AUCTION BRIDGE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 26 March 1930, Page 3

AUCTION BRIDGE

EASY LESSON No. 11. After tho Auction is over, the player who tirsl mentioned the winning call becomes Hie •Declarer"; his partner is the "Dummy," and Declarer plays tlie two hands.

Before Dummy's hand is placed on the table, the player on the left of the Declarer has to lead a card called the "blind opening lead." Ine opening lead may be the moans of defeating the Contract or preventing game, and many players have said, •\l wish I knew what lo lead.*' The speaker slates in plain language, "1 am too lazy to learn the conventional leads.' 1

The experience of numerous teachers and Bridge experts all over tho world has proved that a Jot of information can he given by leading certain cards, and every player should be acquainted with the conventional leads. Leads against a No Trump bid differ greatly from those used against il suit bid, and this lesson will deal with leads against No Trump bids. When partner lias called a sun, the best lead tor the average player is tho highest, card of the suit bid by partner, unless you hold a strong suit. When partner has noL bid the lead should be from the longest suit, which, of course, must have four or more cards, and if three or more cards in sequence are held, lead the highest. The top card would bo led from tho' following : A.K.Q.x, K.Q.J.x, Q.J.10.x, J.10.9.X. In practically sill other cases, lead the fourth highest—the fourth from the top of your longest and strongest suit. When two suits are of equal length, lead from the strongest. The lead 'of the fourth highest is called the rule of eleven. By substracting the number of spots on the card led from 11. the difference is tho number of cards higher than tho one led that are not in the hand of the leader. Assume the card led to bo the 7; 7 from 11 leaves 4, so that only 4 cards above the 7 of that suit are not in the hand of tho leader. By counting the number abovo the 7 in Dummy and your own hand, you can tell how many cards above the 7 are in the Declarer's hand. In tho same way, tho Declarer can tell how many cards above tho 7 ate in your hand; but the information is of greater value to you than to him. When the card led is a 5 or lower, the rule of 11 is not of much practical value; but when it is a 6 or higher, examine your own and Dummy's hand careful iy. Assume a 7 is led and Dummy holds Q. 8.2, and v ou A. 10.3. Seven from 11 leaves 4, and as Dummy holds 2 cards above the 7 and you the other 2, the 7 will take tho trick if Dummy plays the 2. . To thoroughly understand the rule of 11, deal the cards of one suit; into four hands, putting 4 and more cards in one hand, and lead the fourth highest.

Who is the Declarer? Who makes the first lead? When is the Dummy hand placed on the table? What is the rule of 11?

(Copyright by S. N. Lvthgo, Box 401, G.P.O.', Melbourne.)