2-Methylcyclohexan-1-one is treated with $\mathrm{LDA}$ (lithium diisopropylamide) in THF at $-78{}^{\circ }\mathrm{C}$ (kinetic control). Which proton is removed fastest?

The bulky base $\mathrm{LDA}$ at low temperature removes the more accessible, less hindered alpha proton irreversibly. The alpha carbons are C-2 (a hindered methine) and C-6 (a methylene), so C-6 is attacked. This gives the less substituted (kinetic) enolate. The methyl hydrogens and the C-3 hydrogens are not alpha to the carbonyl.