The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-18

Partners strength-Effect of Turned Up
Card ON Trump Lead-Permissible vari-
otiOns.
There will often be occasions when tho
regular American leads must be departed
from. For instance, an honor card turned
up on the right of the leader will neces-
sarily cause variation from the usual
mode of play. If this is ace or king, con-
slider seriously the question of leading
trumps under any but the safest circum-
stances. Rather signal to your partner to
lead through the declared strength. If
the turned up card is a queen, with ace,
others, lead king. If it is a jack, from
ace, queen, 10 and others, lead queen.
Even if it is 10 or a 9 it is best from
king, jack, 9 and Others or jack, 10, 8
and others, to lead the jack, or from
queen, jack, 9 and others, the queen.
Never, in these circumstances, lead Fourth
Best.
When your partner has a high card
turned as trump. Of course the rule is
varied in just the contrary way, and Fourth
Best is led in the majority of cases. This
is the rule also when high card is turned
to your left
When the opponent on the right has de-
clared strength in your long suit, it some
times becomes necessary for you to lead
Common sense here suggests that you
play in a way to preserve the high cards
which your partner may have in the suit
rather than to draw them for the purpose
of clearing what is at best but short suit
in your own hand. Therefore in nearly
every case lead the highest card in the
suit. From q suit of three containing
only one honor you may, if you are forced
to it, lead low. This applies also to short
suits containing the major and minor
tenaces, ace and queen and king and jack,
which should, however, never be led if
there is another suit with cards as high as
the jack and ten in it.
There are other circums stances when
players with the game we'll in hand may
depart from the conven tionR1 leads. To
quote from Hamilton, Modern Scientific
Whist" page rs:
"You may at any time lead the king
from the ace, king and three or more
small when you deem it advisable to show
the ace rather than numerical strength.
You may likewise lead the king from
ace, king, knave and two or more small,
with the idea Of changing the suit to
await the return for the Anessc. You may
lead Fourth Best from ace, king and others,
ace and four more small. You may re-
fuse to open from your best suit
when 1t is headed by a tenace. The fall
to the first lead may render an irregular
second lead necessity. On the
other hand, double tonaces, like the ace,
queen, ten, are not good suits to open. So
also are any three card suits not in Sc
quence, or court card and one or two
small. No singleton is ever led,
except the ace Of trumps las an original
lead)."
GAME II-IRREGULAR LEAD VERSUS REGULAR.
Cards held, South-Hearts, A. Q, 9. 5, 2; clubs,
Z, A: diamonds, 6, 4; spades, K, 8, 8. 2.
Cards held, West-Hearts, 6, 8; clubs, A, Q, 8;
diamonds. z, Q. 10. 8, 2; spades A, 4, 8.
Cards held North-Hearts, 10: clubs, 10, 2, 6,
2: diamonds, A, J, 8. z, 5; spades, J, 10. 9.
Cards held, East-Hearts, K, J. 8, z, A; clubs,
J, 9, 5, 3; diamonds, 3; spades, Q, z, 6.
King of hearts turned as trump to the Eest.
South leads. The underscored card takes the
trick, and the card below is led.