AUCTION BRIDGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 122, 25 May 1928, Page 6

AUCTION BRIDGE.

POINT OF PLAY.

(By A. E. MANNING FOSTER.)

It is often difficult with certain combinations of cards to know the right way in which to play them to produce the best results. If, for example, you hold Queen aud two small cards of a suit of which your dummy has five to the Ace, 10, 9, which card should you lead from your owu hand and how should you play?

The general rule is that it is no use leading the Queen from your hand unless you or dummy hold also the Jack. But with the combination I have mentioned I consider that the lead of the Queen

D—Q U 5 Z is playing no trumps and needs three tricks in Diamonds. It is understood that Dummy has no card of entry but the Diamonds, and that Z has in his hand master cards of whatever A and B play. Z can make them however the adversaries' cards lie provided he does not take the first trick in the suit. His best play is lead the Queen. If A covers with the King Z should allow A to hold the trick and not overtake with the Ace. The reason is that if Z takes with the Ace, A or B can hold up the suit effectively by refusing to play the Jack on the second round. But if A is allowed to make the first trick in Diamonds Z must make three and possibly four tricks in the suit however A and B play. I saw this situation horribly bungled by a player who ought to have known better. He led the 5 of Diamonds, A put up the 7, and Y the 8, which won the trick. Z got back into his nand with another suit, and then led the Queen of Diamonds. A covered with the King, and Z put up Dummy's Ace. But A" still held Jack, so that Z made only two tricks in Diamonds. Now, of course, it was unlucky for Z that A held both honours in Diamonds. But he had no necessity at all to run any risk in the suit. There are numerous ways in which the Diamonds might be divided between A and B. But, if you work it out, you will see that, provided Z allows either A or B to take the first Diamonds trick, he must always make three tricks in the suit with a great possibility of making four, and he can do this best by leading the Queen. If B takes the first trick with the King, Z on the second round of the suit leads his 0 and finesses unless A has and plays the Jack. If A has the Jack it is caught on the third round, and Z makes four tricks in the suit. Or if B holds both King and Jack, Z must allow him to make both to insure three tricks in the suit. It may, of course, happen that B holds King and Jack only. Z must allow B to win two tricks in the suit to make sure of taking three tricks eventually. The strong probability of the method ol play I have indicated is that Z will make four tricks in the suit instead of three. But the point to emphasise is that, no matter how unfavourably the other cards are divided, Z must always make at least three tricks provided he does not take the first trick. I admit that the lead of the Queen is not essential to this result, but I consider it is best to lead it and get it out of the way. If you are in any doubt test it by placing the live remaining Diamonds in any way you like in A's and B's hands.