Lesson 18: Leads Surendra Mehta June 2007

Surendra Mehta, June Martina Navratilova When Wimbledon was rained out I spent my time playing bridge to keep me on my toes. - Tennis champion Martina Navratilova

Surendra Mehta, June aa Bridge is a sport that you can start as a child and be playing with as much enthusiasm and skill when you are ninety.

Surendra Mehta, June Defence play S – stop to review bidding T – think about the best lead O – organise your plan P – put your plan into operation

Surendra Mehta, June Review the bidding This is very important You can tell a lot about the opponents' hands from their bidding NorthEastSouthWest (you) 1DPass1HPass 2DPass2NTPass 3NTPassPassPass What do you know about the North’s hand from the above bidding?

Surendra Mehta, June Guessing North’s hand (1) He must have 12 or more points He must have 4Ds and since he bid again without support in D he must have at least 5 of them North did not support South’s heart suit and so he must have 3 or fewer hearts North did not bid 1S or 2C after South’s 1H and so he is unlikely to have four cards in either suit. North did not open 1NT and did not rebid 1NT and so he does not have a balanced suit

Surendra Mehta, June Guessing North’s hand (2) What about the strength of North He made a minimum rebid at his first opportunity so we can expect points He accepted his partner’s invitation bid of 2NT by raising to 3NT; so he is at the top of the range; most likely 15 points North’s hand likely to be S A 4 3; H Q 5; D A K ; C 9 7

Surendra Mehta, June Guessing South’s hand (1) At least 4 hearts; but unlikely to be 6 as he did not rebid H His NT bid suggests a balanced hand He is weak in D A 2NT response suggests points A likely south hand is S K J 5; H K 9 8 3; D 7 5; C A 8 6 4

Surendra Mehta, June Leads in NT contracts You would not lead H or D, since bid by opponents Thus you have a choice between C and S Since the partner did not overcall in Spade, C is probably the best lead

Surendra Mehta, June Likely complete hand (3NT) S A 4 3 H Q 5 D A K C 9 7 S H A J 2 D Q 8 3 C Q S Q H D J 6 C K J 3 S K J 5 H K D 7 5 C A 8 6 4

Surendra Mehta, June On a small Club lead the defenders will promote 3 club tricks Declarer will need to give up a diamond trick in order to develop his long diamonds Plus the Ace of heart will break the 3NT contract

Surendra Mehta, June Guidelines for leads in NT Lead the partner’s suit, unless you have a clear alternative –Top of a doubleton (9 2, Q 3) –Top of touching high cards (Q J 10, J 10 9) –Otherwise lead low (Q 7 2, K 8 4 3) Avoid leading a suit bid by the opponents Lead your longest suit, if there is nothing else to go on –Top of 3-card or longer sequence (K Q J 7, Q J ) –Top of an interior sequence (K J 10 9, A ) –Top of a broken sequence (K Q 10 8, Q J 9 6 2) –Otherwise lead 4 th best (K J 8 5, A ) – rule of 11 Lead the stronger suit if there is a choice of equally long suits

Surendra Mehta, June Guidelines for leads in Suit contracts Lead your partner’s suit Avoid leading a suit bid by the opponents Lead from a strong sequence Lead from a short suit if you think you can get a ruff Lead a trump if everything else looks dangerous

Surendra Mehta, June Guidelines for leads in Suit contracts When leading partner’s suit –Top of a doubleton (9 2, Q 3) –Top of touching high cards (Q J 10, J 10 9) –Otherwise lead low* (Q 7 2, K 8 4 3) When leading your own suit –Top of 2-card or longer sequence (K Q 8 7, Q J 10 2) –Top of an interior sequence* (K J 10 9, Q ) –Top of a broken sequence (K Q 10 8, Q J 9 6 2) –Otherwise, lead low* (4 th best) (K J 8 5, Q ) * Except when holding the ace, in which case you should lead it.