Opening Leads

Last Updated on 2^nd August 2010

Leading against no trumps it is usual to start with your longest suit. If you don’t have the luxury of a suit headed by a run of unbroken honours it is normal to lead a low card. You should agree with your partner which low card. Fourth highest is common although many experts prefer third and fifth.

If you choose to lead from three small cards the methods in use include top of nothing and MUD. Probably MUD is to be preferred as it is easier for partner to distinguish between the lead from three cards and the lead from a doubleton.

It can, however, be hard for declarer to tell the difference between the lead from three cards and a doubleton.
	North ?	Board 4 Dealer W Game All	Or, if the second highest from a four card suit is led, as standard, it can also be hard for declarer to know whether the lead is from length or shortage. Try this hand from the match between Glenfield A and Golf on 2^nd February 2005. You are East, declarer in four hearts. There has been no opposing bidding. South leads the seven of clubs. North wins the king and continues with the ace. South follows with the two. North continues with the four of clubs. What do you discard? Make your decision and click here.
West ª KQJ © QT9 ¨ KQJ7 § QT3		East ª 8652 © AK8532 ¨ A § J6
	South ?

Have you agreed with your partner what signalling method you play in third hand on the opening lead?

ª AK2 © Q652 ¨ T2 § AT96

On this deal from the match between Glenfield A and County C on 5^th March 2003 I had to find an opening lead against a contract of three no trumps after the opponents had bid hearts, diamonds and clubs. My natural choice of lead was a spade. My methods allow me to lead the Ace whereupon partner will show me whether he holds an even or odd number of spades (count signal) or to lead the king whereupon partner tells me whether or not he wants me to continue (encouraging signal). On this occasion I thought it would be more useful to obtain an encouraging signal so I led the king.

It is common against no trump contracts to underlead an ace. Usually, against suit contracts such a start would be avoided
ª AQ9 © J62 ¨ – § AQT9642	However, sometimes, if you need partner to gain the lead quickly it can be the best shot. It certainly would have hit the target in defence of a four spade contract in the match between Glenfield A and Leicester Bridge Centre on 4^th December 2002. It would have found partner with the king of clubs and given them the opportunity to fire back a diamond for a ruff.

Quiz

Here is one for you to try. It is 27^th September 2003 and you are playing Chris Jagger and Amanda Griffin in the Derbyshire Green Pointed Swiss Pairs. You hold:

ª T76 © KQ542 ¨ 94 § A53

Chris, on your right, opened one spade. You passed and Amanda bid two diamonds. Partner was silent as Chris rebid two spades and Amanda raised to four. What would you lead? Would it be the nine of diamonds looking for a ruff? Would it be a trump trying to reduce dummy’s potential to ruff hearts or clubs? Would it be a side suit – a heart while you still have the club entry? Or a club in case declarer has instant club losers that can be discarded on dummy’s diamonds? Make your choice and click here.

In the next match your opponents are Ian Kane and David Oliver. You have scored badly on the first three deals and, despite recovering on the fourth and fifth hands you need a good board. You hold:
ª Q43 © A543 ¨ J6 § AKT6	It is game all and North, on your right, opens one spade. You decide to pass and await developments. A little later you are on lead. Make your choice and click here.

It is 10^th November 2004 and you are playing against Gordon Musson and Geoff Day in the Glenfield Club Pairs. You hold
ª 93 © K97 ¨ A9653 § T85	Your side has not been involved in the bidding. Geoff Day, on your left, opened two spades, strong, Gordon Musson bid four no trumps, Blackwood, Geoff admitted to one ace and Gordon bid six no trumps. What would you lead? Make your choice and click here.

Statistics

Ann Wright	MPs	Top	Played	MPs	%
1^st October 2008	Otto & Edith	24	9	107	49.54
Total			9	107	49.54

Baerbel Sandhu	IMPs	Played	Imps	Imps/Bd
1^st March 2006	Glenfield A 6 Phoenix B 6	4	-10	-2.5
Total		4	-10	-2.5

Bharat Thakrar	IMPs	Played	Imps	Imps/Bd
19^th February 2006	Markham – Leicestershire 2 Oxfordshire 18	6	-25	-4.17
Total		6	-25	-4.17

Harry Gordon	IMPs	Played	Imps	Imps/Bd
8^th March 2006	Stanley Trophy 2005/6 - Heat 5	7	26	3.71
9^th July 2006	Derbyshire Green Point Swiss Teams	9	-35	-3.89
Total for 2006		16	-9	-0.56
20^th May 2007	Porter – Leicestershire 7 Lincolnshire 13	11	-6	-0.55
Total for 2007		11	-6	-0.55
Total		27	-15	-0.56

Harry Gordon	MPs	Top	Played	MPs	%
8^th July 2006	Nottinghamshire Green Point Swiss Pairs	72	12	581.8	67.34
Total			12	581.8	67.34

John Glover	IMPs	Played	Imps	Imps/Bd
20^th September 2006	Stanley Trophy 2006/7 - Heat 1	7	8	1,14
Total		7	8	1,14

Judith Taylor	IMPs	Played	Imps	Imps/Bd
15^th February 2006	Grantham A 12 Glenfield A 0	8	30	3.75
15^th March 2006	Barkby B 0 Glenfield A 12	6	12	2.00
29^th March 2006	Glenfield A 6 Grantham A 6	2	-6	-3.00
29^th November 2006	Stanley Trophy 2006/7 - Heat 3	5	3	0.6
Total for 2006		21	39	1.86
28^th February 2007	Glenfield A 4 Melton 8	9	-12	-1.33
Total for 2007		9	-12	-1.33
Total		30	27	1.11

Ken Smith	IMPs	Played	Imps	Imps/Bd
12^th March 2006	Leicestershire Green Point Swiss Teams	11	-35	-3.18
Total		11	-35	-3.18

Margaret Glover	IMPs	Played	Imps	Imps/Bd
15^th March 2009	Leicestershire Green Point Swiss Teams	9	-9	-1.00
Total		9	-9	-1.00

Peter Neville	IMPs	Played	Imps	Imps/Bd
25^th January 2006	Joseph’s Bowl QF v LeVesconte, Coltman, Lord & Thompson	7	12	1.71
1^st February 2006	Glenfield A 5 Barkby A 7	6	-9	-1.50
2^nd April 2006	Markham – Derbyshire 0 Leicestershire 20	10	-4	-0.40
5^th April 2006	Glenfield A 2 Castle Donington 10	4	5	1.25
12^th April 2006	Stanley Trophy 2005/6 - Heat 6	11	22	2.0
10^th May 2006	Stanley Trophy 2005/6 - Heat 7	2	-8	-4.00
21^st May 2006	Porter – Leicestershire 20 Staffs & Shrops 0	7	15	2.14
2^nd July 2006	Porter – Lincolnshire 0 Leicestershire 20	5	14	2.80
10^th October 2006	Josephe Bowl – Barkby Heat	7	24	3.43
11^th October 2006	Glenfield A 6 Clarendon 6	8	-16	-2.00
15^th October 2006	Markham – Leicestershire 20 – Gloucestershire 0	7	3	0.43
18^th October 2006	Phoenix 7 Glenfield Bridge Centre A 5	3	4	1.33
13^th November 2006	Gold Cup Round 1	9	11	1.22
22^nd November 2006	Melton 4 Glenfield A 8	2	-10	-2.00
10^th December 2006	Porter – Leicestershire 16 Nottinghamshire 4	8	16	2.00
13^th December 2006	Josephe Bowl – Round 2 - Won by 12 Imps	2	7	3.60
Total for 2006		99	86	0.87
3^rd January 2007	Glenfield A 4 County A 8	4	3	0.75
14^th January 2007	Porter – Oxfordshire 4 Leicestershire 16	10	11	1.10
17^th January 2007	Clarendon 7 Glenfield A 5	4	13	3.25
24^th January 2007	Josephe Bowl – Round 4 - Won by 66 Imps	11	27	2.45
31^st January 2007	Glenfield A 6 Phoenix A 6	4	12	3.00
13^th February 2007	Silver Plate Round II – Won by 26 Imps	10	0	0.00
14^th February 2007	Hinckley A 7 Glenfield A 5	4	3	0.75
18^th February 2007	Dawes – Leicestershire 14 Derbyshire 6	8	-1	-0.13
26^th February 2007	Josephe Bowl – Semi-Final - Won by 20 Imps	11	9	0.82
14^th March 2007	Spencefield 1 Glenfield A 11	7	6	0.86
21^st March 2007	Gimson Semi-Final (North)	3	-7	-2.33
26^th March 2007	Josephs Bowl Final - Lost by 11 Imps	6	-39	-6.50
28^th March 2007	Loughborough A 10 Glenfield A 2	8	1	0.13
1^st April 2007	Porter – Warwickshire 6 Leicestershire 14	8	19	2.38
4^th April 2007	Glenfield A 9 Loughborough A 3	8	0	0.00
18^th April 2007	Stanley Trophy 2006/7 – Heat 6	6	-1	-0.17
6^th May 2007	Silver Plate - Round III	6	7	1.17
16^th May 2007	Stanley Trophy 2006/7 – Heat 7	7	11	1.57
19^th May 2007	Garden Cities Trophy	9	-10	-1.11
8^th July 2007	Silver Plate - Round IV	2	5	2.50
12^th September 2007	Stanley Trophy 2007/8 – Heat 1	7	-5	-0.71
26^th September 2007	Loughborough A 7 Glenfield A 5	4	4	1.00
10^th October 2007	Glenfield A 7 Blaby A 5	10	18	1.80
16^th October 2007	Josephs Bowl - Blaby Club Heat	7	-14	-2.00
21^st October 2007	Porter – Leicestershire 10 Worcestershire 10	9	-25	-2.78
24^th October 2007	Phoenix A 11 Glenfield A 1	3	9	3.00
4^th November 2007	Porter – Nottinghamshire 20 Leicestershire 0	6	8	1.33
7^th November 2007	Melton A 5 Glenfield A 7	8	4	0.50
19^th November 2007	Gold Cup Round I	8	32	4.00
21^st November 2007	Clarendon 7 Glenfield A 5	6	3	0.50
28^th November 2007	Stanley Trophy 2007/8 – Heat 2	2	16	8.00
9^th December 2007	Porter – Leicestershire 5 Oxfordshire 15	4	8	2.00
12^th December 2007	Josephs Bowl - Round III	4	9	2.25
19^th December 2007	Loughborough University A 7 Glenfield A 5	2	1	0.50
Total for 2007		216	137	0.63
9^th January 2008	Loughborough A 9 Glenfield A 3	4	-5	-1.25
13^th January 2008	Porter – Derbyshire 7 Leicestershire 13	5	-1	-0.20
19^th January 2008	Gold Cup Round II	7	-2	-0.29
23^rd January 2008	Blaby A 8 Glenfield A 4	7	15	2.14
30^th January 2008	Josephs Bowl - Quarter Final	6	42	7.00
6^th February 2008	Glenfield A 6 Phoenix 6	5	2	0.40
20^th February 2008	Glenfield A 8 Melton 4	5	23	4.60
12^th March 2008	Glenfield A 0 Clarendon 12	9	-14	-1.56
27^th March 2008	Josephs Bowl - Semi Final	15	-74	-4.93
2^nd April 2008	Hinckley A 9 Glenfield A 3	5	-6	-1.20
23^rd April 2008	Loughborough University A 5 Glenfield A 7	1	1	1.00
29^th June 2008	Porter – Leicestershire 13 Gloucestershire 7	7	8	1.14
10^th September 2008	Stanley Trophy 2008/9 - Heat 1	10	24	2.40
14^th September 2008	Porter – Worcestershire 4 Leicestershire 16	7	13	1.86
23^rd September 2008	Josephs Bowl - County Club Heat	5	19	3.80
24^th September 2008	Westcotes 5 Glenfield A 7	6	26	4.33
22^nd October 2008	Glenfield A 7 Ashby 5	10	27	2.70
5^th November 2008	Loughborough B 0 Glenfield A 12	3	9	3.00
16^th November 2008	Porter – Oxfordshire 15 Leicestershire 5	6	-3	-0.33
19^th November 2008	Loughborough University 4 Glenfield A 8	3	11	3.67
26^th November 2008	Josephs Bowl - Round 1	2	6	3.00
3^rd December 2008	Glenfield A 10 Grantham A 2	6	-13	-2.17
14^th December 2008	Porter – Leicestershire 3 Derbyshire 17	3	-12	-4.00
17^th December 2008	Glenfield A 4 Hinckley B 8	5	-15	-3.00
Total for 2008		142	81	0.57
7^th January 2009	Glenfield A 10 Westcotes A 2	4	-6	-1.50
14^th January 2009	Josephs Bowl - Semi-Final	6	8	1.33
21^st January 2009	County B 6 Glenfield A 6	6	-8	-1.33
28^th January 2009	Stanley Trophy 2008/9 - Heat 4	7	22	3.14
4^th February 2009	Ashby 6 Glenfield A 6	8	0	0
11^th February 2009	Josephs Bowl - Semi-Final	10	26	2.60
25^th February 2009	Glenfield A 6 Loughborough B 6	8	6	0.75
11^th March 2009	Stanley Trophy 2008/9 - Heat 5	8	14	1.75
18^th March 2009	Glenfield A 8 Loughborough University 4	2	11	5.50
25^th March 2009	Hinckley B 2 Glenfield A 10	1	0	0
15^th April 2009	Stanley Trophy 2008/9 - Heat 6	10	-23	-2.30
22^nd April 2009	Josephs Bowl - Final	6	-15	-2.50
10^th May 2009	Dawes – Gloucestershire 6 Leicestershire 14	8	1	0.13
13^th May 2009	Stanley Trophy 2008/9 - Heat 7	5	-6	-1.20
Total for 2009		89	30	0.34
Total		545	323	0.59

Peter Neville	MPs	Top	Played	MPs	%
8^th February 2006	Buckby Cup	16	7	87.9	78.48
22^nd March 2006	Gimson - North Semi Final	24	5	60	50.00
9^th April 2006	Gimson Final	20	8	80	50.00
Total for 2006			20	227.9	58.14
7^th February 2007	Buckby Cup	22	6	98	74.24
21^st February 2007	Glenfield Heat of the Gimson	12	8	68	70.83
15^th April 2007	Gimson Final	18/20	15	123	43.16
9^th May 2007	Jones Handicap Pairs	8	7	34	60.71
Total for 2007			36	323	56.76
5^th March 2008	Buckby Cup	16	6	60.2	62.71
8^th March 2008	Leicestershire Green Point Swiss Pairs	56	14	443	56.51
19^th March 2008	Gimson Semi Final	24	6	95	65.97
13^th April 2008	Gimson Final - Session 2	20	3	50	83.33
7^th May 2008	Hyman Crammer	12	3	17	47.22
1^st June 2008	Corwen	102	26	1262.5	47.61
Total for 2008			58	1927.7	56.57
18^th February 2009	Buckby Cup	16	5	36	45.00
23^rd February 2009	National Pairs - County Heat	4	3	4	33.33
4^th March 2009	Gimson - Open Heat	8	5	32	80.00
22^nd March 2009	National Pairs - Regional Heat	20	9	185.7	51.58
1^st April 2009	Gimson Semi Final	22	4	43	48.86
25^th April 2009	National Pairs - Final	48	25	602	50.17
Total for 2009			51	902.7	51.74
Total			160	3359.3	57.04

Robert Northage	IMPs	Played	Imps	Imps/Bd
16^th September 2007	Porter – Gloucestershire 20 Leicestershire 0	7	-22	-3.14
Total for 2007		7	-22	-3.14
6^th April 2008	Porter – Staffs & Shropshire 13 Leicestershire 7	10	13	1.30
8^th October 2008	Glenfield A 8 County B 4	6	6	1.00
12^th October 2008	Porter – Leicestershire 7 Nottinghamshire 13	8	-20	-2.50
Total for 2008		24	-1	-0.04
5^th April 2009	Porter – Lincolnshire 3 - Leicestershire 17	9	-4	-0.44
8^th April 2009	Grantham A 1 Glenfield A 11	5	-4.	-0.80
Total for 2009		14	-8	-0.57
Total		45	-31	-0.69

Robert Northage	MPs	Top	Played	MPs	%
14^th March 2009	Leicestershire Green Point Swiss Pairs	46	15	387.1	56.10
Total for 2009			15	387.1	56.10
Total			15	387.1	56.10

Tim Glover	IMPs	Played	Imps	Imps/Bd
25^th January 2006	Joseph’s Bowl QF v LeVesconte, Coltman, Lord & Thompson	4	4	1.00
1^st February 2006	Glenfield A 5 Barkby A 7	6	-9	-1.50
15^th February 2006	Grantham A 12 Glenfield A 0	5	0	0.00
19^th February 2006	Markham – Leicestershire 2 Oxfordshire 18	8	-3	-0.38
1^st March 2006	Glenfield A 6 Phoenix B 6	4	-2	-0.50
8^th March 2006	Stanley Trophy 2005/6 - Heat 5	11	3	0.27
12^th March 2006	Leicestershire Green Point Swiss Teams	15	24	1.60
15^th March 2006	Barkby B 0 Glenfield A 12	10	28	2.80
16^th March 2006	Joseph’s Bowl SF v Gibson, Osborne, Heames & Brewster	5	-9	-1.80
29^th March 2006	Glenfield A 6 Grantham A 6	6	-12	-2.00
2^nd April 2006	Markham – Derbyshire 0 Leicestershire 20	6	11	1.83
5^th April 2006	Glenfield A 2 Castle Donington 10	5	9	1.80
12^th April 2006	Stanley Trophy 2005/6 - Heat 6	4	2	0.50
10^th May 2006	Stanley Trophy 2005/6 - Heat 7	7	-3	-0.43
21^st May 2006	Porter – Leicestershire 20 Staffs & Shrops 0	7	4	0.57
2^nd July 2006	Porter – Lincolnshire 0 Leicestershire 20	10	-2	-0.20
9^th July 2006	Derbyshire Green Point Swiss Teams	11	-12	-1.09
20^th September 2006	Stanley Trophy 2006/7 - Heat 1	7	-7	-1.75
10^th October 2006	Josephe Bowl – Barkby Heat	5	5	1.00
11^th October 2006	Glenfield A 6 Clarendon 6	4	4	1.00
15^th October 2006	Markham – Leicestershire 20 – Gloucestershire 0	7	-4	-0.57
18^th October 2006	Phoenix 7 Glenfield Bridge Centre A 5	4	7	1.75
13^th November 2006	Gold Cup Round 1	7	-31	-4.43
22^nd November 2006	Melton 4 Glenfield A 8	9	-30	-3.33
29^th November 2006	Stanley Trophy 2006/7 - Heat 3	6	-13	-2.17
6^th December 2006	Glenfield A 12 Spencefield 0	3	10	3,33
10^th December 2006	Porter – Leicestershire 16 Nottinghamshire 4	8	-3	-0.38
13^th December 2006	Josephe Bowl – Round 2 - Won by 12 Imps	11	6	0.55
Total for 2006		208	-20	-0.10
3^rd January 2007	Glenfield A 4 County A 8	6	-24	-4.00
14^th January 2007	Porter – Oxfordshire 4 Leicestershire 16	6	-4	-0.67
17^th January 2007	Clarendon 7 Glenfield A 5	4	18	4.50
24^th January 2007	Josephe Bowl – Round 4 - Won by 66 Imps	7	-2	-0.29
31^st January 2007	Glenfield A 6 Phoenix A 6	6	-13	-2.17
13^th February 2007	Silver Plate Round II – Won by 26 Imps	5	23	4.63
14^th February 2007	Hinckley A 7 Glenfield A 5	4	-11	-2.75
18^th February 2007	Dawes – Leicestershire 14 Derbyshire 6	11	-22	-2.00
26^th February 2007	Josephe Bowl – Semi-Final - Won by 20 Imps	5	-5	-1.00
28^th February 2007	Glenfield A 4 Melton 8	4	-7	-1.75
14^th March 2007	Spencefield 1 Glenfield A 11	5	16	3.20
21^st March 2007	Gimson Semi-Final (North)	5	8	1.60
26^th March 2007	Josephs Bowl Final - Lost by 11 Imps	11	-4	-0.36
28^th March 2007	Loughborough A 10 Glenfield A 2	7	-3	-0.43
1^st April 2007	Porter – Warwickshire 6 Leicestershire 14	8	-11	-1.38
4^th April 2007	Glenfield A 9 Loughborough A 3	5	6	1.20
18^th April 2007	Stanley Trophy 2006/7 - Heat 6	4	8	2.0
6^th May 2007	Silver Plate - Round III	10	-4	-0.40
16^th May 2007	Stanley Trophy 2006/7 - Heat 7	5	5	1.00
19^th May 2007	Garden Cities Trophy	8	8	1.00
20^th May 2007	Porter – Leicestershire 7 Lincolnshire 13	11	-25	-2.27
8^th July 2007	Silver Plate - Round IV	8	-16	-2.00
12^th September 2007	Stanley Trophy 2007/8 - Heat 1	5	-15	-3.00
16^th September 2007	Porter – Gloucestershire 20 Leicestershire 0	6	-10	-1.67
26^th September 2007	Loughborough A 7 Glenfield A 5	11	-7	-0.64
10^th October 2007	Glenfield A 7 Blaby A 5	4	-6