What Should I Lead?

What Should I Lead?   What to lead during play -- after the opening lead, is situation dependent -- it depends on what's in the dummy, the opening lead, suit or no trump contract, what has been played, the contract, the number of tricks declarer and defense have and have coming - - many factors.

Yet, at any one lead, there's only a couple of possibilities for a hand to lead. Consider this dummy:

What are East's Choices? From East's position, he should lead toward weakness -  toward the ©96 on the board - thus finessing any Heart cards in Declarer's hand. For the same reason, East should not lead Diamonds, as it would finesse Diamond honors in West's hand. The best lead from East in this example would be the ©10, as it will enable him to keep the lead if Declarer ducks because it beats the ©9 on the board. Whenever possible, lead so as to keep the lead if declarer ducks -- think ahead to the next trick.

What are West's Choices?  West should lead Diamonds or Spades -- through strength -- to allow East to capture the ¨K or make his ªK. Both of these suits in dummy have strength, but are not solid - lead through them. Clubs are probably not good, as a finesse of East's honors looks likely.

---

(c) Robert D. McConnell, 1998  All Rights Reserved