BRIDGE NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20056, 11 October 1930, Page 6

BRIDGE NOTES.

HELP FOR PLAYERS AND BEGINNERS.

(SPECIAIXY WRITTEN TO® THE PRESS.) [By WuuLijm Shackle.]

First I must offer ah apology for the lines left out in last week's issue. It should have read: "Never lead from a trump suit, unless the bid is a preemptive one, and you hold the Ace. Inthis case, lead it, so that you can see 'dummy' aud lead your second card accordingly, with a better knowledge of the disposition of the cards.'' These leads give very definite information to one's partner, as their real meaning is as follows: — (a) Leading K. from AK shows that one can make a trick in tlii3 suit, wherever one's partner wishes to get into your hand. (b) Leading K from KQ: that one cau make a trick in this suit if A falls. If it does not and is held up by opponents, then one has at least seen "dummy," quite a help at times. (c) Leading 2nd x from That one can possibly make a trick on second or third round of this suit.

(.d) Leading higher of a doubleton: Signals at once that one has two cards only of this suit, and therefore one will trump on third round. (e) Leading a singleton: Not so good as (d) as the declarer can often take advantage of this knowledge, and he at once knows how many cards you hold in other three suits, by reason of your bids or lack of same.

(f) Leading x next below A and an honour. This should not be done if one holds more than 4 cards in the suit—but if either 3 or 4 cards are held it often gives one two tricks instead of one.

(g) Leading A from Axx, gives one an opportunity of seeing "dummy," without weakening one's hand, as one cannot make more than one trick in such a suit.

There are, of course, a very few exceptions, but usually one can see these at once and act accordingly. For instance, having AK only, one leads A, then K, showing a doubleton. This is as (d), but as leads are made from (a) downwards, it is an exception in the true sense.

Again having AQJx (x) against No Trumps r Do not lead fourth card from top, but Q. As one never leads Q for any other reason, against No Trumps, one's partner will recognise, and if he has K he will drop it on your Q and return the lead. One invariably makes at least three tricks out of the four, or four out of the five cards by this method.

Por Beginners. Whenever I talk on Bridge I begin by saying that in my estimation it is made up of:— €0 per cent. luck. 25 per cent, bidding intelligently. . 10 per cent, initial lead. 3 per cent, play of the hand. Naturally, I assume that one can memorise every card played and make the necessary deductions from the bidding, corjrectly. If one cannot do this then putll2J per cent, to play of the hand and lead; as yobr partner will not'be able to take anything like full advantage of tbe message the lead actually conveys. Thereiore, concentrate on bidding and lokding, so as to give as much information as possible to your partner, while at the same time remember to interpret correctly your partner's messages and act upon them. Questions will be answered, as far as space will permit, in this column, though if * a stamped" addressed envelope is enclosed a personal reply will be given. Address-. Care of The Press.