Find the lead
The opening lead gives you the initiative, which is an advantage, but it also exposes you to the risk of a false start. Indeed, it is at this moment that the fate of many contracts is decided. Godefroy de Tessières provides you with the keys to succeed in the first step. You will realize that the wise choice of the opening lead is not a matter of chance or intuition but relies on a thorough analysis of the bidding sequence and the knowledge of the technical cards to select.
68 - DECEMBER 2025
WHAT DO YOU LEAD AS WEST? – December 2025
1. ♠ J852 ♥ Q52 ♦ J852 ♣ Q6 WNES2NTPass3NT Discover the right lead ♠2: North did not bid Stayman, so he does not have a four-card major. With two equal four- card suits, it is better to lead the major. Against No-Trump, lead the fourth best,…
66 - OCTOBER 2025
WHAT DO YOU LEAD AS WEST? – October 2025
1. ♠ 543♥ 54♦ KJ765 ♣ 983 W N E S 4♥ Discover the right lead ♦5: Against a pre-emptive bid, it is best to go for an agressive lead. You should therefore lead from your strong honor, here the 5 of Diamonds, playing standard leads.…
64 - AUGUST 2025
WHAT DO YOU LEAD AS WEST? – August 2025
1. ♠ 932♥ J9765 ♦ KQ43 ♣ 2 E/W Vul. W N E S 1♠ Pass 2NT Pass 4♠ Discover the right lead ♣2: Lead your singleton Club. In fact, after such an auction that gives away nothing about your opponents’ hands, the best chance of…
62 - JUNE 2025
WHAT DO YOU LEAD AS WEST? – June 2025
1. ♠ AJ43 ♥ Q32♦ 985♣ J42 W N E S 1NT Discover the right lead ♦9: Against 1 No-Trump, you must not lead aggressively, a Spade lead is therefore excluded. Leading from honor-third is dangerous. You should prefer a neutral lead and put the 9…
60 - APRIL 2025
WHAT DO YOU LEAD AS WEST? – April 2025
1. ♠ J102 ♥ 543 ♦ Q752 ♣ J98 W N E S 1♦ 1NT Pass 2♣ Pass 2♥ Pass 3NT Discover the right lead ♦5: Lead the 5 of Diamonds, standard count in partner’s suit. My advice: when partner’s opening was 1♦, 1♥ or 1♠, lead count.…
58 - FEBRUARY 2025
WHAT DO YOU LEAD AS WEST? – February 2025
1. ♠ J632♥ J542♦ 53♣ J86 W N E S 1♠ Dble 1NT Discover the right lead ♥4: Your partner’s take-out Double indicates presumed Spade shortness as well as most probably four Hearts. My advice: when your partner doubles for only one of the majors,…
56 - DECEMBER 2024
WHAT DO YOU LEAD AS WEST? – December 2024
1. ♠ 32♥ J87♦ AKQ3♣ 10753 W N E S 1NT Pass 3NT Discover the right lead ♦Q: A classic. Lead the Queen so that your partner will signal interest if he has the Jack, giving you the information you need. COUNT YOUR POINTS…
54 - OCTOBER 2024
WHAT DO YOU LEAD AS WEST? – October 2024
1. ♠ 103♥ K10832 ♦ Q43♣ J97 W N E S 1♦ 1♠ 1NT Discover the right lead ♠10: Your partner overcalled in Spades, so you should lead his suit. The 10 of Spades, standard count. COUNT YOUR POINTS ♠10♥3♣9 1073 2. ♠ K32♥ 543♦ A1096♣ K65 W N…
52 - AUGUST 2024
WHAT DO YOU LEAD AS WEST? – August 2024
1. ♠ J942 ♥ Q543 ♦ K854 ♣ 9 W N E S 1NT Pass 3NT Discover the right lead ♠2: Lead the Spade 2 (fourth best). With more than one four-card suit, leading from the suit with the weaker honor is statistically the best. The…
50 - JUNE 2024
WHAT DO YOU LEAD AS WEST? – June 2024
1. ♠ A♥ AQ1095♦ KQ2♣ 7532 W N E S 1NT Pass 3NT Discover the right lead ♥A: You have 15 points. Thus, your partner has none and will never be able to get on lead. Therefore, lead the Ace of Hearts hoping to…
48 - APRIL 2024
WHAT DO YOU LEAD AS WEST? – April 2024
1. ♠ AJ864 ♥ QJ10 ♦ 953 ♣ Q6 W N E S 2NT Pass 3NT Discover the right lead ♠6: Even though you have a good quality neutral lead at hand with QJ10 in Hearts, you should give preference to leading from your long suit, Spades,…
46 - FEBRUARY 2024
WHAT DO YOU LEAD AS WEST? – February 2024
1. ♠ 932♥ 543♦ J632♣ QJ4 W N E S 1♦ 1NT Pass 2♣ Pass 2♥ Pass 3NT Discover the right lead ♦3: Lead the Diamond 3, third and fifth in partner’s suit. My advice: when partner opened 1♦, 1♥ or…
44 - December 2023
WHAT DO YOU LEAD AS WEST? – December 2023
1. ♠832♥QJ1072♦A875♣2 W N E S 1♠ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ Discover the right lead ♣2: Don’t try to think about this too much by asking yourself any questions and just put your singleton Club on the table. This is…
42 - OCTOBER 2023
WHAT DO YOU LEAD AS WEST? – October 2023
1. ♠ K54♥ A95♦ Q1042♣ 963 E/W Vul. W N E S 1♦ Pass 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 1NT Discover the right lead ♣9: Lead the 9 of Clubs, top of nothing. Indeed, the unbid suit seems the best chance to…
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