If you must start a new suit from Q1064 or even K1064, which card should you lead? I have always maintained that a low card works best, and I have tried to incorporate this idea in a system of Standard Leads. Most Spades players, I have noticed, have seized the idea that these combinations require the lead of the 10. Maybe someone can explain it to me. Which lead is better? A recent duplicate match provided a live test of these ideas.

J1074 Q32 K104 AJ5 K J10964 97632 K7 963 K87 AJ5 Q1064 AQ852 A5 Q8 9832 East South West North 2 5 2 3 South led the A

Note West's aggressive third-seat 2-bid. Such a bid would be outrageous in a regular game, but duplicate Spades encourages such tactics. South started play with the Ace and another heart, and trumped the third round of the suit. The situation now calls for a spade lead, but South led the 8. East won her Ace and was at a critical point.

It did not seem right to play on either spades or diamonds, so clubs had to be opened. Which card to play? East clicked on the fatal 10.

West dithered with his cards for a few seconds, but it would not matter. The damage had already been done. In practice, he went in with the K, losing to North's A. North returned a low spade, and when South guessed correctly to go up with the A, the hand was over. North and South pulled their opponents trump and East/West could only win the Q. This was their third trick, not enough to avoid the set.

The N/S score of 118 points was a top and E/W's -40 points gave them the low result of 0%. Had East led back a low club at Trick 5, she would still have the Q10 sitting over North's J5 for two later tricks. Making their 4-bid would have earned E/W a top score. Now do you believe me?