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Opening Leads against Notrump


Opening Leads against Notrump

When the auction goes 1NT-3NT by the opponents, there isn't much imagination required. Choose your longest and strongest suit and usually lead the 4th-highest card in it. A few "what-ifs" 1) What if it is just about a "tie" for longest and strongest? With two 4-card suits or two 5-card suits, roughly of equivalent strength, prefer a major when in doubt. (Your opponents would usually look for or show a major if they had one). 2) What if you have a "sequence?" If 3 in a row (QJ10 or KQJ), lead top. If "almost" 3 in a row (such a KQ10 or QJ9), also lead top. Otherwise, tend to lead 4th best.

♠ QJ52  
♥ K76  
♦ 876  
♣ 543
 

As West, what is your opening lead?

South West North East
1NT Pass 3NT Pass
Pass  Pass    

 

 

 

Choose One:

♠Q

♠2

♠8

♠5

♠ 85  
♥ Q8742  
♦ K9763  
♣ A
 

As West, what is your opening lead?

South West North East
2NT Pass 3NT Pass
Pass  Pass    
Choose One:

♠8

♠4

♠6

♠A

♠ KJ62  
♥ A7653  
♦ J76  
♣ Q
 

As West, what is your opening lead?

South West North East
2NT Pass 3NT Pass
Pass  Pass    
Choose One:

♠2

♠5

♠J

♠6

♠ J10873  
♥ 43  
♦ AK43  
♣ 62
 

As West, what is your opening lead?

South West North East
1NT Pass 3NT Pass
Pass  Pass    
Choose One:

♠J

♠7

♠4

♠A

♠ KQJ10  
♥ 1098  
♦ A5432  
♣ 2
 

As West, what is your opening lead?

South West North East
1NT Pass 3NT Pass
Pass  Pass    
Choose One:

♠K

♠10

♠10

♠3

♠ J542  
♥ 82  
♦ 10987
♣ 862
 
As West, what is your opening lead after this much more involved auction?

 

WestNorthEastSouth
       1NT
 Pass  2♠  Pass  2♠
 Pass  2NT  Pass  3NT
Pass Pass Double Pass
Pass Pass    
Choose One:

2♠

♠8

♠10

Your system's ♠ lead

♠ J82  
♥ J5  
♦ J832  
♣ J832
 

You are West, What is your lead?

WestNorthEastSouth
       1NT
 Pass  2♠  Pass  2♠
 Pass  3NT  All Pass  
Choose One:

♠2

♠J

♠2

♠2