Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-14
BRIDGE TALKS
BY MRS. JOHN MUNCE. yR.

Having covered the plays of declarer,
we now come to the plays by the adj
versaries of the declarer. Remember
| that declarer always has the advantage,
| as he not only sees his own hand but
the hand of the dummy on the table,
and his adversaries cannot have as &C
curate information in regard to each
others hands as the declarer has of his
two hands, no matter how carefully
they have bid, passed or doubled. This
| Is the only way the adversaries have Of
gaining any information at all regard
| ing each others hands before the lead
Is made. Later they may gain q little
| information from the development Of
the plays. It is very necessary that the
language of the play should be accu-
| rately spoken and understood by both
adversaries. Very often q contract Ia
acquired by single bid by declarer, in
versaries have in regard to each others
hands is that they did not have strength
enough to bid, which is most inadequate
| when 1t comes to leading. In this case
each adversary starts playing without
any idea of his partners holding, and
| the only way his partner can give him
any information is by the play.
There are a few important rules
which we should all remember when we
are adversaries of the declarer, and the
first Is in regard to touching cards.
With touching cards play the lower or
lowest, the exception to this being when
holding the ace, king, then YOU lead the
higher or highest. Beginners, as rule,
are not careful how they play touching
cards, and the result is their partners
cannot play intelligently. The first
card to any trick Is led" and the
three others are played; therefore,
when following suit to trick. as second,
third or fourth hand, always play the
lower or lowest of touching cards. For
example. with a small card led and
three small cards Of the suit In dummy,
and you as leaders partner hold the
queen and jack, your proper play Is the
jack. Should you hold the queen, Jack,
10-spot, the proper play would be the
10-spot. The play by leaders partner
of the queen would deny the jack In the
hand, and the play of the jack would
deny the 10-spot in that hand. BY
making these plays properly the leader
Is able to place the missing honor, which
is held by the closed hand. There Is
only one exception to the play Of the
lower of touching cards by the adver-
! sary, and that is when he feels positive
that his play cannot bother his partner,
and may deceive the declarer. In other
words, only when something may be
gained should you depart from the play
''low" rule. For example. with small
card led, and leaders partner holding
the king and queen, over an ace, jack,
10-spot in the dummy, leaders partner
may properly play the king first, If the
declarer tries to finesse the 10-spot from
the dummy. This may make the de-
clarer try to finesse the jack when he
next leads the suit.
When leading, always lead higher or
highest of touching cards, except with
the ace, king and one small one or more
In this case the king Is led from the
ace, king and one or more, and the
same from the king, queen and others.
However, a leader holding doubleton
ace, king and no others of the suit, and
wanted to ruff. II possible, should lead
the ace and then the king, so that his
partner will understand that he has no
more CT that suit, and that he desires 1t
led to him whenever you are able to get
In. This is called playing high and
then low.