Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-06
Solution to Problem 13,
Published MAY 81, 1909.


It was evident that the opening is not
from strength in hearts, and the only
reasonable inference is that the orlgl-
nal leader possesses such strength IN
the plain suits and in such combina-
tions that he prefers not to open either
of the plain suits but prefers them
led up to him. The leader may have
held one. two or three hearts originally.
1t is fair to assume that he held two,
and. therefore, will be able to lead
trumps once more. In view of the
opening. it is safe to assume that
whatever strength in plain suits is
held by the combined hands of the
dealer is more likely to be in clubs
than in diamonds or spades. 1t is also
apparent that if leader holds the ace
of spades that pone can regain the
lead by trumping spades in event that
leader held originally only one heart.
On the other hand, it is scarcely pos
sible that dealer does not hold at least
one honor in spades.
The pone, therefore, should win the
first trick with the king of hearts and
lead the jack of spades. If this holds
the trick, he should follow with his
highest diamond Should leader win
the spade trick and lead another heart,
by which pone regains the lead, or
should he regain the lead by trumping
a spade, he should lead the diamond.
The object should be to get the spades
and diamonds out of the dummy hand
so as to force the dummy either to
lead his ace of clubs or trumps, in
either of which events his aces will
capture no high cards.
Pone can safely read his partner as
holding ace, queen of diamonds, king
jack of clubs and ace queen of spades
and perhaps more suit strength.
ARTICLE 16
differences from Opening Leads
Assuming that the declaration is
standard ii. e.. one which is based upon
a combination, which the best authori-
ties consider justify the declaration),
in order to advantageously consider the
subject of this article it is necessary
to first consider standard openings.
Although it is unquestionably true
that there are certain combinations
which justify irregular openings as
well as irregular leads, yet unless a
player has had great experience he is
far more likely to lose than to gain by
departure from fixed rules in this re-
spect The vast majority of hands
have by long experience been found to
admit of regular openings, and in view
of the great benefit to be derived from
proper inferences it is wiser to adhere
strictly to regular play.
Owing to the possibility that some
readers may have not seen the articles
treating upon openings, or perhaps have
forgotten the rules advocated it is
considered advisable to repeat few
general rules.
First-Holding certain combinations
of high cards, an honor is always led.
Second-In the absence of these COM
binations, the original opening should
always be the fourth best card in the
suit opened.
The combinations which demand the
lead of an honor are divided into two
groups.
First, those in which the declaration
is no trump.
Second. those in which there is a
suit declaration q. e., hearts, clubs,
diamonds or spades).
Standard openines-DecIaratio No
Trump
Since at this declaration there is no
danger of a suit being trumped it is
evident that the principal object is TO
establish long suit and to be in the
lead after it is established
Such being the case the possession
of a re-entry card in another suit ma
terially affects the opening, for hav-
ing no re-entry it is evident that you
must win that trick in your long suit
to do this it may be necessary to lose
the first trick or possibly the first
two tricks in your long suit. Do not
forget that YOUR PARTNER MAY
HAVE A RE-ENTRY IN ANOTHER
SUIT AND IF HE HAS ONE OF
YOUR SUIT LEFT HE WILL LEAD
1T TO YOU.
Having a re-entry the high card
openings at no trumps are practically
the same as at a suit declaration
which will be given later.
Standard Openings No
Trump-No Re-entry
Lead ace from ace, king and five
small.
The ace is led to induce your part
ner to unblock at once so that you
can determine whether you can es-
tablish the suit by leading the king
or whether you must wait until your
partner can lead up to you.
Lead king from king, queen, jack
or king, queen, ten and two small
Lead king from king, queen and five
small.
Lead queen from queen, jack. ten or
queen, jack, nine and two small
Lead jack from ace, jack. ten or
king, jack. ten and two small.
In other cases lead fourth best.
Assuming that holding no re-entry
you have ace. lack and three small.