The Opponents Have Used Stayman
Stayman is a convention that is used specifically by the responder to an opening bid of 1NT. To use the Stayman convention, the responder must have at least 8 HCP and four cards in one or both of the major suits. When the opponents use Stayman, you can make inferences about their hands. Any bit of information you glean from the auction is helpful when you are considering an opening lead. Here is the auction:
Consider your options. East has between 15 and 17 HCP. When West bid 2 ♣, he was asking his partner to bid a major suit if he had one. The 2 ♣ bid is totally artificial when they are playing Stayman.
When the opponents use a convention — in this case, Stayman — you overhear their auction. Since they are using the 2 ♣ bid as an artificial bid that says nothing about the club suit, you or your partner can use the double bid to show a natural club suit for your side. When your partner doubles an artificial 2 ♣ bid, then you should lead clubs.
Why is West using Stayman? Because West has at least one major suit with four cards and at least 8 HCP. Their goal is to find a fit in one of the major suits. West is asking the question, “Do you have a four card major?”
When East bid 2 ♠, he was saying, “I have four cards in the spades suit, and 15-17 HCP.” West concludes the bidding for the opponents with a 3NT bid.
If West also had four cards in the spade suit, he would have been interested in playing in a final spade contract. What do you know? West has four cards in the heart suit and enough HCP to play in game opposite the no-trump opening bid. With that information, consider your opening lead with each of the following hands.
♠ K872
The declarer has four cards in the spade suit, and the responder (the dummy) will have four cards in the heart suit. That information eliminates either of those suits from being led. The doubleton in diamonds makes that a bad lead against no-trump, so your best choice is a club. The fourth-best card in the club suit is the ♣ 4. By the process of elimination, you have found the best lead from your perspective.
♠ KQ109
There is no sure-fire lead on this hand. Your spades are good enough to lead in spite of the auction. If you choose a spade, lead the ♠ K. Some players might lead the fourth-best heart, thereby forcing a high card to be played from dummy. A club would be a terrible lead, and the diamond might find your partner with an honor or two. Nothing is clear-cut on this hand; sometimes you have to make a guess.
♠ KQJ93
Your spade suit is good enough to lead. Lead the ♠ K. Sometimes your suit is good enough to lead even though you know the opponents have your suit. Your suit is better than their suit any day.
