Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-12
THE BRIDGE TABLE,.
Lead to Declared Trump-Arguments
Against Opening Long Suit


In a no-trump hand at bridge the
usual method of play is to establish.
j. possible, the long suit of the hand.
ana TO bring It in, but the adversary
or the dealer can hardly hope. to a.
this with & declared trump. Inc
player who has made the trump has,
presumably, at least five OF the trump
suit, leaving eight or less for distri-
button among the other three hands
To be sure, one of the dealers ad-
versaries will occasionally hold as
many trumps as the trump-maker, and
once in a While he will even outnum-
Der him, but the presumption must al
ways favor placing the balance of pow
or in trumrs with the player who has
selected the suit, 50 that the general
policy which should govern the deal
cr's fdversaries in playing against
declared trump is exactly opposite to
that which should govern the Play Of
! a no-trumper.
Generally the longest suit Is the
saundest opening at no trump, while
with a declared trump the very fact
that the leader holds an unusually long
suit is frequently the strongest argu-
first suit to lead. The reason is that
orc Of the three players is likely to be-
chort. and there are two chances that
it will be one of the dealers hands
which ruff 10 one chance that the
leaders, partner will be the one to be
allie to make q small trump in this
way If the leader be lucky enough
to hold a very long suit and four
trumps it would, of course. be good
play to lead the long suit with tie
hope that the trump -maker Wiz be the
one who will DC forced to trump IL
this is successful it would result in
reducing the numerical supremacy of
the trump-makcr. and might make it
uossibe for the leader, to bring in his
| suit.
Unfortunately, however. such COM
! l.ination is comparatively rare for
long established suit. and four trumps
are seldom found in the hand of the
leader. Ii the holding be a long-estab-
iShnd suit and two or three trurlps,
i Is often safer and better play to
make the original opening from the
shortest rather than from the longest
suit, especially if the shortest suit be
/ singleton or if it contains card
Is high as tho jack or ton.
1t is most unWi>e to lead a tWo-card
suit headed By either tie king or
queen. for the reason that by so doing
Il trick may be lost. hut # the suit is
headed by jack. ten or uine. il con-
N"ys two pieces Of information to the
partner. In the first place it tells him
that no higher card is held bv the
Lon IL. 11, inf, Al inn
VIII help him to locate the high cards
and may prevent the sacrifice of an
hcnor. 1t will also tell him that his
rartnpr may be able to ruff the second
or third round Of the suit.
Beside this. it will give Il good deal
"f information regarding the balance
IF his partners hand for it Will tell
him he has probably less than four
trumps, and assist him in estimating
the dealers strength in the trump
suit. it may also tell him that as a
short suit has been opened. AMI the
leaders trump holding does not ex-
coed three, there are eight or moro
c:u'dS of tie two unopened plain suits
IN the leaders, hand. and this may be
TIE needed warning that it is necessary
t" at once lead all trick taking cards
before 1t becomes too late.
1t must not be forgotten that tun
short-suit lead to be a declared trump
IS OF secondary value. A frequent
iHult of the novice at the game is that
at looking over his hand and leading
any singleton which he might Happen
t" find without the slightest references
7" the fighting possibilities Of liz
cards, and i'll the single hope Of ruff
fling the suit. y short suit lead against
4 declared trump is Frequently valu
able. because il enables the leader 10
win trick. with a small trump. But
II it BECOMES fixed habit with a
player to open Il short suit whenever
he las one. his partner is prevented
from judging Of the real possibilities
NJ the game. AMI is forced to gus,
what suit lie should lead when q lit
tc\ thought on the part of the leader
would have carried with it valuable !
Observation-Disclosures American