April 2009 - 47

INTERMEDIATE PLAYERS

Boehm on Bridge
Leads and signals -
part 2
Once upon a time, everyone led
fourth-highest - the 2 from
Q-9-6-2, for example. Some
traditionalists still do, but many alternative methods are popular. Those
who prefer third/fifth best (also
called third and low) would lead the
6 from the previous holding, then follow with the 2.
To declarer, the sequence of plays,
6 then 2, looks like a doubleton, so
keep an open mind about whether
opening leader started with two or
four - third-hand defender is working on the same problem. When
third/fifth-best defenders lead their
lowest spot (the 2, say), it is typically
either from a holding like Q-6-2
or Q-9-7-6-2. Their partner (and
declarer) must decide whether it is
from three or five, just like any other
count signal where there is a two-card
disparity.
Some pairs vary their opening
lead agreements, depending on
whether the contract is a trump suit
or notrump. When a pair marks the
box on the convention card "Attitude
vs. NT," their approach is, "The
lower we lead, the better we like it."
From A-Q-8-5-3, they lead the 3.
From a weaker holding like J-9-7-4,
especially if they welcome a shift, the
lead is apt to be the 7.
A related idea is called Roman
MUD where the second highest is
led from worthless holdings. For
example, versus notrump, opening
leader might have a choice between
A Q 10 6 and 9 7 5 4. If he
chooses clubs, the lead will be second
highest - the 7 in this case - to
discourage partner from returning
the suit. In effect, this idea borrows
from a traditionalist practice, "top of
April 2009

nothing" - leading high discourages
a return. Regardless of your opening
lead methods, after trick one it is a
good idea to employ BOSTON -
bottom of something, top of nothing.
When you declare, it is prudent to
be aware of your opponents' methods.
Their convention card must indicate
their agreements, or declarer can
ask. Some declarers like to inquire
only when a need arises. Others
prefer to find out after the opening
lead is displayed. I'm in the latter
group because I find it helpful to
think along with my opponents and
try to interpret their pauses. In any
event, if declarer is unaware, he may
miss some opportunities to jam the
defenders' signals.
For instance, suppose the lead is
the 3 from a pair that uses third/
fifth best. Let's say that dummy's diamonds are A-8-6 and you, declarer,
hold the 5 2. You elect to win
dummy's ace (suit contract); which
card should you play from your
hand? To create ambiguity, play the 5,
concealing the 2. If you follow with
the 2, third-hand will know that the
opening leader led his lowest spot,
hence from an odd number. If you
hide the 2, third-hand has to consider
that the lead might be from a holding
such as K-7-3-2.
What is present, or current, count?
In the first example, where the third/
fifth best lead was the 6 from Q-9-
6-2, opening leader follows on the
second round with the 2 (assuming
that he doesn't need to play the queen
for its trick-taking value). The 2, the
beginning of a low-high sequence,
shows an odd number of cards presently held, using traditional count.
Current count is useful in other

August Boehm

situations: If a defender has previously signaled attitude, the next card
in the same suit shows present count.
Let's say that a defender's first
discard from 9 7 6 5 3 is a
discouraging card. Depending on
methods, that card is either: a) the
3 in traditional methods, or b) the 7
using upside-down attitude (high discourages, low encourages), or c) the 6
using odd-even signals where an odd
card encourages, even discourages, or
d) any spade using Lavinthal discards
where the size of the spade indicates
suit preference - if hearts are trump,
a low spade shows interest in clubs, a
high spade interest in diamonds, and
a middle spade equals no preference.
Do you see why declarer should keep
informed?
The next spade West discards tells
his partner something new - the
number of spades currently held.
Playing traditional count, the 7,
starting a high-low, shows an even
number, typically two or four. If the
defenders are using upside-down
count (the reverse of traditional),
the card played is the 5, low-high to
signify an even number. If your carding is traditional and the opponents
announce an upside-down usage,
to avoid confusion realize that they
signal the opposite of what is normal
for you.
r
47
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2009
