[Shugart23]

In an uncontested auction in a suit, say 1h-4h. Or 1D-5D and you hold K852. Q973 J764 and the 5 of Trump, which card do you lead?

[blackshoe]

The 5 of trump.

[Shugart23]

And if you have a trump void, with an ‘x’ , somewhere (5440 distribution), your lead then? Same bad cards as above with an ‘x’

[akwoo]

I'm not 100% sure it would change my action, but:

1) IMPs or MPs?
2) Is the 4H bid preemptive, game values, or wide ranging?

[Shugart23]

Match point. No. Not a preempt. 1s-4s. As example

[akwoo]

Shugart23, on 2025-April-10, 16:31, said:

Match point. No. Not a preempt. 1s-4s. As example

The reason I ask is that most non-beginners in most systems play 1S-4S as a preempt, showing 5S and a weak hand.

Against a beginner agreement where 4S is bid on power with intent to make, I lead the other major. Against a preempt, I lead the trump.

[Shugart23]

What I was really trying to drive at is ‘ is one going to lead away from the king queen or jack in an uncontested auction. So 1s-2s-4s Are you going to lead a heart ? (I agree 1s-4s is weak and no interest in slam but that wasn’t my intent /purpose in asking my question)

[P_Marlowe]

Shugart23, on 2025-April-11, 05:58, said:

What I was really trying to drive at is ‘ is one going to lead away from the king queen or jack in an uncontested auction. So 1s-2s-4s Are you going to lead a heart ? (I agree 1s-4s is weak and no interest in slam but that wasn’t my intent /purpose in asking my question)

Given it is MP, you want to go as passive as possible.
Leading the suit headed by the Jack rates to be the most passive.

And for the record, I am not going to lead a possible single trump.

[shugart24]

P_Marlowe, on 2025-April-11, 10:36, said:

Given it is MP, you want to go as passive as possible.
Leading the suit headed by the Jack rates to be the most passive.

And for the record, I am not going to lead a possible single trump.

That's interesting. I have thought defending against a suit contract, one doesn't have the luxury of time and hence a passive lead may give up tempo. On the other hand, when I lead away from a King, it seams I am always leading around to declarer's A Q

[shugart24]

P_Marlowe, on 2025-April-11, 10:36, said:

Given it is MP, you want to go as passive as possible.
Leading the suit headed by the Jack rates to be the most passive.

And for the record, I am not going to lead a possible single trump.

That's interesting. I have thought defending against a suit contract, one doesn't have the luxury of time and hence a passive lead may give up tempo. On the other hand, when I lead away from a King, it seams I am always leading around to declarer's A Q

[P_Marlowe]

shugart24, on 2025-April-12, 07:47, said:

That's interesting. I have thought defending against a suit contract, one doesn't have the luxury of time and hence a passive lead may give up tempo. On the other hand, when I lead away from a King, it seams I am always leading around to declarer's A Q

Your aim playing MP is making more tricks, than the other players holding your cards, this is not the same as aiming
to defeat the contract, i.e. you dont want to throw away tricks.
I am not good at MP, the required concentration level duration kills me, but the above is a key strategy.

With regards to the auction 1H - 4H, 4H not being preemptive.

If you play against a pair that plays standard, i.e. 1H not being limited, my guess is, that this pair would be
a beginner pair, i.e. give them enough rope and they will hang themself.
If you play against a pair that employs limited opening, it gets harder, my guess would still be, that the contract
more often then not will be tight.
They will hold on frq. more often a 10-12 count, and the raise more often then not, will be approx. 13, in other words
it will be a 25 count game, ..., reasonable but not a sure thing. The probability is also higher that they have only a
8 card trump fit, in other words trumps dont break. To summarize, let declarer sweat and avoid doing his work,
even playing IMPs.