Andrew:

What constitutes a sequence v Notrumps

You’d lead top of a three-card sequence such as ♣ K from ♣ KQJ53, ♥ Q from ♥ QJ1062, ♠ J from ♠ J10932. This maximises trick-taking by pushing the lower cards out of the picture; and gives partner useful information. How about with broken sequences? Take ♦ QJ942.

	Dummy
West	♦ K 7 5	East
♦ Q J 9 4 2.	----------	♦ A 6 3
	Declarer
	♦ 10 8

If (as West) you lead ♦ 4, East has to play ♦ A on dummy’s ♦ 5, or declarer wins a cheap trick. Now ♦ K is promoted. However if you lead ♦ Q, declarer’s ♦ 108 is neutralised and ♦ K is squashed. For example: ♦ Q, ♦ 5, ♦ 3, ♦ 8; ♦ J, ♦ K, ♦ A, ♦ 10; ♦ 6, -, ♦ 9, ♦ 7 then ♦ 4♦ 2 cashed.

From three touching or near-touching cards in your long suit, lead the top of the ‘sequence bit’.

	Holding	Lead
i)	♣ K Q 10 5 2	Lead ♣ K.
ii)	♥ J 10 8 3 2	Lead ♥ J.
iii)	♠ 10 9 7 5 2	Lead ♠ 10. Note that the sequence has to contain an honour ie the ten or above to qualify.
iv)	♦ K J 10 6 5	Lead ♦ J – the top of the sequence bit. Thus ♦ J lead denies ♦ Q and promises ♦ 10, but does not deny ♦ K or ♦ A.
v)	♣ Q 10 9 3 2	Lead ♣ 10.
vi)	♥ A J 10 6 4	Lead ♥ J. You need three of the top six cards.
vii)	♠ K 10 9 7 3	Lead ♠ 10.

Please click here to defend this hand

South Deals
E-W Vul

♠	K Q 2
♥	A K 2
♦	Q 3
♣	J 10 9 3 2

♠	8 5 4
♥	6 5
♦	A J 10 7 2
♣	K 7 5

N
W		E
S

♠	A 10 9 6 3
♥	10 8 7 4
♦	8 6 4
♣	4

♠	J 7
♥	Q J 9 3
♦	K 9 5
♣	A Q 8 6

West	North	East	South
			1 N
Pass1	3 N	Pass	Pass
Pass

Too flat for a vulnerable 2♦ (although the suit is good enough).

3 NT by South

Lead: ♦ J

If West leads his fourth highest ♦ 7, declarer can play dummy’s ♦ 3 and win a cheap trick with ♦ 9. This second diamond stopper sees him romp home (plus one). Instead, however West led ♦ J, top of the sequence bit (top of the ‘interior’ or ‘internal’ sequence, as it is sometimes termed).

Declarer tried dummy’s ♦ Q (best) and when it won, he ran ♣ J. Although the finesse lost to West’s ♣ K, declarer was still hopeful, because West could not profitably attack diamonds without presenting declarer a trick with ♦ K. His hopes were soon to be dashed.

West adroitly switched to ♠ 8 (leading high for hate) and East promptly won ♠ A and switched to ♦ 8. A forlorn declarer played ♦ 9, but West won ♦ 10, cashed ♦ A felling ♦ K and tabled ♦ 72. Down two.

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Andrew:

What constitutes a sequence v Notrumps