What Do I Lead ?

Many books have been written on what to do when you have to make the opening lead in defending a contract. Often this is a make or break decision. Poor choices could help opponents make their bid, good choices can help you set the contract. Here are a few of the more common leads:

1. Lead the highest card in your partner’s bid suit,

2. Lead the top of nothing,

3. Lead the top of a sequence (e.g. J T 9 3), or

4. Lead a singleton if you hold several trump cards. If the contract is in No Trump, lead the fourth highest card from your longest and strongest suit if no other clues are available to help you make a better lead.

On Friday, Jan. 16 our Evergreen game was well attended but chaotic due to my error in setting up the tables. After seven hours of manual scoring, research and averaging, I determined the winners. N/S: first, Wade Lowder and Marvin Query; second, Loyd Hill and Patsy Reynolds; third, Pat Featherston and Dick Brisbin; fourth, Ruth Bowles and Marie Pugh. Winning E/W: first, Nancy Stanback and Betty Bills; second, Ronnie Steele and Maureen Busse; third, Chuck and Margaret Rimer; fourth, Fern Albracht and Christy Cline.

Our featured hand is #17 from the Evergreen game. It is an example of the dangers of “falling in love” with your hand.  No one was vulnerable   North was the dealer.

   NORTH:

   S  J

   H  A Q 7 6 4 2

   D  J 3 2

   C  9 7 5

WEST:                  EAST:

S  8 6 5 2                 S  T 9 4 3

H  —                       H  J T 8 5

D  9 8 6                   D  A K T 7

C  A K Q J 4 3         C  T

   SOUTH:

   S  A K Q 7

   H  K 9 3

   D  Q 5 4

   C  8 6 2

No one who got the bid made their bid. Gloria Bryant and Wayne Pegram had the best N/S score defeating a 5CW*contract 2 tricks while the best E/W score was made by Genny Mozolak and Joe O’Brien defeating 4HN 4 tricks.

There was a tie for first and second at the Tuesday, Jan. 20 Women’s Club game between Shirley Jeffers and Loyd Hill with Pat Macon and Myrnie McLaughlin.