RHO | You | LHO | Partner |
1![]() 4 ![]() | Pass | 3![]() | Pass |
1 Promising 5+ spades.
2 Limit raise, showing 10-12 points and 4 spades.
It would probably be best to lead a spade from
87
Q953
Q1042
Q63
Note that the opponents' 9-card fit makes a spade lead totally unlikely to blow a trump trick, because you know spades are splitting 2-2 for declarer. If partner has Qx and a spade is not led, declarer's percentage play will be to cash the AK anyhow. If partner has Kx, he is either getting one trick or he isn't. No other trump holdings in partner's hand are of interest. It would be reasonable to lead a spade from this hand even if the opponents only showed an 8-card trump fit. If partner holds Qxx - bad luck.
When none of the above conditions are present, seriously consider NOT leading a trump, especially with a singleton which often costs partner a trump trick. Even leads from apparently safe trump holdings may prove painful. I once wanted to make a passive lead against a suit contract and decided the ace from the A2 of trumps was sufficient. The result was a game swing, for the trump layout was:
Dummy | ||
K1043 | ||
Me | Partner | |
A2 | J95 | |
Declarer | ||
Q876 |
Had the ace not been led, declarer would have led a trump to the queen and ace, and then finessed into partner's jack later. The lead of the ace solved his problems.
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