CONTRACT BRIDGE

Cue (NZERS), Issue 29, 15 August 1945, Page 12

CONTRACT BRIDGE

OPENING LEADS— -This is a thorny subject and causes many headaches to those who lead largely by intuition and even more headaches to their partners. A bad opening lead can often give the contract to a, declarer who otherwise faced certain defeat. It can also thoroughly mislead your partner. There are two major considerations in choosing an opening lead. First it must give your partner maximum information. This is a point that must continually be remembered throughout the play of the hand, and it applies on the opening lead. Secondly it must not present the opponent with a trick he could not otherwise have won. The first consideration explains why certain leads are conventional. They tell partner something about your hand. A lead of an honour indicates a sequence of some strength, e.g., KQJ, or QJIO, or KQIO or QJ9. It is customary to lead the top of a sequence unless it is the Ace. From AK etc.

lead K. Thus the lead of an honour •usually denies (possession of a higher honour. But where Kis led and takes the trick then partner presumes that you hold the Ace. There is an exception to this rule where what is called an interior sequence is held, e.g., KJ 109. The correct lead here is J not K. .'Summarised, the lead of an honour 9 in a suit , not hid by partner assures possession of the next lower honour, and denies the next higher except in AK combinations. In the last case the lead of an Ace would not indicate the K, but the winning of the trick by the K does show the Ace. It follows fro this rule that the lead cf an Ace denies the possession of K. The only exception is when holding AK bare. You then lead Ace followed by K, and your partner knows that as soon as he i s in he can safely lead that suit for V Oll to ruff. Next issue further opening i ac^f will be dealt with.