The San Francisco call., 1906-09-09

leads were made against declared
trump suit, and this declared trump
as the leaders object in playing
against a no-trumper is entirely
changed.
We have seen that all such leads
against declared trump are made
from two or more honors in sequence,
and that in every instance IN wnicn
the leader holds two or more such
high cards in sequence in any suit
except the trump he should lead one
of those high cards
Having led card high enough to
win the first trick, the leaders object
in going on is two-fold-to win more
tricks if he can, and to show his part
ner what he has lert.
When the opening leads are from
winning SEQUENCES, such as A K @ ], A
K Q. or A K, the case is covered by
the rule already given, to show the
partner what he does not Know. But
the eldest hand must be able TO handle
combinations of cards with which ne
begins with a high or winning card.
but either does not win the frst trek
or does not hold the pest cara OF the
suit for the second trick
Sunpose that he has led the X from
K O and others and the K wins the
| frst trick The Q is not the best of
the suit If he has led the A he can
not have the X to continue with but
in all such cases his continuation must
be based on some system or princlpal
of play or his partner will not know
what he holds.
There are three general rules which
cover all secondary leads, and they
should he so familiar TO every bridge
nlaver that he can follow them me-
chanically without giving the matter
thought. The fingers should be so
! al, nil II
the card the moment the eye fell upon
the combination from which it should
be led. The three rules are as fol-
lows:
Always lead the winning card, the
best of the suit, if you hold It,
If you have not the best of the suit
lead one of the second and third best
if you hold both of them.
If you have not the best. nor ootn
second and third best lead tie fourth
best of those that you originally held.
The working of the first rule has
been illustrated in previous articles. II
YOU begin with the K. holding A K. the
/ a is the best of the suit and should be
led for the second trick. II you have
led the from A K Q, the Q is as good
as the A and should be led
But if YOU have lead the K from K @
and your K wins the first trick.
it is evident that you cannot continue
with the best card of the suit because
YOU do not hold IL. Who does hold 1t is
not your business, because that is some
thing you cannot tell. although you
may infer it, You may be very con-
fdent that your partner has it, but you
may be mistaken, and you must not
lead differently on different occasions
because at one time you think your
partner has something and at other
times you don't think so.
Having led the K from K Q j. you
are left with the second and third best
If your K wins, and you must lead one
of those cards to comply with the sec
ond rule While it does not really
matter which you lead, it is better to
continue with the because your part
ner knows you have the Q. From this
combination beginners are very apt TO
follow the K with small card, jump
ing to the conclusion that their part
ners must have the ace. This is often
a costly error, as will be seen by the
Illustrative hand which we publish to-
day. If the A takes the X on the first
round the @ and } become the best
cards of the suit and fall under the
rule to show the partner what he does
not know-that the leader holds the
as we'll as the Q.
If you have led an ace from such a
combination as A Q j, the Q is the
proper card to lead for the second
round. because the Q and J are the
second and third best of the suit
II you have led the @ from Q ] 10, it
does not matter whether the A or the
X wins the first trick: your ] and 10
must be the second and third best for
the second round. Your partner
knows you have the j: show him the
10 if you have it. If you have led
from @ without the 10, lead the ].
II both X and \ fall on your @ the J
becomes the best of the suit.
Having led the 10 from K ] 10, II the
wins the hrst trick the X is the best
of the suit. II the Q wins the first
round the X and ] have BECOME the
second third best, and one of them
must be led.
The leaders partner must thoroughly
understand these secondary leads, so
as to read the exact combination OF
cards held by the eldest hand. If the
lead is an ace and it is not followed by
either @ or J. the third hand must in
fer that the leader does not hold both
those cards If the first lead is a K
and it is not followed by either @
or j the leader cannot hold three hon
ors in that suit, unless he has X Q
10.
The third hand has very little to do
with the majority of high-card leads.
except to show how many small cards
third hand holds high cards himself
he must know how to manage them.
1t should be obvious that If the third
hand holds the A when his partner
leads.
The dealer wins three by cards, "a.
and simple honors 16 above the line.
Trick 1.-The best suit for A to open
is the one in which he has three honors
in the X, there is no necessity to play
the A on the K. Some players do this
in order to trump the third round. but
why is not a high card just as good
as a trump? 1t Is usually bad policy
to play two high cards to win one
trick. if 1t can be avoided.
If a @ is led and the third hand
holds the A. but not the K. the A
should be put on the @. If the K is
not In the dummy. because the K must
be in the dealers hand, and it may
be unguarded.
II the leader follows the X lead with
the ] there must be some very good
reason for third hands giving up the A.
because If the K is allowed to win the
first trick the may usually be allowed
TO win the second. On the same prin-
ciple if the A Is followed by the @
there is no reason why the third hand
should give UP the T. As rule. when
your partner leads cards which you