THE GAME OF BRIDGE

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 23, 27 January 1934, Page 7

THE GAME OF BRIDGE

Weekly Chat on Contr&t

Specially Writon for "The Post" by "Approach BiV t, -

, At auction a; recognised blind lead a.gainst a no-trump i declaration is the fourth highest card of your longest suit (except that with certain holdings ill that suit an honour is led). .4^<jontract of one no-trump is. sufficient to allow the game,, if made,: to; be scored. Therefore, very little information is available to the defenders ifithey .can offer no opposition to the .declaration.At contract the position is quite, different. Under, the. "approach-forcing" system, which most of us use, the fact of opening with a no-trump bid at:once suggests the lack of a- biddable suit in the hand.' If the partner raises tho nortrump bid the inference to be drawn is that he holds no biddable suit either. If the contract remains at one no-trump, your best lead in defence is usually the fourth highest card-of your longest suit, aa you can assume that tho strength will be fairly evenly divided amongst the four hands. It is when the bidding is carried to two or three no-trumps that you have to reconsider your opening lead. What is your best blind lead to a three no-trump declaration, having no suit of your own, and no indication from your* partner? It is obvious that if the opponents have not mentioned a major suit, and you are short in one of the majors, someone must have length in it, and it must surely be your partner, as otherwise a major suit would have been bid in preference to no-trumps by the opposition. In these circumstances your best lead is the top' card of your shortest major-suit, as there is every chance of its being your partners longest and best suit.' In any case this lead can do no' harm. The old-fashioned lead of the fourth highest of your longest suit gives too much information to the declarer, who already can see most of the tricks he needs, and would be very glad to have a little more information from you. Having, no -short suit from which to lead, an intermediate card from your longest suit is your bestjead, not the fourth highest, which i. might give too much information to tlje declarer. This lead is not likely to confuse your partner, and your only hope is that it' may mislead the declarer. With such a hand as: ♦ «• 9 K.X.X.Z. 4 <*.X.1.1. ' jjf J.X.X.X. against a three no-trump declaration after an auction in which no suit call has been made1, tlio Queen of spadea is a good lead. It, is not likely that there will be moic than four spades in cither of tho opponents hands, as the suit would most probably have been called with a holding of five .cards. ! Suppose the opponent's1 opening bid has been one in a major suit, and his partner has responded with a no-tiump bid, the final'declaration being ■ throe

REFLECTIONS ON LEADS

no-trumps. If jou aie sKut in the major suit called (thp'dccla%r's partner has denied support in it? and the dcclaier has not rebid it) }\3UT best lead is the top eaid of that suiti through the dummy's, hand. Agauist \ a three no-tiuuip dcclaiation you are ni>t Jikely to seeuiii many leads, and mutt make the most of your opportunities; This lead is particulaily advisable \ if you have a possible tiick in auothc^suit, as it will quite often mean tliait you will get a chance to lead tlifcf6uit tluough "the dummy hand a'gain.\ ' If the opcuing bid has" beea') in m minor suit, the same lcasoning doas not apply, as the partner, with support in the suit, has piobably bid thrct Tibtrumps, relying on the opening juinor suit bid, and calling the game atl the cheaper contract of nine tricks in! notrumps as against'eleven tricks 'in', th« minor suit. ' % j

Porhaps the worst /.lead': against ..■'• trump declaration (and one very'often seen) is that of a singleton,when;- 0h« leader holds four or more trumps. Trump length is; invaluable1 iim defen.|e, as it offers a. chance of control in->t|e end- game' ' The' defenders' '"■ Efforts should be directed at forcing^^ the.'declarer to use:his trumps while.keeping 'their own, 'thus preventing him front establishing, any .side suit after'.drawA ing the adverse trumps.: If ■'possible,* keep■'■■him'busy'trumping'your lone isuiM and "'in' the end, your : small' cards inthat ■suit^niay- force his.'l&st Wtinips, leaving you in control of'the situation.' If you part with your" own trumps cheaply this cannot happenJ ia ;faet- you are playing the" game that will please the declarer mostl.'-'There-fore, if you are .the opening, leader against a spade; contract, aii&:you;hold: • ' .■'. /' ■' ''-■■; 'V 4k',Q.10.7.3. '■.. ■',' ■*..*■ ■ ■ ■ •'■■■ ■ ~ -. ■..;.; 4;J.X.1,1..U' : V; . ..,:. .! . .; +. a.x.x.x. ■ ...;.;.- your very worst lead is the ■ singleton .heart. You ,will almost certainly n^ake two of your trumps-: in . any case; so there is nothing to bo gained, by a singleton lead,' but a groat, deal. may :be lost. Though your cards .in.!.the remaining two suits' are pbor r you have a partner (a point some players are apt to overlook), so give him a chance to force the enemy in outside suits, as you hold the trump suit stropgly yourself. ... . ■;-' .; '.' ', ," '■'.' j .' Against a high :•:.trump .Ideclaratipn, particularly when the -declarer's jaftner has strongly , supported' tlio, |bid, the opening-lead of: a 1: worthless ,' trump is a good lead. It is not likely to'damage your partner's: hand, and it sometimes happens .thati he:ihaa the |Ac» and a small trump,; when he .will promptly take out a second round of trumps. 'As the .supporting hajid's tricks often include, ruffing tricks, 'jthis load isl very efEective, sometimes, from the defenders' point of view. '■■; \ '