[luke warm]

in each case, 1nt was opened on your right and 3nt bid on your left... it's your lead... these all come from ewen's excellent book opening leads... these aren't particularly difficult, they get harder later in the the book... i will give ewen's solutions in hidden text, but try not to peek until you have chosen your lead, and more importantly have chosen *why* you lead as you do... if this is well-received i'll post more from later chapters... have fun

---

Spoiler

6H... probable entries make it right to follow the '4th from your longest and strongest' rule

---

Spoiler

JH... nearly solid sequence

---

Spoiler

7S... even if the hearts become established, you have no way to reach them... try to hit partner

---

Spoiler

QS... prefer shorter suit when headed by solid sequence *and* when longer suit is relatively weak

---

Spoiler

8H... leading one of the others has too much to lose vs. the gain ratio... go passive

---

Spoiler

3S... you can't expect partner to have much in high cards, but he may have the jack of spades... if he doesn't, 3nt is probably cold

---

Spoiler

6D... hopeful entries, attack in your longest suit

---

Spoiler

10H... top of internal sequence from long suit, the spade king is a possible entry

---

Spoiler

7D... the other suits may give away too much... you can lead the two of diamonds, but that suggests to partner that you'd like a return... since you really don't, lead the 7

---

Spoiler

KH... your prospects in setting up a minor are not good, and your entry not sure even if you do... partner probably has something in high cards, so try to help... hearts is chosen over spades because you at least have something to contribute

---

Spoiler

10S.. with a sure side entry, you'd lead the king of spades

[jillybean]

Hi

1. 6♥ 4th best

2. J♥ top of sequnce

3. 8♦? top of sequence usless here, I can't get back in

4. 5♥ 4th best

5. 8♥ the others look even worse

6. 3♠ in hope of promoting Q♠

7. 6♦ 4th best

8. 10♥ top of sequnce

9. 7♦ no idea

10. 6♣ ditto

11. 7♥ usless doubleton

jillybean

[jdulmage]

1. 6♥ - 4th best, if I can catch my partner with an honor, we are ready to set it.

2. J♥ - This one is easy, I have the Jack, Ten and Nine of the suit. It's almost a must

3. 10♣ - I really don't want declarer to know my partner has everything, and I am never getting back in again, so I'll lead my best card and hope that helps my partner out. After all, he may have KQ9x or something.

4. Q♠ - Steering towards this more than the 4th best lead. I am going to make declarer work for this, but I want my tricks too!

5. 8♥ - Again, I'll make declarer work for his tricks.

6. 3♠ - Please god, let my partner have the J♠ or better. I can get in 3 times, so if partner has an honor, we may set it 1.

7. 6♦ - 4th best, no surprise there.

8. 10♥ - Top of internal sequence. Any other lead may be finessing my partner off of the bat. No thanks.

9. 7♦ - Top of nothing - I don't want to lead 4th best because I don't have anything in that suit to help us with. I'll sit back and let declarer decide what to do.

10. K♥ - Yes, believe it or not for the same reason as #3 - My minor suits will never be reached. On 1NT-3NT - the opponents have a higher chance of having minor controls, this is my only chance to try to set something up for partner, even if it's a slow winner with say the 10♥ eventually, well, at least it's a trick.

11. A♠ to check out the situation, after that, I'll be able to count the dummy's points versus the possible declarer points and that'll tell me whether or not I should continue or switch.

[luke warm]

to jilly:

Spoiler

on #3, anything might work out well, even a heart... however, in general when there is no entry it's best to try to hit partner's suit... you did well trying to do that, but ewen is of the opinion that the unbid major is better, especially given no stayman by responder

on #4, the spade sequence is likely to work out better since your heart suit is weak and you have no obvious entries

on #10, you only have this once to help parter... there're no guarantees, but leading the ♥K is the only way you can really help... if it holds, lead your other heart

on #11, you should probably choose spades.. you have potentially 4 tricks in the suit, but you need a little cooperation from partner... if he has only a doubleton spade, you want to leave him one when he gains the lead.. if you had a sure entry of your own, it would be right to lead the ace or king

to jdulmage:

Spoiler

on #3, your reasoning (like kat's) is correct... trying to hit partner is the right thing to do... the absence of a stayman sequence argues slightly in favor of the spade, however

on #11, leading a top spade can work out but what do you lead next? spades seem to be the best suit with which to attack, but if you don't continue them declarer may gain an important tempo... if you do continue them, partner may only have two and won't be able to return one... since you have no outside entry, the 10 seems the best card

well done, both of you... next time they'll be a little tougher

[luke warm]

good point, i'd also like to see a sim... but give declarer QJx or give dummy Jxx and declarer Qx... there's also the problem of the 2nd lead, after the ♠A or K

[jdulmage]

and one time, there will be QJ♠ on the board and 9xx♠ in declarer's hand and you will have given him the contract by leading the 10♠.

I will always lead the A♠ to check out the situation.

[MickyB]

With no outside entries, I'm sure it's right to lead small. The question for me is how much outside strength you need before it is right to lead top - IMO you need most of it.

[luke warm]

jdulmage, on Apr 17 2005, 12:11 PM, said:

I will always lead the A♠ to check out the situation.

that's fine, do what you think best... but remember, the 'book' lead is so for a reason...

btw, when you say you will "always" lead the ace, does that mean regardless of the results?

[jdulmage]

luke warm, on Apr 17 2005, 03:03 PM, said:

jdulmage, on Apr 17 2005, 12:11 PM, said:

I will always lead the A♠ to check out the situation.

that's fine, do what you think best... but remember, the 'book' lead is so for a reason...

btw, when you say you will "always" lead the ace, does that mean regardless of the results?

Yes, just like the "book" situations have always been - nothing but suggested leads and just like my choice to lead the A♠ - a suggestion.

And I will lead the ace against certain bidding or bidding where my partner hasn't come in with a suit of any sort. If it's IMPs, I'll be leading small. Also could depend who I'm playing against.

So no, I won't "always" lead the A♠, but people don't always have to follow a book just because somebody published it.

Bring on the harder ones.

[han]

Nice topic Jimmy!

I would generally lead low (here the ten) on the last hand. This should be good any time partner has a doubleton and a side entry. Leading high "to take a look" will often give away the contract.

[ochinko]

jdulmage, on Apr 17 2005, 01:11 PM, said:

and one time, there will be QJ♠ on the board and 9xx♠ in declarer's hand and you will have given him the  contract by leading the 10♠.

I will always lead the A♠ to check out the situation.

♠A is too risky. It would've been right if you had AKJT9.

Leading an Ace in NT requires your partner to unblock his honor or give a count without one. Imagine how your partner surrenders the Queen and declarer's meager Jxx gets unexpectedly promoted.

I wasn't sure about #11. Was torn apart between 10 and x, but the King appears best iregardless whether your partner signals an attitude or count.

Petko

[scoob]

i could (and should, just ask my p) read lead quizzes all day - more please!