I always struggled with leads against NT contracts. Brian showed me why a fourth-best lead from my longest suit isn't always right — and when to go aggressive. Game-changer for my defensive game.
Patricia M.
Bridge club regular
AI-Powered Defense Coach
Opening Lead
Advisor
Enter the auction and your hand — Brian will recommend the best opening lead with full reasoning. Or drill with 18 practice scenarios.
300+ leads analyzed
· 18 practice drills included · AI-powered by Brian
Step 1
Enter the Auction
Click bids in order. Use Pass/Dbl/Rdbl as needed. The auction must end with three consecutive passes.
Auction
Click bids above to build the auction…
Step 2
Select Your 13 Cards
Click cards to add/remove them from your hand. 0/13 selected.
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Requires a completed auction and exactly 13 cards
B
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Players Love the Lead Advisor
Hear from bridge players who improved their defense with Brian's opening lead advice.
The practice drills are brilliant. I went through all 18 and realized I was making the wrong lead about a third of the time. Now I actually think through the auction before tabling a card.
Robert S.
ACBL club player
Asked Brian about leading from Kx against a slam and got the clearest explanation of active vs passive defense I've ever seen. Better than the chapter in my Kelsey book.
David L.
Tournament player
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard opening lead against notrump?
Lead fourth-best from your longest and strongest suit. With a sequence (K-Q-J or Q-J-10), lead the top of the sequence instead. Against 3NT, attacking early usually beats passive defense.
What should you lead against a suit contract?
Top of a sequence, a singleton (hoping for a ruff), partner's bid suit, or a trump. Avoid leading away from unsupported aces and queens, which often give up a trick for free.
What is fourth-best?
Your fourth-highest card in the suit. With K-Q-8-5-3, lead the 5. It lets partner apply the Rule of Eleven to figure out what declarer holds in the suit.
When should you lead a trump?
Lead a trump when the bidding suggests declarer will ruff losers in dummy for example, when dummy showed a short suit or when declarer opened a minor and raised partner's major. Trump leads cut down ruffs.
How do I know what Brian's lead recommendation is based on?
Brian evaluates your specific hand, the auction, and contract type. It applies standard SAYC lead principles and explains why a particular card is preferred over the alternatives.