“Consistency is fine. Just don’t make a habit of it.” graffiti.

Nobody can find the killing opening lead every time; just hope that your leads are consistently above average. A little imagination can help.

In my club’s penny game, Unlucky Louie was East; if you believe him, he consistently holds such hands. South opened 1NT, West bid two spades and North tried three diamonds. After Louie passed stoically, South converted to 3NT.

West led the jack of spades; dummy’s king won. South then lost a diamond to West’s ace and was sure of at least 10 tricks.

Louie will show a profit on the deal despite his miserable hand if West finds a better lead. The textbook lead is the jack of spades to keep communication with partner, but here West knows that East has nothing.

West should lead the ace of spades in case someone has a singleton honor. He can continue with the jack to set up his suit and get in with the ace of diamonds to run the spades for down two.

Daily question >> You hold: ? A J 10 9 8 2 ? K 9 ? A 6 ? J 9 5. You open one spade, your partner responds 1NT, you rebid two spades and he bids three diamonds. The opponents pass. What do you say?

Answer >> Your partner has a long string of diamonds but fewer than 10 high-card points. His hand might be 3, A 7 6, Q J 9 7 5 4 2, 7 6 or even weaker. Respect the misfit and pass. Your game chances are nil, and unless partner’s long suit is trumps, his hand may not provide any tricks.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

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