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In our last episode we explored the basics of opening leads against suit contracts.   Recall the sequence leads, basic “fourth best” (from an honor) and “top of nothing” leads work often work well against both Notrump and suit contracts – provided we are not underleading an Ace. 

In this lesson, we examine situations when making an aggressive “active” lead may help us generate extra tricks.  Recall as defenders we must pay special attention to prevent the declarer from finding extra tricks through ruffs, cross-ruffs, and side-suit promotions after the declarer pulls trump.

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Active Defense Situations:

1. Opponent may setup a long side suit
2. Opponent may setup ruffs/cross-ruffs, etc.
3. Opponents are in a high-level contract (5+ level)
4. Partnership tenaces (finesses) are in jeopardy
5. Desperate times call for desperate measures!

While active leads have their place, here are some situations to consider when making an aggressive lead may not be wise:

1. Partner give clear lead direction
   1. Partner opened, overcalled a major suit (thus 5+ card suit), doubled an artificial bid by the opponents
2. Trump lead reduced opponents ruffing ability
3. Safe sequence lead is best (as Ace from Ace-King)
4. Opponents have minimal strength (part score contract)
5. Partner cannot hold helpful honor
6. Right Hand Opponent (declarer) bid strongly, but not in a slam contract
   1. Open 1 Notrump (15-17), rebid 2 Notrump (18-19), open 2 Notrump (20-21)
   2. Opener reverses as: 1C – 1H; 2D … (17+ points)
   3. Opener makes a strong jump shift as: 1D – 1H; 3C… (19+ points)

Of course, as thoughtful defenders both the opening leader and partner should be attentively listening to the auction, including mannerisms, gestures and the like made by the opponents.   At the top of our short list, leading against suit contracts includes:

1. count, Count, COUNT and Think 
2. Count points
3. Count Distribution
4. Count Tricks (auction level)
5. Integrate auction inferences into partnership plan

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While many leads against Notrump follow a limited number of guidelines, leading against opponents’ suit contracts offers a far greater range of options.   Playing against a Notrump contract we typically seek to “win the race” by first promoting our long suit the declarer.   While a sequence lead might be safe, now we must pay special attention to ruffs, cross-ruffs, side-suit promotion after declarer pulls trump, as well as other factors.

Click here to view Part 1 of the video commentary 

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Typical Declarer Play Strategies:

1. Pull trumps, avoid opponent ruffing
2. Pull trumps, promote side suit, pitch losers
3. Finesse, repeated finesses, pitch quick losers
4. Use dummy shortness, ruff declarer losers
5. Cross-ruff between hands, imbalanced hands

Defender Classic Suit Leads

1. Ace from Ace-King
2. Top of honor sequence
3. Partner’s bid suit (High-Low, etc.)
4. Fourth best leads (not away from an Ace)
5. Top of nothing (passive lead)

Lead Differences:

Suit Contracts:

Honor Considerations

1. Honor sequence suits as: KQ10x (better), KJ10x (okay)
2. Split honors as: KQxx (especially opposite game)
3. Multiple split honor suit as: KJxx,  J10[…]
4. Priority:  Kxxx (often best),  Qxxx (xxx better),  Jxxx (xxxx better)
5. Top of nothing: xxxx

Polling You 70, Hand 1

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