Lead and Defend at Notrump

As West, decide your opening lead and defense on each deal.
Assume South opened 1 NT and North raised to 3 NT.

1.	A K 4
	6 5
	J 10 6 5 3
	K J 8
10 9
K 10 8 4
K Q 4
10 6 4 2		3 NT South

What is your opening lead? 

North wins, partner plays the three, and South the five. North leads the 3 and the play goes: seven, nine, queen.

Does it seem better to be Active or Passive? (A P) 

Who do you think has the spade queen? 

What do you lead next? 

2.	8 3
	J 7 6
	Q J 10 8
	K Q J 2
Q 9 7 4
A Q 3
K 7
8 6 5 3		3 NT South

What is your opening lead? 

Partner plays the 10 and South the ace. South leads the 4 to the king (partner plays 10) then the Q is led to your king.

Does it seem better to be Active or Passive? (A P) 

Which missing high card ( K, K, A or A) is partner likely to have? 

What do you lead next? 

Quit

Top Lead and Defend at Notrump

3.	8 6 5
	A 5 2
	K Q 10 3
	Q 5 4
K 10 9 7
K 9 3
7 5 4
A 8 3		3 NT South

What is your opening lead? 

North wins the king, partner plays the six, and South the two. North leads the 5 and the play goes: four, jack, king.

Does it seem better to be Active or Passive? (A P) 

Who do you think has the diamond ace? 

What do you lead next? 

4.	K 4
	A 4 3
	3 2
	K 10 8 7 4 3
J 10 9
J 6 2
A 10 8 6 4
Q 2		3 NT South

What is your opening lead? 

Partner plays the queen and South wins the king. South cashes the A (partner plays the six) then he leads the 5.

Does it seem better to be Active or Passive? (A P) 

Who do you think has the diamond jack? 

Which club did you play when South won the ace? 

Quit

Top Lead and Defend at Notrump

5.	Q J 10
	10
	K J 9 6 5
	K Q 3 2
9 8 5 4
K J 8 7 6
8 4
8 4		3 NT South

What is your opening lead? 

Partner wins the ace and South plays the two. Partner returns the five, South plays the nine, and you win the jack.

Does it seem better to be Active or Passive? (A P) 

How many hearts did South probably start with? 

What do you lead next? 

6.	Q 5 4
	10 9 3
	A Q 3 2
	K 7 6
10 3 2
Q 7
K J 10 8
Q J 9 8		3 NT South

What is your opening lead? 

North plays low, partner plays the five, and South the three.

Does it seem better to be Active or Passive? (A P) 

What missing card makes it unsafe for you to lead the same suit? 

What do you lead next? 

Quit

Top Lead and Defend at Notrump

© 1997 Richard Pavlicek