MSO World: Bridge Articles

Tony Sowter tries to do this in a book aimed at the average player. The reader is taken through the deciding factors of whether to make an attacking or passive lead: Have they struggled to their contract? Do the cards seem to lie well for them? What do I need partner to have to beat this contract?

Tony Sowter helps the average player answer these questions, but, more importantly, he gets them into the habit of asking the right questions in the first place.

The book contains lots of general advice as well as illustrative problems.

What would lead as West?

	2
	Q 5
	K 9 5 4
	A Q J 9 7 5

West	North	East	South
		1	1
2	2	Dble	All Pass

The recommended lead is a trump. Since it would prove nothing the full hand is not given, but on reflection a trump lead has everything to gain and little to lose. Sowter gives us an invaluable guide to trump leads.

Trump leads are likely to be effective when:

(i)	The bidding suggests that dummy has both trump support and a shapely hand. In particular it is well worth considering leading a trump on low-level "fit" auctions, especially if opener is likely to have five trumps and responder only three.
(ii)	When the defence has the majority of the high cards. Now declarer will need to do a lot of ruffing to make tricks.
(iii)	When the side suits look to be badly placed for declarer.
(iv)	When partner has passed a low-level takeout double for penalties.
(v)	When dummy is marked as being short in an unbid suit with only limited trump support.
(vi)	When every other lead looks too dangerous but only after considering all the alternatives.

If you didn't lead a trump, take a close look at (i), (ii), (iii) and possibly (v), since they all indicate a trump lead in this case. Just as importantly, Sowter also tells us when to avoid leading trumps. This is particularly relevant to point (vi) above, which he clearly regards as a poor excuse for leading a trump.

In short, you should lead trumps for a reason.