l which denies having the A, K or Q

Typical hands where a 10 is lead (“Ten Promises”)

	AJT9(x), AJTx(x), KJT9(x), KT98(x), QT9x(x) ----- lead the 10
	but not QJT9(x) or QJTx(x) ----- lead the Q

Typical hands where the J is lead (“Jack Denies”)

JT9x(x), JTx(x) ----- lead the J

Other leads that deny hold an A, K or Q

T98(x) or T9x(x) ----- lead the 9 (can’t lead the 10) which promises either the 10 at the head of a sequence with no high honor, or a doubleton 9x.

6. Rusinow Leads (Non-Standard)

Normally used against suit contracts and only on the opening lead. Purpose is to remove the ambiguity of the standard king lead.

When two or more consecutive honors are held. Lead the second-from-the-top honor.

	AKQ(x) or AKx ----- lead the K
	KQJ(x) or KQx(x) ----- lead the Q
	QJT(x) or QJx(x) ----- lead the J
	JT9(x) or JTx(x) ----- lead the 10
	T98(x) or T9x(x) ----- lead the 9
	For any doubleton honor, lead the top honor.