As a general rule, do not part with the command of the adversaries’
suit until one adversary is exhausted in the suit, and therefore
unable to return his partner’s lead; unless the original leader has
a sure card of entry you may be able to prevent this player from
getting into the lead. Usually do not refuse to take a trick with a
king or queen when the higher card or cards have not been played. The
adversaries may lead through and capture a single guarded honour.
If you find that there is another entire suit against you, it pays to
take the first lead and make what tricks you can in the two remaining
suits. Even in some rare cases, the play of a well-guarded king in
dummy is the one chance to make or save the game.
Sometimes the cards of your long suit will be so unfortunately placed
that the continued lead would establish it for the adversaries. In
this situation, keep the command of that suit, and make a bid for
better luck in establishing another.
Unless there is no possibility of losing the game, do not hesitate to
take the first lead whenever you are assured of a sufficient number
of tricks to win the game.
Often by taking the first trick you promote the value of another card
in your own hand or in dummy. In other words, you temporarily give up
the control, with the knowledge that you will eventually hold the
master card of the opponents’ suit.
J♠ 8♠ 2♠ 10♠ 8♠ 6♠ 4♠
x-------x x-------x
| Y | | Y |
| A B | | A B |
| Z | | Z |
x-------x x-------x
A♠ 3♠ A♠ 5♠
10♠ 9♠ 2♠
x-------x
| Y |
| A B |
| Z |
x-------x
A♠ J♠
In these cases, by taking an honour led or played, the dealer can
eventually stop the adversaries’ suit.
At times, if you take the first trick, the suit will be protected,
provided it is not led by your right-hand adversary.
4♠ 3♠ 7♠ 6♠
x-------x x-------x
| Y | | Y |
| A B | | A B |
| Z | | Z |
x-------x x-------x
A♠ 10♠ 8♠ 2♠ A♠ J♠ 5♠
In these two cases, if an honour is led, the first trick should be
passed. If a low card is led and an honour played, the first trick
should be taken. Otherwise the opponent may immediately lead through
your hand.
Holding the king, queen, and a small card of the adversaries’ suit,
you are assured of at least one trick, with the possibility of two,
but remember, if you take the first trick, your hand may be led
through; it is often safer to win the third round than the first.
Q♠ 8♠ 6♠ 4♠
x-------x x-------x
| Y | | Y |
| A B | | A B |
| Z | | Z |
x-------x x-------x
K♠ 5♠ 2♠ K♠ Q♠ 3♠
5♠ 2♠
x-------x
| Y |
[6♠] | A B | Q♠
| Z |
x-------x
K♠ J♠ 3♠
Should you win the first trick in any one of these cases, endeavour
to prevent your right-hand adversary from obtaining the lead.
When the adversaries can take two tricks in your long suit, it is
better to win the first and third than the first and second tricks in
their suit.
J♠ 6♠ 3♠
x-------x
| Y |
| A B |
| Z |
x-------x
A♠ Q♠
In this case a low card is led, and you can win the first trick with
the queen. By doing this you are forced to take the first and second
rounds. If you take the first trick with the ace, your queen will be
sacrificed to the king, but your jack controls the third round.
Unless there is another suit against you, it is safer to win the
second and third tricks of the adversaries’ suit than the first and
third.
K♠ 7♠ 2♠
x-------x
| Y |
| A B |
| Z |
x-------x
A♠ 4♠
Should you wait to win the second trick with the ace, there is a
chance that your right-hand adversary will be exhausted in the suit,
and unless the original leader has two cards of re-entry his suit
cannot be made.