[phoenixmj]

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Given the auction, I would think that it would be good to lead a major. Question is, which major? Also, I think that if the decision is to lead spades, the proper card to lead would be the Queen. If Hearts were led, the proper card I think would be the 3.

What would you lead and also, please comment on whether my statement is correct on which card given spades or hearts as a lead.

Also, any reasoning behind the lead will be appreciated.

[DavidKok]

Which card to lead depends on partnership agreements, but for me the choice would also be between the queen of spades and the three of hearts.

That being said, this is a tough decision. On the bidding West likely has 3 or fewer spades, and East will not have five of them. The suit is likely to break 4-4-3-2 or 4-3-3-3, which means if partner gets the lead once or twice you could pick up four tricks there even opposite just xx(x). Leading them might well hand declarer a spade trick they don't deserve. But leading a heart is similarly risky - partner needs quite some values before we can promote a heart, especially since you want partner to focus on spades. Leading a heart only seems winning if partner has something like KJxx or KTxxx.

At the table I would lead the queen of spades, and pray for either West or South to have the king of spades so I did not blow a trick. The singleton diamond is concerning, and I want an aggressive lead.

[FelicityR]

DavidKok, on 2020-July-11, 00:58, said:

Which card to lead depends on partnership agreements, but for me the choice would also be between the queen of spades and the three of hearts.

That being said, this is a tough decision. On the bidding West likely has 3 or fewer spades, and East will not have five of them. The suit is likely to break 4-4-3-2 or 4-3-3-3, which means if partner gets the lead once or twice you could pick up four tricks there even opposite just xx(x). Leading them might well hand declarer a spade trick they don't deserve. But leading a heart is similarly risky - partner needs quite some values before we can promote a heart, especially since you want partner to focus on spades. Leading a heart only seems winning if partner has something like KJxx or KTxxx.

At the table I would lead the queen of spades, and pray for either West or South to have the king of spades so I did not blow a trick. The singleton diamond is concerning, and I want an aggressive lead.

The only addition I can make to this thorough reply from David is that when leading the ♠Q from an internal sequence like this, declarer will possibly not have any indication who has the ace. Declarer with ♠Kxx may well duck the first trick hoping to sever communications. On this lead, however, any self-respecting South who's holding the ace should cover and return the suit but not all players would do that, especially with a doubleton Ax covering an honour with an honour. If West decides to duck for any reason, this may well provide you with a tempo and information what to do next.

[aawk]

Queen of ♠ what else, maybe a new partner if he does not get that leading a Q shows QJ9x AQTxx or better.

And yes you could hold Qx but than your partner has way more hcp than you and should know you try to find his best suit.

[nige1]

phoenixmj "Given the auction, I would think that it would be good to lead a major. Question is, which major? Also, I think that if the decision is to lead spades, the proper card to lead would be the Queen. If Hearts were led, the proper card I think would be the 3. What would you lead and also, please comment on whether my statement is correct on which card given spades or hearts as a lead.Also, any reasoning behind the lead will be appreciated."
++++++++++++++++++
I rank
1. ♠Q Probably gives declarer a trick but might set up 3 tricks for the defence.
2. ♥3 Just as dangerous but (IMO) less hopeful.
3. ♣2 More passive but might be declarer's suit. Likely GIB choice.
4. ♦2 But you probably can't get a ruff

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[bluenikki]

phoenixmj, on 2020-July-10, 22:36, said:

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Given the auction, I would think that it would be good to lead a major. Question is, which major? Also, I think that if the decision is to lead spades, the proper card to lead would be the Queen. If Hearts were led, the proper card I think would be the 3.

What would you lead and also, please comment on whether my statement is correct on which card given spades or hearts as a lead.

Also, any reasoning behind the lead will be appreciated.

You have distorted the question (maybe intentionally) by giving north the ♠ 9. Leading an honor from AQJ2 will block the suit too often for my taste.

Carl

[akwoo]

It depends if partner is one of those wooden "return partner's suit" types or if partner can look at dummy and their hand, count out declarer, and figure out what you must have (or what you must have in order for the contract to go down).

[Huibertus]

Tough question. In reality I would lead ♠ Q, but ♥ might be better. If leading ♥, one should consider the 7. If Spade King does is not in Dummy and partner does have ♥ Ace, a ♠ switch would be very welcome and often lead to one off at trick 5, declarer having ♠ KX.

[Huibertus]

akwoo, on 2020-July-12, 10:51, said:

It depends if partner is one of those wooden "return partner's suit" types or if partner can look at dummy and their hand, count out declarer, and figure out what you must have (or what you must have in order for the contract to go down).

True, but in part it also depends on how inflexible one leads 4th best of a 4 card. I would certainly consider leading the 2nd in this case, encouraging even the most wooden partner to switch spades if dummy looks like it might be a good idea.

[bluenikki]

are you trying to beat the contract (always best) or afraid of overtricks?

[PhilG007]

phoenixmj, on 2020-July-10, 22:36, said:

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Given the auction, I would think that it would be good to lead a major. Question is, which major? Also, I think that if the decision is to lead spades, the proper card to lead would be the Queen. If Hearts were led, the proper card I think would be the 3.

What would you lead and also, please comment on whether my statement is correct on which card given spades or hearts as a lead.

Also, any reasoning behind the lead will be appreciated.

I don't like leading away from honours and tenaces. The opponents bidding has been robust. My choice of lead is the 10♣.
It is safe,non-committal and doesn't give anything away as a lead from either major would..

[pigpenz]

depends on the game your are playing
leads with best chance of beating is small heart or a small club and even then it is only about 26%
Q♠ 3.67 tricks
A♠ 3.59 tricks
small ♣ 3.55 tricks

generated 1000 hands using Bob Richardsons Lead captain

[bluenikki]

pigpenz, on 2020-July-13, 11:56, said:

depends on the game your are playing
leads with best chance of beating is small heart or a small club and even then it is only about 26%
Q♠ 3.67 tricks
A♠ 3.59 tricks
small ♣ 3.55 tricks

generated 1000 hands using Bob Richardsons Lead captain

♠ A? How embarrassing if your partner's K unblock creates a 10xxx stopper!

[bluenikki]

PhilG007, on 2020-July-12, 16:43, said:

I don't like leading away from honours and tenaces. The opponents bidding has been robust. My choice of lead is the 10♣.
It is safe,non-committal and doesn't give anything away as a lead from either major would..

Why robust? looks like11 facing 13.

[pigpenz]

bluenikki, on 2020-July-13, 18:43, said:

Why robust? looks like11 facing 13.

if not robust will changes the odds
so after above post changed the hands to 11 facing 13
the best lead is a ♦
Previous constraints were base on normal bidding
one hand being 10-12 and opener being 13-16 since it accepted invite, opener should be more in points or longer in
diamonds if bidding game

[PhilG007]

bluenikki, on 2020-July-13, 18:43, said:

Why robust? looks like11 facing 13.

It can't be 13 The 2NT response was invitational asking opener to bid game if better than minimum.
Had East only the bare 12/13 he would be required to pass. as game is not feasible.

[johnu]

bluenikki, on 2020-July-12, 08:09, said:

You have distorted the question (maybe intentionally) by giving north the ♠ 9. Leading an honor from AQJ2 will block the suit too often for my taste.

Carl

Presumably North has ♠9 because that's what happened in real life. Yes, having AQJ2 is an entirely different lead problem than AQJ9. Are you really surprised?