The Retropoet

Defense

Opening Lead, Partner's Bid Suit


With 2 Cards		Lead Top from Ax or Kx or touching honors
With 2 Cards		Lead Top from Qx if leading through strength
With 2 Cards		Lead Bottom from Qx if leading up to strength
With 2 Cards		Lead Bottom from two small (J or lower)
With 3 Cards		Lead Top from 3 small (8 or lower)
With 3 Cards		Lead Middle from Jyx, Tyx, or 9yx (lead y)
With 3 Cards		Lead Low from Ayx, Kyx, or Qyx (lead x)
With 4 Cards		Lead 3rd best with all holdings except top of two 				touching honors
With 5+ Cards		Lead Top of touching honors; 5th best from A, K, or 
				Q; Middle from J, T or 9; second high from 
				8 high or worse 
 

Keep in mind that it is often better to lead an ace rather than lead away from an ace on opening lead. Do not follow the above rules blindly.

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Opening Leads In Partner's Bid Suit / Retropoet / Geocities / retropoet@oocities.com / revised April 1998