AUCTION BRIDGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 305, 26 December 1930, Page 6

AUCTION BRIDGE.

LUCK OF THE LEAD

(By A. E. MANNING FOSTER.) j "Whatever shall I lead?" That is the question which confronts us at Hip hesinnin"- of a game when we have had no StdanSTrom our partners and there is no sound conventional lead indicated. We would mud rather not lead at all. But unless we sit under the table and refuse to lead, a decision has to be made, and often it is a pure matter of chance whether we do the right thing or the wrong. As an example of how much may depend upon that first lead, the following from play is inter-

Contract. Score game all. The final declaration was four Hearts by Z, B not having spoken throughout the bidding. * What should A lead? Let me tell you exactly what happened as I was watching. After hesitation, A pulled out the Ace of Diamonds and put it hack. Then he fumbled with the Jack of Clubs and finally led the Queen of Spades. Very unfortunate for Z! B ruffed the first Spade and led the Queen of Diamonds. Z put up Ins King and A won with the Ace. A second Spade was railed by B, who then made his Jack of Diamonds, and Z was one down on his contract. If A had led the Ace of Diamonds, followed by the 4, Z woud have made a little slam, and if A had led the Jack of Clubs, Z would have made a grand slam, as he could get rid of his two Diamonds on Y's CJubs. / Now, if you tell me this was anything but pure luck, I venture to disagree with you. A had no reason for leading a Spade, and, as a matter of fact, his actual lead of the Queen not having a sequence was incorrect. But so long as he led a Spade all was well for his side. He had, however, nothing to show him that a Spade was a good opening lead. There is much to be said for the lead of the Ace of Diamonds to have a look at the table. The Jack of Clubs would have been also a sound opener. Many players on A's hand would have opened his singleton Heart as being likely to do less harm. The opening of a trump is often the very best lead that can bo made against a high contract, .especially when ; both opponents have called the suit.

The only point in favour of a Spado lead was that, Z and Y having made a game bid in Hearts, it was possible that they had little' strength in Spades. This often happens, but was not, as you will see, the case in this particular example, Z being strong in Spades. In this instance it was just a lucky hit. The blind lead is always puzzling, and, as in this* example,, much may depend upon it. The American writer, Mr. Wilbur C. Whitehead, gives the following eleven leads against a suit declaration in the order of merit, the first being the best' lead that can be made and the last the least desirable:— 1. Any suit of four or more cards, headed by Ace, King, or better, King, Queen, Jack. 2. A singleton, provided the leader has not more than three trumps. 3. Three or more cards, headed by King, Queen, 10. 4. Three or -more cards, beaded by Queen, Jack, 10. 5. Three or more cards, headed 'by King, Queen, and no other honour. > 6. Three or more cards, headed by Queen, Jack, or Jack, 10. 7. Three or more cards, headed by Queen, 10, 9. 8. Three or more cards, headed by Queen, or Jack or 10. 9. Suits containing interior sequences, such as King, Jack, 10, or Queen, 10, 9. 10. Suits headed by the Ace alone, no other honour. 11. Suits headed by Ace, Queen, or Ace, Jack. Ho omits altogether the trump lead, which by experience I have found to be often most profitable.