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Bridge Tips — Defensive
Edited 1-31-07
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| 1 |
Don't lead a trump when the opponents are misfitted. |
| 2 |
If partner is marked with a singleton trump, there is no point in leading a
trump from Kxx because neither of you will be able to continue the suit. Try another
lead and hope partner will find the trump switch, if necessary. |
| 3 |
Deceptive leads in the trump suit include the 9 from 109x and the jack from
QJ doubleton. |
| 4 |
When dummy has shown a long side suit plus trump support, a trump lead is desirable
if you have dummy's long suit bottled up; otherwise it is the worst lead in the
world! |
| 5 |
Do not lead a singleton vs. a voluntarily bid small slam if you have an ace.
Partner can't have the ace and you will probably be helping declarer out no end
by placing the missing honors in partner's hand. |
| 6 |
On the other hand, a singleton lead against a small slam when you don't have
an ace has a much better chance of succeeding. With a little luck partner will
have the ace of your singleton suit or the ace of trump. |
| 7 |
You do not lead the same against 3NT as against 6NT. For example, say you
have: S. K10764 H. Q84 D. Q76 C. 83
If the bidding goes 1NT- pass- 3NT- all pass, you have an automatic spade
lead. However if the bidding goes 1NT-pass-6NT- all pass, a spade lead is horrible.
Why? The opponents presumably have about 33 HCP to contract for 6NT which
means your partner is busted. There is no point in leading away from an honor.
Lead a club and hope to make two tricks if declarer finesses into you.
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| 8 |
When leading partner's suit against suit or notrump with three
or four small, lead high if you have supported the suit,
low if you haven't. |
| 9 |
After leading high from three small in partner's supported
suit, (862) play the middle one next. Lead the 8 and then the
6. If you have not supported, lead the 2. Leading high in an
unsupported suit shows shortness. |
| 10 |
After leading low from four small in partner's unsupported
suit, (8632) play your lowest one next. Lead the 2 and
then the 3. This assumes you have not supprted the suit. If
you have supported, lead the 8. |
| 11 |
If you have led high from four small, play your lowest one
next. With 8632, lead the 8 and then play the 2. |
| 12 |
When partner doubles a slam contract after having bid, do
NOT lead partner's suit or a trump. . Partner usually has a
void (or an outside AK), it's your job to figure out which and
make the killing lead! |
| 13 |
Be on the qui vive (alert) to double artificial bids (Stayman,
Jacoby Transfers cuebids and Blackwood responses) if you want
the lead in that suit. These are Lead Directing Doubles. |
| 14 |
To make a Lead Directing Double at a low level, particularly the two level,
you need five or six cards in the suit headed by at least three honor cards. To
double an artificial bid made at the four level or higher, all you need is strength
in the suit, not length (KQx). |
| 15 |
When leading an unbid suit at notrump with four cards not
headed by an honor, it is too misleading to lead low which shows
strength, You are better placed to lead your highest or next
highest if the highest is a nine. Lead the 8 from 8543, but
lead the 6 from 9642. Even the 7 from 10732 is possible
if you want another suit returned. |
| 16 |
Make sure you discuss with your partner what you are going to lead from AKx(x)
against a suit contract. Whichever you decide upon, lead the other other
from AK doubleton. |
| 17 |
Be advised that if you lead the A from AKx(x) vs. a suit
contract, that is a trick one convention only. During the rest
of the hand, the king is led from the AKx(x). The reason
is that after trick one a defender is likely to want to lead
an ace without the king and does not want partner to think
he has the king. |
| 18 |
If you and your partner have decided to lead ace from ace-king,
be advised that the king is still led at trick one when:
(1) The suit has been supported by EITHER player.
(2) Partner has
bid the suit and you have not supported.
(3) The contract
is at the five level or higher.
(4) You have AK doubleton.
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| 19 |
You and partner might try leading the queen from the AKQ vs. a suit contract.
Assuming partner can read the lead (usually can), third hand gives count. There
are two advantages to this lead:
(1) The opening leader can tell
how many tricks in the suit can be cashed.
(2) If you play ace from ace-king,
third hand knows partner doesn't have the queen when the ace
is led.
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| 20 |
Lead inferences
If partner doesn't lead your suit, assume partner:
(1) Is void
(2) Is leading a
singleton
(3) Is leading top
of a sequence
(4) Has the ace and fears declarer has the king (particularly true if partner
has supported the suit.)
(5) Has forgotten the bidding
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