[Jinksy]

AT93
862
9843
A6

Favourable, 4th in at teams, LHO deals, and the opps have the following uninterrupted sequence (auction A):

P 1N*
2D 2H
2N 3N
P

14-16

What’s your lead? What about if it were after (auction B):

P 1N*
2D 2H
3N P

15-17

[Trinidad]

One answer for the price of two:

I would lead the ♠3 in both cases.

Rik

[rhm]

One answer for the price of two:

I would lead the ♦9 in both cases.

Rainer Herrmann

[Zelandakh]

To Rik:
Out of interest why the 3 rather than the more traditional lead of the ten (or nine) from an AT9x(x) suit?

To Rainer:
Why a ♦ on Auction 2? Would I be right in thinking that your decision (to go passive) is a lot closer on the direct 3NT auction than the invitational one?

[ahydra]

Zelandakh, on 2014-March-05, 10:07, said:

on Auction 2? Would I be right in thinking that your decision (to go passive) is a lot closer on the direct 3NT auction than the invitational one?

My instinct on 1 was a diamond as well - going passive, maybe partner has like KJ hearts and they will struggle for tricks.

The second auction calls for a more active lead, sure, but the issue is leads other than diamonds look a bit dangerous. CA could easily blow a trick when declarer has like Kxx opposite Qxx. Spades are better, but Bird and Anthias' work on opening leads showed that leading from internal sequences often blows a trick. And as for a heart - sure we're leading through dummy, but it would be horrible to save declarer a guess with K10xxx opposite AJ.

Opening leads are pretty much the worst part of my game so I may be wrong about some/all of this. But put me down for a diamond on both.

ahydra

[Jinksy]

For similar reasons to ahydra, I like the AC after auction 2 (perhaps only if S had dealt and N was unlimitedish?)

At the table, we had auction one, I'd fallen into a stupor and read it as auction 2 (also forgetting the pass). That was the contract shipped.

On auction 1, and, when I wasn't feeling experimental/looking for swings, on auction 2 as well, I'd lead a D.

[the hog]

A Spade lead looks obvious to me - ST. Why on earth lead a ratty D?

[ggwhiz]

 the hog, on 2014-March-05, 17:48, said:

A Spade lead looks obvious to me - ST. Why on earth lead a ratty D?

Playing partner for the values they need to beat it on any other lead is an insult to the opponents bidding and if they need a heart split it's there.

The ♥Q and modest help in spades can beat this and I'm liking the 3 to find pard with the Queen and dummy with double Jack

[gszes]

Trinidad and I see eye to eye on this one--my "reasoning" is ackk
the stinking heart suit breaks 33 and that is a very bad sign no
matter if the opps are barely squeaking to 3n (case1) or barely
squeaking to 3n (case 2 there is no reason to assume either opp
has more than the minimum needed for their bidding). The long
hearts are to my left and the lack of stayman only increases the
probability that lho has the smallest amount of spades this hand.

The lead of the T may indeed work but it will require intermediate
as well as HCP help for it to work while leading low may only require
HCP help. we are hoping for 3 spades 1 heart and the club A. P had a
chance to x 2d if they had a concentration of values there AQJxx so
a dia lead has far less appeal than under many other circumstances.

[akhare]

Low ♠ for me in both cases. The T/9 might be right on some layouts, but it depends on the spot cards and leading low might cater better to Hx in pard's hand.

A ♦ could work, but the lack of a X over 2♦ makes it less attractive and we might solve a two way guess for declarer.

Yet another possibility is leading a high ♥, but it might lose the tempo.

[Trinidad]

 Zelandakh, on 2014-March-05, 10:07, said:

To Rik:
Out of interest why the 3 rather than the more traditional lead of the ten (or nine) from an AT9x(x) suit?

I am hoping partner has a spade honor (otherwise it hardly matters). The ten works better on layouts where dummy has the jack. The 3 works better on layouts where declarer or partner has the jack. I did not count out all the possible distributions for the spade honors, but my gut feeling tells me that with a declarer who is stronger than dummy and who likely has more spades than dummy, layouts with partner or declarer holding the jack are more likely than those with dummy holding the jack.

In my general experience (other words for "I don't have many other arguments" ) leading the top of an internal sequence (T from HT9 or J from HJT) works best when the top honor is not much stronger than the top of the sequence. It's a bit of a funny way of saying it, but I treat AT9x similar too JTxx, except that I have a sure extra trick.

Perhaps a better analyst can prove me wrong.

Rik

[rhm]

 Zelandakh, on 2014-March-05, 10:07, said:

To Rainer:
Why a ♦ on Auction 2? Would I be right in thinking that your decision (to go passive) is a lot closer on the direct 3NT auction than the invitational one?

No the other way round.
On the direct 3NT auction, an active lead has more to gain, so a spade lead is an option.
When it comes to leading against notrump games or notrump partials, I think leading from your best but broken 4 card suit in general is overrated.

Rainer Herrmann

[whereagles]

Pretty sure the A♠ is the Bird/Anthias favorite here

[dake50]

How much do others think seeing hearts (their suit) splitting 3-3
tips this to attack even with opponents little/no extras suggesting passive?
I'm convinced to attack with S3 (I need partner to have something in spades
and won't surrender my likely S:109 to win 3rd/4th rounds.