Develop your bridge---Defence

In a trump contract, active leads may be classified as:-

A singleton
A doubleton
A long suit, hoping for a shortage in partners' hand
A trump if we think that dummy has ruffing potential
A long, strong suit which forces declarer to ruff in her own hand
Partner's suit

You may find it helpful to remember these through the initial letters of the sentence

Sensible Defenders Like To Lead Positively

I am greatly indebted to my friend John Elven for devising this mnemonic.

Examples: In every example that follows, spades are trumps. The six examples illustrate, in order, the six active leads above.

S 543

The singleton heart will give you a ruff, if partner is able to gain the lead early in the game. Partner will need a few points.

H 2

D A5432

C Q862

S A 3 2

H 8 2

D 9 7 5 4

C K 8 6 2

Your doubleton heart will give you a ruff if you can get partner on lead early enough. Your Ace of spades will help here. Partner will need a few points.

S 864

H 32

D A98643

C Q7

Lead the Ace of your long suit. Someone is short and you hope it is your partner, who will get a ruff now or later.

S 432

H Q752

D Q86

C K32

Lead a trump, if dummy has shortages. At worst it may prove to be a good passive lead.

S 54

H AKQ83

D 762

C K98

Lead your hearts from the top, in the hope that declarer has to ruff in her own hand. This is the forcing defence.

S 654

H Q73

D J2

C A8654

Assuming your partner has bid diamonds, lead the Jack. The peter will show a doubleton.

Try your hand at this quiz which incorporates questions on trump and no-trump contracts, and also looks at active and passive leads.