Bridge
24 September, 2026
Finding an effective opening lead
Many contracts are conceded or defeated on the opening lead.
Many contracts are conceded or defeated on the opening lead. On this deal, you hold:
With both sides vulnerable, as dealer your right-hand opponent opens 1NT promising 15-17 high card points. You pass and your left-hand opponent responds 2♣️ Stayman. Opener rebids 2♦️, denying a 4+ major suit. Now left-hand opponent bids 2NT invitational, but opener passes.
You inquire and are told that the 2♣️ responder guarantees a 4-card major, which isn't always the case. What will you lead?
It doesn't make sense to lead a minor, because declarer should have strength in those suits and might be trying to develop one as a source of tricks. Nor does it make much sense to lead a spade, as that could be dummy's suit and in any case you won't develop many tricks. On the other hand, even if hearts are dummy's suit, partner must have at least 4 hearts and may have more if dummy doesn't have 4 hearts. So you should lead ❤️9.
That turns out to be a good idea, because you managed to find partner's long suit:
However, on this deal there's a little bit more to the defence than just leading the correct suit. If partner wins ❤️A and ❤️K, he will have no re-entry to cash the long hearts later on. So he must duck and hope that you have led from a doubleton – his card should encourage a subsequent continuation, so ❤️4 if you play "low like/high hate". Declarer wins ❤️Q at trick 1 but you will soon regain the lead, either with ♠️A or ♦️Q. At that point you can return your remaining heart and the contract will go down. Note that on any other opening lead, declarer makes at least 9 tricks!
Working out partner's possible shape based on the opponents' bidding is often a prerequisite to mounting a successful defence.
Rakesh Kumar
The Southern Highlands Bridge Club runs three duplicate sessions every week (Mon 1:00 pm, Wed 6:30 pm, Sat 1:00 pm) at the East Bowral Community Centre. Highlands players and visitors welcome!
For more information: https://shbc.bridgeaustralia.org
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