Lead the underlined card from these holdings v notrumps:

(i) Q 10 8 4 2    (ii) Q J 10 4 2    (iii) K J 10 4 2

(iv) Q J 9 3 2    (v) Q J 8 3 2       (vi) Q 10 9 3 2

In (ii), (iii), (iv) and (vi) an honour is led, not the fourth highest. Let’s see why:

                       Dummy
       West          ♥ 9 3             East
♥ Q J 10 4 2                        ♥ 8 7 6
                       Declarer
                       ♥ A K 5

West must lead ♥ Q, not ♥ 4, to hold declarer to two tricks and to prevent dummy’s ♥ 9 from winning a cheap trick. Swap ♥ Q and ♥ K and you see why [in (iii)] West has to lead ♥ J from ♥ KJ10. Swap ♥ 9 and ♥ 10 and you see why [in(iv)] West has to lead ♥ Q from ♥ QJ9x(x).

(vi)                 Dummy
      West         ♥ J 8 7            East
♥ Q 10 9 3 2                      ♥ K 6 5
                       Declarer
                        ♥ A 4

West must lead ♥ 10 to nullify dummy’s ♥ J. Lead ♥ 3 and declarer can score a second trick by playing low from dummy (forcing out ♥ K). Look at things another way. West is hoping that neither opponent will hold more than three cards in the suit. West wants his cards to those three rounds to be meaningful to limit declarer’s winners. He can save the small cards for the fourth and fifth rounds, after the opponents’ cards are gone.

Sit East and defend this deal.