Some opening leads are relatively easy. If you're on lead after the opponents bid 1NT-3NT, for example, the old guideline of "fourth down from your longest and strongest suit" works well on most hands. You also have an easy lead if partner has overcalled a suit, or when you have a suit with a strong honor holding (KQJ, QJ10, AK, etc.).
On many hands, though, your choice won't be as clear, and that's why opening leads are one of the most difficult parts of the game. Making a good one requires require careful analysis of the auction. On some difficult hands, you'll want to make a passive, safe opening lead that isn't likely to give away a trick -- such as a lead from a "topless" suit like 87643 or 10982. On other hands, it will pay to make an aggressive lead, such as an underlead of an unprotected honor.
How do you know when an aggressive lead is the best choice? One of your
strongest clues comes when the opponents have an auction that identifies
a long, strong side suit that can be set up as a source of tricks. For
example, suppose you're North holding:
♠A5 ♥743 ♦KJ953 ♣Q72
and it's your lead after your opponents have the following auction:
West East 1S 2H 2S 4SYour best opening lead is probably the ♦5 (fourth best). You hope partner has either the ♦A or ♦Q, but even if he doesn't, your risky lead may not cost anything. Dummy has shown a long (and probably strong) heart suit that may be used to pitch declarer's losers. It's important to set up possible tricks for your side right now, while you still have the trump ace as an entry to cash them.
How about leads to higher-level contracts? When the opponents bid a small slam, your natural instinct may be to make a safe opening lead, but on some hands, being passive can give away the contract. An aggressive lead is often your only chance to beat a slam, especially if the opponents have shown great strength and/or a side fit. For example, suppose your opponents bid to 6H via this auction
West East 1H 2D 3D 4NT 5H 6Hand you're on lead with ♠109874 ♥762 ♦A3 ♣K102.
The ♠10 looks safe, but it doesn't rate to set up a trick for your side. That would require partner to have the ♠K and dummy to have the ♠A (or partner to have ♠KJ and dummy the ♠Q), and declarer and dummy to each have at least two spades. It's better to set your sights lower and play partner for the ♣Q. Lead the ♣2 and hope you can set up and cash a club when you get in with the ♦A. If it happens that you've led into declarer's ♣AQ, you may have lost nothing, since it's likely that his potential club losers would have been pitched on dummy's diamonds.
For tips on when to use different strategies on opening lead, see:
Passive Opening Leads
Trump Opening Leads
Copyright © Karen Walker