[Thurman]

I find that my partners in pick-up games frequently make opening leads that surprise me. I'm used to standard leads like 4th from length, top of sequence, high from doubleton. My partners lead 2nd from length (like 9 from Q9532) so much that I suspect it's a popular method that I just don't know about. Can anybody enlighten me?

[ArtK78]

Not only is it not a popular method, it is illogical. Barring some extraordinary lie of the cards in the suit, the lead of a second highest card from a 5 card holding is more likely to give up a trick than to help establish or win tricks.

Furthermore, it sends the wrong message. Typically a lead of a high card that is not part of a sequence is made to indicate weakness in a suit and a lack of interest in having the suit played later in the hand.

[NickRW]

I think that one has to resign oneself to the fact that pick up partners may say they know something they actually don't.

[Quantumcat]

If you play on BBO, you just can't take any inference from low opening leads or honour leads. (rule of eleven begone) They lead 6th best and T from KT72 and J from KQJT and all sorts of bizarre things. I think it hurts your declarer play skills to play against randoms on BBO. Much better to play with people you know in real life and play real bridge!

[Mbodell]

While not mainstream, it isn't that uncommon to lead 2nd from a worthless holding. Like 6 from 9642 in NT. I don't know of anyone who extends that to 9 from Q9xxx