Andrew:

Opening Lead

The single most important card in a deal of bridge, the one that affects the number of tricks both sides end up with more than any other by far, is the opening lead. It’s a unique card too, the only card played without a sight of dummy.

The very best lead, enabling you to have an all-important look at that dummy whilst retaining control and keeping all your options open, is the ace from an ace-king combination. Other top-of-a-sequence leads are good too (the higher up a suit, the better). They are King from King-Queen, Queen from Queen-Jack, Jack from Jack-ten; Ten from ten-nine (this is the lowest top-of-a-sequence lead, because the higher card needs to be an honour: the ten or above).

Exercise: What would you lead from these hands after the opponents have bid to 2♠ and no other suits were mentioned either by the opponents or by partner?

Hand A		Hand B		Hand C		Hand D
♠ 8 6 4 ♥ A K 7 3 ♦ J 8 6 5 ♣ Q 4		♠ J 7 ♥ J 6 ♦ K Q 8 7 ♣ J 9 7 3 2		♠ A 4 ♥ K J 6 3 ♦ Q 7 6 ♣ J 10 6 4		♠ 8 7 4 ♥ Q J 7 5 ♦ K 7 6 ♣ A J 7

Answer:

(a) ♥ A - Ace from Ace-King is Andrew Favourite Lead (AFL).
(b) ♦ K - denying the Ace and promissing the Queen (top of a sequence).
(c) ♣ J - denying the Queen and promissing the Ten (top of a sequence).
(d) ♥ Q - denying the King and promissing the Jack (top of a sequence).

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Andrew:

Opening Lead