BRIDGE NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20412, 5 December 1931, Page 6

BRIDGE NOTES.

THE LEAD

(SPECIALLY WRITTEN- TOR THE PRESS.)'

[By WILUAM SUACRLE.]

Many a game can bo saved if one can only obtain some information from partner as to liis strength or short suit early enough in the play. This information cart often be quite easily given if one will only memorise a small series of leads, and use theso recognised leads always. Naturally, sue If leads are subject to any bidding whioh may have taken place, as by this bidding information may have already been given, therefore one leads on the declared strength' of the various bids. When there has been no bid from opponents, the opponent on loft of declarer should lead from the top of tho following list, as nearly as possible. Keep on going down tho list till one finds a recognised lead, and then partner will usually bo able to make at least one extra trick for your side, by tho information thus given liim. He can eaßily work out for himself that if you lead the fourth recognised lead that you are short suited, otc., with no very high cards, and so oh. For instancee: Holding an AK suit with only ono or two small cards, lead the king, and then if there are three cards, of that suit in dummy, lead through dummy's strength. If'there are only two cards j of the suit in dummy, or if partner has played a card higher than a six, lead'the 1 ace on the second round. v Tho reason is that if dummy is short, declarer may be able to discard from dummy the losing card in your AK suit, if you do not make it pt once; while if partner plays a card higher than a six, ho is probably playing high low to indicato two cards only. Thus by playing your ace on the second round you' make it possible to lead a third round, so that partner may,be able to trump, and thus avoid the opponent's queen being turned into a trick- . Next comos K Q x (x). Hero again lead the King, and if it takes lead x so that your partner may make his ace, (it is unusual fbr declarer to hold A J x and thus hold off for this lead). By playing your Queen on the second round a trick may be lost, as it is possible that partner held Ace and one other only, thus his Ace would fall on your Queen. Third' lead, is from Q x x (x) lead second little one from the Queen. If partner holds Ace and declarer two. tricks will then be made in this suit, While nothing can be lost by this lead. , , Failing the above and' holding a doubleton suit j lead higher of the two cards held, thus advising partner that you have only two'cards of this suit t and so will be able to ruff on third round. The only exception to this lead is holding King and another, in which case leave the Suit alone. Holding A K, without any other bards, lead Ace then King to show two cards only, instead of King Ace as in the first example of leads. Fifth lead is from a singleton. This lead 'often makes a suit for declarer, but if dne holds no 'high. cards it is worth chancing that partner can make a trick and give you at least oiiet by ruffing later/. SiSih. Holding Ace another honour I plus one t>r two . smaller cards, lead jjextcard below the honour. If partner has an honour in this suit, your side will make two tricks in this suit. If he has riot, you will. still make your Ace, later on. Last, but a most useful lead, is from Ace without an honour, jusi two or three lonr cards with it. Iri ; this cas§ lend Ace, asyou cannot possibly make more -ill ftii triiJk lift wis trtiii/ afcd" it will at least give* you a free look at Dummy before playing your second round. N.B.—The foregoing leads are against a suit declaration only. Against -No Trumpi a different series operates.