[Wackojack]

One partner I play with has strong views on the correct lead from J1082. Assuming the opponents bidding has been uninformative except that the points between them are roughly equal. e.g. 1NT (12-14) - 3NT. You have no obvious lead other than your 4-card spade suit. Your standard leads are 4th highest and top of sequence. Do you lead the 2 or Jack and why? With a known strong hand on your right and weak on your left or vice versa, would you change your selection?

I would be grateful for your views.

[Echognome]

Like every other lead problem, knowing the rest of your hand is important.

That being said, the correct textbook lead in standard is the J as this is a near sequence. Playing Rusinow leads it would be the 10.

[whereagles]

With JT9x or JT8x, the book lead is the jack. With JT7x or worse, it is 4th best.

[SoTired]

IMHO and without going thru all the possibilites:
J108x is different than J107x. With J107x, leading the J could cost a trick unless partner has the protected Q or 9. With J108x, you are also saved when declarer has the 9.

Since whether declarer or dummy is the stronger hand does not affect who might have the 9, I don't think their relative strength matters.

[P_Marlowe]

The Jack.

The same in case the suit is JT7x.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[pigpenz]

i play jack
thats about as close as you can come to j109x with out having the real thing

[kgr]

From JT8x I would play the J. Playing the J can cost a trick if LHO has the 9.
Same as from KQTx.
... but is it really the same and where does it stop?
What do you play from?:
T97x
986x

[SoTired]

I treat 987x as xxxx since no honors

[Wackojack]

OK Let me make the case for leading the 2. It wins over leading the Jack for the following:

1. Most hands with 9 in dummy:

e.g. J1082 Q94 73 AK65 (here it would be wrong for declarer to put in the 9)
or J1082 Q94 K73 A65
or J1082 Q974 K A653 or any stiff honour with partner
or J1082 9743 KQ A65
or J1082 Q975 K4 A63

2. Some hands with 9 with declarer

e.g. J1082 Q75 K4 A63
Here leading the 2, defenders can always make 2 tricks in the suit. If Jack is led, this hand may be endplayed to take only one trick in the suit.

3. 9 in dummy

e.g. J1082 KQ75 9 A643

Lead of 2, then declarer can only make 3 tricks. Lead of Jack, then declarer finesses twice against leader for 4 tricks.


I have been selective, taking only the cases where leading the 2 has an advantage. However, I am beginning to think that there are less cases where leading the Jack has the advantage.

Can anybody show that I am wrong?

PS Another advantage is that if partner leads the Jack and you see the 9 either in your hand or in dummy, then you can infer that it is not from J108x, most likely J108xx.