Contract Bridge

Cue (NZERS), Issue 33, 15 October 1945, Page 13

Contract Bridge

Leads Against Slam Bids. — Slams are the plums of contract bridge. Rare as they are, the bonuses they earn can make all the difference between a profitable and an unprofitable session. .Suit and No Trump slams are very different propositions and a good lead against the one can be very bad against the other. . 1. The Singleton can be a very good lead • against a suit small .slam, but against a grand slam it is not good, as it is practically certain that the opponent will have first round control of the suit (he shouldn’t have bid otherwise) and that he will forthwith draw trumps before any ruffing can be indulged in. Against a No Trump slam there is no excuse for ever leading a singleton. It merely hammers home the nails in your own coffin. Partner's suit where he has uttered at all, is a good sound lead against either sort of slam. It can do no harm and may do good.

An Ace is a splendid lead against a grand slam but seldom to be recommended against a small one. The

opponent probably has one calculated loser in that suit, lie is unlikely to have two and the early removal of the ace may leave him with a nice row of winners on which to discard losers in other suits, and in any case with complete control of the hand. Top of a sequence of three honours is good against either sort of slam but best against No Trump. If the sequence is of only two honours it is better avoided as an opening. Trumps can be a good lead where three or more are held as this may well upset a nicely calculated and essential cross-ruff. Where fewer than three are held it is. a dangerous lead, however. The opponent. is probably indifferent to one round of trumps and you may be putting your partner’s possible trump winner under the hammer. If none of these leads is available the top of nothing is a good refuge. A lead from Kxxx or Qxxx should almost always be avoided like the plague. . ■ ' :- > ■ ;