Page 2 Opening Leads - New Project

a)    Lead the highest card from a doubleton.  For example 5 2,  A 8.

b)    Lead the top card from any sequence of toughing honors.  For example  K Q J 8 3,  Q J 10 3 2, K Q 10 7 4 , Q J 9 3 2, J 10 9 4, J 10 8 3

c)    From a holding such as A K 8 4, you will lead the A or the K, depending on your agreement with your partner.

d)    Lead the lowest card from a worthless 3-card holding.  For example 8 5 2, When next you play that suit, you will play the top card.  Middle-up-down.

e)    Lead the top card from a an internal sequence.  For example A Q J 9 4, K J 10 6 4, Q 10 9 6

f)    Lead the lowest card from a 3-card holding including an honor card.  For example, K 5 2,  Q 9 6

g)     Lead the fourth highest card from a 4-card or longer holding that does not contain a honor sequence.  For example, Q 10 7 4, J 8 5 3 2, K 9 5 4.

h)    There are a few exceptions, but it is usually a very bad idea to underlead an ace.  

·       If partner has bid a suit, you should lead that suit unless you have a very good reason to lead another suit.  

·       If partner has not bid you should lead your longest suit, observing the guidelines for selecting the card to lead from the list above.  

·       Avoid leading short suits against no trump contracts.

·       Avoid leading a suit bid by declarer.

·       Lead a suit bid by partner, unless you have a good reason not to do so.

·       Lead a singleton, hoping partner can gain the lead and lead that suit back for                you to ruff.  

·       Lead fourth highest card from a suit that offers good attacking qualities, unless            that suit contains an honor sequence, in that case lead the highest card.

·       Choose a suit unbid by the opponents.

·       If the opponents have bid all the suits, choose a suit bid by the dummy, which has not been supported by declarer.

·       Lead trump if you have length in a suit bid by declarer which was unsupported by dummy.

·       Lead the top card from a doubleton.  Here you hope to have an opportunity to get a ruff.

·       Avoid leading an unsupported ace, unless it is a doubleton and you expect to get a ruff.

·       Avoid leading a suit bid by declarer.

•    Avoid leading away from an ace

·       Lead the top card from a doubleton.

·       Lead the lowest card from a three-card holding headed by an honor.  K x x, Q x x etc.

·       Lead the top card from an honor sequence. J 10 x, Q J x etc.

·       Lead the lowest card from three low cards, if you have not supported partner’s suit.