Exercise 4W17 Main

Opening Leads

by Richard Pavlicek

Choosing the opening lead is not an exact science. Even experts often disagree as to the best lead, which is a factor that makes bridge so exciting. On any given occasion, an average player might choose a better lead than a world champion! The purpose of this exercise is to provide insight into choosing good leads.

Choosing the Suit

This is the hard part, as there are no clear-cut answers. Some of the important guidelines are:

Lead partner’s bid suit.

Avoid leading an enemy-bid suit except with a safe sequence.

At notrump, lead your longest suit with five or more. Without five cards, make a safe lead.

At suit contracts, a singleton is good if you will benefit by a ruff. Otherwise, lead a long suit but avoid being an “ace grabber.”

A trump lead is wise when you have strength in the enemy suit, or as a safe passive lead.

Choosing the Card

Once you have chosen the suit, the proper card to lead is almost automatic. The important rules are:

Lead the king from A-K.

Lead the top of a sequence if it is solid (J-10-9-2), almost solid (J-10-8-2), interior (K-J-10-2) or only three cards (J-10-2).

Lead high from any doubleton.

Lead high from three small cards at notrump; low at a suit bid.

Lead the fourth best card from a four card or longer suit.

Note: Leading the trump suit is a special case and the above rules may not apply.

Test Yourself

1. Any vul West North East South
A Q 8 2 Table 1 NT
Q 2 Pass 3 NT Pass Pass
8 6 4 Pass
K J 9 3
3 NT
Your lead

2. Any vul West North East South
Q 10 9 7 2 Table 2 NT
2 Pass 3 NT Pass Pass
4 3 Pass
A 10 9 7 2
3 NT
Your lead

3. Any vul West North East South
K 10 8 2 Table 1 NT
10 8 4 2 Pass 2 Pass 2
A 10 8 2 Pass 2 NT Pass Pass
2 Pass
2 NT
Your lead

Quit
Top Opening Leads

4. Any vul West North East South
Q 8 5 Table 1 1 NT
5 Pass 2 NT Pass 3 NT
J 6 5 4 3 Pass Pass Pass
J 10 4 2
3 NT
Your lead

5. Any vul West North East South
A Q 9 6 2 Table 1 Pass 1 NT
J 3 Pass Pass Pass
10 9 4
K J 3
1 NT
Your lead

6. Any vul West North East South
A K 2 Table 1
10 2 Pass 2 Pass 4
Q J 2 Pass Pass Pass
J 9 8 7 4
4
Your lead

Quit
Top Opening Leads

7. Any vul West North East South
K Q 10 7 Table 1
8 2 Pass 1 NT Pass 2
J 10 8 4 Pass 3 Pass 4
A 8 3 Pass Pass Pass
4
Your lead

8. Any vul West North East South
A Q 10 9 4 Table 1
K 2 1 2 Pass Pass
8 6 4 Pass
Q 8 4
2
Your lead

9. Any vul West North East South
10 9 4 3 Table 1
K J 9 Pass 1 NT Pass 4
2 Pass Pass Pass
A 8 6 5 2
4
Your lead

10. Any vul West North East South
K Q 10 8 4 Table 1
J 10 9 4 3 1 3 3 4
A 5 4 5 Pass Pass
J Pass
5
Your lead

Quit
Top Opening Leads

1.	Any vul	West	North	East	South
A Q 8 2					1 NT
Q 2		Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
8 6 4		Pass
K J 9 3
	3 NT