By Val Rhead
Last week we reviewed leads against a No Trump contract. Now we will review the strategy of leads against a Suit contract. There are similarities but also real differences of which you must be aware.
As in a No Trump contract, the right lead by the defending side in a Suit contract can often be the determining factor in ensuring the failure of the contract. For example: In a Suit contract, after carefully listening to the bidding, you may be able to determine that your partner is likely void in a particular suit. If you lead that suit, he may be able to ruff, and return a card in a suit that you have bid and get a second ruff. If you had led a different suit initially, declarer could perhaps win with the Ace and draw all of your trump, before you had a chance to use them.
Below, are some suggestions to think about when choosing the best lead. The choice can vary according to the bidding and the contents of your hand.
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. Their partner knows, when he needs it, that the King is an entry to the hand. However, if it is likely from the bidding and a look at the Dummy Hand, that the declarer is short in that suit, it may be safer to play the King in the two-card sequence immediately.
An even worse lead than an unprotected Ace is a small card from a suit headed by such an Ace. The danger here is that the opponent may have a singleton in the suit and will be able to ruff your Ace when you play it. If you must lead that suit, lead the Ace.
Second: If your partner has bid, by all means lead his suit. If you have a doubleton in his suit, lead high and then low. If you hold three cards lead low from an honour. With no honour in his suit, make a MUD (Middle, Up, Down) lead. We prefer to use MUD leads because it informs partner that you are not leading from a doubleton. He won’t take a chance of trying to get a ruff when you have more than two cards in the suit. Of course, if you have a singleton in his suit, you will lead it hoping that he has the Ace and can return the suit for a ruff. If he doesn’t have the Ace, perhaps he has the King, and can return the suit to you later before you have exhausted your trump.
Third: 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, subsequently the Ten may be good. Leads from sequences are good passive leads that are not going to give your opponent any extra tricks. He is entitled to the Ace and the King. If he is short-suited, he is entitled to a ruffing trick, but he is not going to get any extra tricks. You may also lead the top from a broken sequence such as King, Queen, Ten. If you are lucky, your partner may have a card that completes the sequence.
Fourth: If two or three suits have been bid by your opponents it is a good idea to lead an unbid suit. It’s particularly astute to lead an unbid major suit. Sometimes a good minor suit can be neglected by opponents, but players are less likely to miss bidding a good major suit.
Fifth: Consider the bid of the player on your left. If he 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.
Sixth: Contrary to popular opinion, the expression “when in doubt, lead trump,” is not true. You lead trump for valid reasons. It is a good passive lead. As the trump suit is usually your opponents’ strongest suit, you are less likely to give them an extra trick by leading it. If you know from the bidding that your opponent is likely to have a void or a singleton, a trump lead will reduce his ruffing power.
Finally: It’s often not wise to lead a small card from a King or a Queen unless partner has bid that suit. This kind of lead is likely to give your opponent an extra trick. The exception is when it is apparent from the bidding that your opponent has a source of tricks upon which he readily can discard losers. In this situation, you want to play an active defense and take chances to grab as many winners as you can before your opponent can establish the suit on which he can dump his losers. It is a challenge sometimes to decide whether an active defense or a passive defense is called for. For the last time, listen to the bidding. Good luck!
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 game on Tuesday, Feb 7 was cancelled due to the weather.
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, Feb 6 with 10 pairs playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Val Rhead and Peter Rhead; 2. Betty Fagin and Bev Howard; 3. Lyn Walisser and Don Evans; East-West 1. Betty Rintoul and David Bryce; 2. Anna Wilson and Gil Little; 3. Joyce Payne and Malcolm Payne
Looking for more bridge tips? You’ll find them here.
Don’t miss out on Doppler! Sign up for our free, twice-weekly newsletter here.
0 Comments