[ONEferBRID]

Bidding:
p - ( 1S ) - 2D - ( 2H )
p - (3C ) -  p  - (3NT)
all pass

You hold
♠ K 6 5 2
♥ 10 8 6 2
♦ 6 4 2
♣ J 2

[mich-b]

The 2.

It is likely that partner will need to know the count of the suit, so lead small from 3 and high from doubleton.

[Codo]

Not many lead 3/5. against NT.

I would lead the 4 and continue with the 2 later. Seems totally obvious as long as you play 2/4.

[pooltuna]

mich-b, on Sep 15 2009, 09:55 AM, said:

The 2.

It is likely that partner will need to know the count of the suit, so lead small from 3 and high from doubleton.

likewise and for the same reason

[paulg]

I would lead the ♦2 because I have not raised his suit. Partner will read me for three, probably without an honour as I never raised.

If I had raised to 3♦, then I would lead the ♦9 to deny an honour.

Paul

[skjaeran]

I lead the two, which is the standard lead (3rd/5th) in partners suit where I play.

[ONEferBRID]

Most of the answers here agree with Phillip Alder, syndicated bridge columnist, who at every opportunity reminds his readers of "leading low from 3 small in partner's suit when you have NOT supported" -- to give count) . "If you have supported, then you can lead top-of-nothing, or lead low from 3 to an honor" .

Knowing Count was never more apparent on a deal from the other night.
Opps were in 3NT,
The deuce was led.   Dummy held the 10 8 7 .
Partner won the K as Declarer dropped the J, which in it's self would probably mean it was from A J ) .
But there was no question for partner to return a small Diam
and see Declarer's A drop.
Declarer could only come to 8 tricks before relinquishing the lead.
A switch at trick 2 would have given Declarer the tempo needed to
win the race to 9 tricks .

     dummy
     10 8 7
West      East
6 4 2      K Q 9 5 3