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Andrew:
Trump leads
“If in doubt, lead a trump”. Hmmm.
Don’t get me wrong - I like trump leads; but not because I’m in doubt. Here are some occasions where an opening trump lead is called for:
- You suspect that dummy will have a ruffing value (i.e. a short side-suit). Dummy’s trumps must be removed.
- The opponents have bid beyond their high cards. They must be relying on ruffing tricks tomake up for that deficiency. Take out two of their trumps.
- The opponents have bid unconfidently. Avoid giving a trick on lead and you may well defeat them. A trump, from low cards, rates to be the most passive lead.
- Your honours look well placed (sitting over their bids). Stay passive and you may prevail.
- All your other suits look too dangerous to lead from.
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North Deals None Vul |
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| West | North | East | South |
| 1 ♦ | Pass | 1 ♠ | |
| Pass | 2 ♣ | Pass | 2 ♥1 |
| Pass | 2 ♠2 | Pass | 4 ♠ |
| Pass | Pass | Pass |
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What happened
Hearing three suits bid naturally, West led ♥ 3. Declarer won dummy’s ♥ Q, crossed to ♣ Q, ruffed ♥ 4, and led a trump. West beat declarer’s ♠ Q with ♠ K and switched to ♦ 10, but declarer, taking no chances, rose with ♦ A, and led a second trump. East won ♠ A and cashed ♦ K (best), but declarer could ruff a third diamond (higher than West), draw West’s last trump, and claim his game.
What should have happened
West listens carefully to the bidding and, expecting dummy to table a singleton heart, leads ♠ 2. East wins ♠ A, returns ♠ 4 to ♠ K, and West leads his third trump. With dummy’s trumps removed, declarer has two losing hearts.
In practice declarer will win the third trump in hand and try ♦ 3 to ♦ Q. East wins ♦ K and switches to ♥ 6. Declarer wins ♥ A, and leads ♦ 3 to ♦ A and ruffs ♦ 5. He then cashes ♣ K, leads ♣ 2 to ♣ J, and ruffs ♦ 7. He overtakes ♣ Q with ♣ A (playing clubs in this manner to reach dummy twice), cashes the promoted ♦ 8, but has to concede the last trick, ♣ 7, to West’s ♣ 10.
Down one - and all because of West’s well-reasoned trump lead.
If you remember one thing...
When to lead trumps
