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When the opponents have bid 1N, 3N - and you are the leader holding AKTxx in clubs - what is the proper lead assuming you want to lead clubs?
We are a bit confused because we typically lead the K to ask for count, and the A to ask for attitude. But in this case, we do not have a 2.5 sequence, so I think it should have been 4th best.
Also - if the club holding had been KQTxx, and he led the Q - does that call for the unblock?
In this particular hand, I had the QJ6 of clubs and partner led the K. I played the 6 which resulted in a blocking of the suit. We should have gotten 5 club tricks but instead wound up with 3 as there was no outside entry.
Thanks in advance for help.
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leading from AKTxx in no trump leads
#2
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Posted 2024-January-10, 23:59
Test
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#3
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Posted 2024-January-11, 00:23
Off the top of my head, I wouldn't want to lead a club, I'd be looking for a major.
#4
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Posted 2024-January-11, 02:26
phoenixmj, on 2024-January-10, 21:29, said:
<snip>
We are a bit confused because we typically lead the K to ask for count, and the A to ask for attitude. But in this case, we do not have a 2.5 sequence, so I think it should have been 4th best.
<snip>
We are a bit confused because we typically lead the K to ask for count, and the A to ask for attitude. But in this case, we do not have a 2.5 sequence, so I think it should have been 4th best.
<snip>
I would go with 4th best, if clubs are breaking even, i.e. 5332 you will loose one trick, do keep communication,
you prefer to loose the 1st trick, in case partner has a doubleton.
With kind regards
Uwe Gebhardt (P_Marlowe)
Uwe Gebhardt (P_Marlowe)
#5
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Posted 2024-January-11, 04:35
If you don't have an outside entry I often prefer leading a small club from sequences like this, though it can lose if declarer or dummy has Qx and partner has Jxx (and unblocks) or if there's a QJ-tight somewhere. My old partner insisted that I'd lead the ace or king from this holding as he'd never play me for a suit this good if I lead a small one, which I think is technically inferior but after giving away a few games like this we settled on using his style. Leading the small one wins when partner has Hx or two small, or when declarer has Hxx or QJx and partner has three cards.
With QJx partner should be less concerned about signals and more concerned about the suit itself. Presumably you haven't lead the ace or the king from an empty suit, and with that holding partner can figure out that you have AK-length and that it's time to unblock regardless of which honour you chose to lead.
With QJx partner should be less concerned about signals and more concerned about the suit itself. Presumably you haven't lead the ace or the king from an empty suit, and with that holding partner can figure out that you have AK-length and that it's time to unblock regardless of which honour you chose to lead.
#7
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Posted 2024-January-11, 16:05
It depends what I also have in majors.
It might make sense to lead one of those, or to lead clubs K (or A if that fits your agreements better) and then one of those, or 4th best.
It might make sense to lead one of those, or to lead clubs K (or A if that fits your agreements better) and then one of those, or 4th best.
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