731
Attacking opening leads against a suit
Usually against a suit contract your defensive plan should involve an attack if at all
possible. The second choice would be to defend passively. Once dummy is laid down you may have to change the
plan, as that new information will often change your defensive strategy.
Leads Against Suit contracts
When defending against a suit contract, there are many considerations. Should you lead trumps? Should
you play for a ruff? Should you give partner a ruff?
- Lead a singleton in the hope partner can return your suit and give you a ruff
- Lead the top of three card or more honor sequences. This is the first lead taught for beginning bridge players and it's almost always a safe and an attacking lead.
- Lead your partner's suit if your partner has bid unless you can find a very good reason not to... partner will love you.
- Lead the top from a doubleton even an honor doubleton if it is in partner's suit
- Lead your 4th highest card from your longest and strongest suit a safe but non aggressive lead
- Do not lead trumps if you have four or more of them - you want to lead side suits so that declarer must ruff in his hand then you will have more trumps than declarer
Example: Against 2♠ South should make an attacking lead with the K ♥ helping the defense to develop winners in hearts before declarer can discard his heart losers
North
West
East
South
Partner has Overcalled 1H but E/W won the Contract in 4S - What is your Best Opening Lead?
- ♠ Q 9 2
- ♥ J 9 7 6 4
- ♦ A 9 8 6
- ♣ J
Either the 6H OR the JC are the more aggressive opening leads