When in doubt, let them lead

Press, 7 May 1980, Page 12

When in doubt, let them lead

CONTRACT ABRIDGE:;

By

J.R. Wignall

A famous American tournament director has given his name to what is called Harry Goldwater’s Rule. This states: “Always accept; a lead out of turn. If the guy doesn’t even know whose lead it is, what makes you think he knows the correct card to lead?” Accidents do happen, even in the best of circles, and in duplicate bridge there is a director who should be called whenever an. infringement such as a, lead out of turn occurs. .’lt is his job to explain theii' rights to both the innocent and the .offending parties, to apply the relevant rule or rules and generally to ensure that justice is done. Rubber bridge players, however, are very much on their own and even if a rule book , is handy recourse to it more often than not serves only to confuse the situation. What happens then if the wrong defender makes the opening lead? First of all the declarer has.the right to accept-it, and in fact it must be ■accepted if he plays a card to the first trick .or if.either he or his partner .spreads any part of their'hand as dummy before ’attention has been drawn to the irregularity. .. ~ If the ledd'-'is;’ accepted dummy is tabled' and play proceeds in normal rotation. Alternatively the declarer may forbid the lead of that particular suit. To see how all this works, study this deal from "The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge,’’ ■. which illustrates one of the biggest swings of alt time resulting fronWhe opening

lead. South was the dealer, with both sides vulnerable:

The auction somehow .went out of control:

Pass It is not given to many of us to hold a hand as good as North’s when partner opens with a strong two-bid, and under- ■ standably he had rosy visions. In response to the Blackwood four no-trumps, six clubs was intended to show two aces, and when West sacrificed in seven spades North was .reluctant to accept what might easily have been an unsatisfactory penalty. Unable to visualise a hand where South v/ould use Blackwood , holding only one ace, North called seven no-trurhps and when this was duly doubled, showed the courage of his convictions by redoubling. It is n.ot often that one is on lead against a grand slam in no-trumps with a running seven, card suit, and West took a moment off to savour the situation while he decided which high spade to lead. - Any

would have produced a penalty of 4000 points. Alas, East now produced a bombshell. He led the jack of clubs out of turn. As South pondered over his options West’s blood pressure rose alarmingly. Eventually the declarer accepted the lead, North put down his hand, and after a quick look South claimed 21 tricks. Seven no-trumps redoubled scored 2930, and Harry Goldwater’s Rule had been proved. The declarer had several other options. He could have barred a club lead, in which case the opening lead would have reverted to West, who could attack in any other suit. In this case East’s jack of clubs becomes an exposed card and remains on the table to be played at the first opportunity, whether in following suit in clubs or as a discard. Finally the declarer could have asked West, the correct opening leader, to lead a club, in which case East picks up the offending jack. West may lead any card of the suit he wishes and East may play any card. On rare occasions, of course, West may have a void in clubs and cannot comply with the declarer’s requirement. He is then allowed to lead any .other suit, and the declarer has no further rights.