[ahydra]

My chosen lead on this one was a complete disaster. What would you lead?

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(The opps are playing Acol, so 1NT is about 5-9 points, NF.)

ahydra

[CamHenry]

I expect declarer to hold 7 or 8 trumps, including 2 of the top 3 (usually), and some outside values. If partner has Qxx, leading a trump gives away the suit; there are other layouts where it costs (e.g. partner has Jxxx).

There are two risks. One is that of going too passive, and giving away a trick e.g. by picking up partner's trumps; the other is of being too aggressive (e.g. ♥A), setting up dummy's KQJx when declarer ruffs at trick 1. I think the risk is greatest in the majors, so I would choose a minor. At MPs, I'd go for the small club: that requires only that partner has a club honour, or that dummy has AKJ and declarer has some clubs, to be safe.

I would forgive a partner who led anything except a small heart, even if a small heart was the killing lead on the layout.

[eagles123]

I'd have led a trump. I say that before I saw the first response lol!!

Eagles

[Codo]

I I lead a club.

[CamHenry]

eagles123, on 2013-April-29, 16:23, said:

I'd have led a trump. I say that before I saw the first response lol!!

Eagles

You're not daft to think of it, but the typical reason to lead a trump is if you expect declarer to be ruffing losers in dummy. On this auction it's quite likely that dummy has more cards in *every* side-suit than declarer, so the trump lead has little to recommend it.

If your hand was x/KJxx/KJxx/KJxx, however, the trump lead looks like the safe option at least until you see dummy!

[billw55]

Any lead could give away something. A club seems least risky; it will be ok if partner has any honor in the suit (well, almost). So small club for me.

[billw55]

edit: double post

[P_Marlowe]

I like trump leads, but the problem in the given seq. is,
that declarer may have problems reaching dummy, so trump
may give declarer a free finesse.

Clubs seems to be the alternative to trumps.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[SteveMoe]

♣8.
I hate leading trumps into declarer when s/he holds 7+ cards in the suit.

[ahydra]

Oops, forgot about this. Thanks all for the replies.

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I led a trump - the 9 - which was a disaster. Not only did it pick up partner's King but I looked like a right idiot when declarer played AK and another diamond

GIB says a heart lead is the only way to beat, but apparently can it be made with an overtrick on a club lead. This obviously requires declarer to take the finesse at trick one which would be somewhat crazy.

ahydra

[WellSpyder]

ahydra, on 2013-May-08, 05:50, said:

I led a trump - the 9 - which was a disaster. Not only did it pick up partner's King but I looked like a right idiot when declarer played AK and another diamond

I expect most of us have lost count of the number of times our opening leads have made us look like right idiots - sometimes the best reasoned leads just work out badly on the actual lie of the cards.

As others have suggested, leading a trump isn't necessarily stupid. However, there is no reason to follow your normal leading conventions (eg top of a doubleton) when leading trumps, and if you are going to lead trumps then leading your lowest one unless you have a particular reason to do something else is normal, I think.

[the hog]

C lead looks obvious to me.

[Fluffy]

Dummy having 2 doubletons includin trumps happens quite often after 1M-1NT, I've seen trumps work quite often, but I love to lead from Q10xx

[Phil]

Club. Its safer that usual because declarer will have most of the strength, and you aren't blowing a trick when dummy has the (A)K and declarer the Jack. Declarer might have AKJ, but that's rare; AJx opp Kxx is more of a concern. Club works great when we can establish a 2nd trick when declarer has AJx, Axx or Kxx.

Trump is terrible since it exposes partner's holdings (dummy is sometimes void here) and saves declarer an entry.

♥ isn't good since we are leading around to the strong hand, but it isn't that bad either.

♦Q is a blind shot that could work spectacularly good or bad.

[ArtK78]

[deleted silly post]

[rosetrees]

In Acol bridge I've been taught that you should lead an unbid suit - so don't lead the spades. Look at leading the fourth highest of your strongest suit - in this hearts, BUT you shouldn't lead away from the Ace in a suit contract, so that rules out the hearts here. I would look at leading the fourth highest of the next longest suit, so 3 Clubs.