By Val Rhead
Often the right lead can be the determining factor in ensuring the success of a contract. For example: In a No Trump contract, if you lead an unbid Spade suit and it turns out the opponents don’t have a stopper in that suit, you may be able to rattle off five or six tricks before the declarers have a chance to do anything. If you had led a different suit, perhaps they would be able to get in and run their six-card Diamond suit for the game bonus.
Below, some suggestions to think about are prioritized.
First, it’s not wise to lead an Ace that’s not part of a sequence. You should use your Aces to capture Kings and Queens, not twos and threes. However, some players will lead an Ace from an Ace-King sequence to get a look at the Dummy hand and a signal from partner. After leading the Ace, they will keep the King in abeyance and now their partner knows, when he needs it, that the King is an entry to the hand.
Second, when selecting a suit to lead, make sure that you have listened carefully to the bidding. If your partner has bid, by all means lead his suit. If you have a doubleton in his suit, lead high and then low (unblocking). If you hold three cards in his suit, lead low.
Third, in most cases when defending against a No Trump contract, it’s a good idea to lead the fourth card from your longest and strongest suit. There are always occasional exceptions in Bridge. My partner was once asked by an opponent if our leads in No Trump were standard. He answered in the affirmative. This was certainly our agreement. In this case however, three suits had been bid, and I held the singleton Ace of Spades in the suit which hadn’t been bid. I realized that it was likely that my partner had a Spade holding and I wanted to unblock the Spade suit so my partner would have a chance to run his Spades. Our opponent wasn’t happy when he saw my lead. “That’s not a standard lead”, he growled.” “I led according to the bidding”, I replied. You do not have to follow your agreement if you have a reason. We did well!
Fourth, if three suits have been bid by your opponents, it can be a good idea to lead the unbid suit. It’s particularly astute to lead an unbid major suit. Sometimes a good minor suit can be neglected, but players are less likely to miss bidding a good major suit.
Fifth, if you have a three-card sequence such as Queen, Jack, Ten, lead the top of the sequence. The Queen in this case, is a desirable lead. Later if you then lead the Jack, then subsequently the Ten will be good. You may also lead the top from a broken sequence such as King, Queen,Ten. You may be lucky and find partner with the Jack. Subsequently at least two tricks will be good.
Finally, if the player on your left has bid Hearts, a Heart lead through strength could be helpful if your partner happens to have the King and maybe other values in that suit.
If you wish to promote an activity in your bridge group or ask a bridge question, send the information to [email protected] and I will include it in this column.
WINTER BRIDGE PARTY, CFUW BURSARY FUNDRAISER, ALL WELCOME
Lunch at 12 NOON Friday, Feb 17, 2017 $20 per person
Gravenhurst Senior’s Centre 480 First Street North
A fundraiser to assist young women in Muskoka to attend college
Please register your foursome and bring cards for your table.
For Tickets Call Cathy 705-687-2157 [email protected]
HUNTSVILLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Games at the Huntsville Club for the winter Jan-Feb-Mar are now Tuesday 1pm, Trinity United Church 33 Main Street. Please arrive 15 minutes before game time. For partners and information call Susan Marshall 705 787-5454 or email [email protected]
PLEASE NOTE: For the rest of the winter, the Tuesday afternoon 1pm game will be held downstairs in the warm basement. To avoid the long stairs, you also may enter from the door on Main Street.
The following winners are for Tuesday, Jan 31 with 8 pairs playing a Howell movement. 1. Bev Howard and Gail Lederer; 2. Chris Karn and Vern Foell; 3. Mary Hogarth and Albert Eatock; 4. Gerry Flaherty and Peter Rhead; 5. Beryl Clayson and Paul Clayson
MUSKOKA DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB (Bracebridge)
Games at the Bracebridge Club are at the Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Taylor Road 7pm Monday evenings. Please arrive 15 minutes before game time.
The following winners are from Monday, Jan 30 with 15 pairs playing a Howell movement. 1. Joanne Garvey and Don Evans; 2. Mary Luke and Donna McIntosh; 3. Joyce Payne and Malcolm Payne; 4. Betty Fagin and Barb Forth; 5. Carol Anne Robinson and Nancy Barber; 6. Gail Lederer and Hazel Bowes; 7. Mary Mitchell and Sheila Walker; 8. Kelly Andresen and Kel Andresen
Looking for more bridge tips? You’ll find them here.
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