CONTRACT BRIDGE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20455, 7 November 1934, Page 13

CONTRACT BRIDGE.

The Lead and How to Understand It. (By ELY CULBERTSON). In considering the question of leads and plays at the bridge table there are certain types of plays, such as the King from King-small, that *in some instances are termed “ desperation leads,” so named because, while they may easily sacrifice a trick, they offer what appears to be the only opportune of defeating the contract. It does not necessarily follow, however, that every time a player leads a King from King-small the play is a desperation pla}'. Sometimes the pla3'er can, by inference, place the Ace in his partner's hand or may know that if the Ace is not there nothing can prevent the opponents from making their contract. An interesting example of a lead of this t\*pe which turned out well occurred on the hand below, played in a bridge tournament at Crockford’s Club, New York. South dealer. Neither side vulnerable

(Figures after bids refer to numbered explanatory paragraphs.) South West North East Pass Pass 1 S (1) 2 C (2) 3 S (3) 4 C 4 S (4) Pass Pass Pass I.—A sound lead-directing bid in rubber bridge. In duplicate, where the match-point system of scoring is used, even weaker hands are opened to avoid the possibility of getting a low score on a board.

2. —ln view of the length of the Club suit, a sound non-vulnerable overcall. 3. —South’s hand is very strong in support of his partner’s bid. 4. —A doubtful re-bid, as North knows that he has opened on greatly shaded values. East opened the fourth-best Club, and West won with the Ace. In studying the dummy and reviewing the bidding West reasoned that his partner, who had bid on a Queen-high suit, must have held the Heart Ace to justify any overcall. He therefore laid down the Heart King and followed with the remaining Heart, which East won with the Ace. East now returned another Heart, which West ruffed, thus defeating the .contract. •