The following is a very brief description of ‘standard’ agreements about which card to play from three or more equal cards. For example, if you have the QJ10, those are equal cards.
- When you are leading the suit for the first time, lead the highest of three or more equal cards: (10 from 1098, Queen from QJ10).
- When you are following suit for the first time, play the lowest of three or more touching cards (7 from 789, Jack from KQJ).
- When you are discarding for the first time, play the highest of three or more touching cards (the Queen from QJ10, 10 from 1098).
When leading high in a suit headed by two touching honors, it is ‘standard’ to lead the highest (for example King from KQ).
For more information, see Real World Bridge 9: Defense.
Holding a suit such as QJ42 or KQ832, there are two important questions for a defender, and experts use judgment in answering both questions. The first question is whether to lead such a suit at all; the second is whether to lead a high card or a low card. For more information, see Real World Bridge 8: Opening Leads.