2007-10-08 16:15

Hand Evaluation – Leading Aces vrs NT

PITBULLS:

For decades in the game of Bridge , the lead of an Ace against a NT contract meant that partner was to unblock or give count without a high honour. Over the years , this understanding fell out of favour with expert players. Why ? because blind leads against NT are to be discouraged. Sometimes the bidding demands that a suit be lead & an Ace allows partner to signal or you to examine the dummy first.

Susan & Maurice have switched from traditional thinking & just play “attitude” with a King or Ace lead against NT. If they lead a king against NT , you show attitude if you have the jack . If an Ace is lead , attitude means you have the queen. If you have a suit that partner is supposed to unblock , she will. AKJ1098 so you lead the Ace , & partner signals she likes the suit so you continue with the king. Since you did not lead low at trick two , we can assume the suit is solid & throw the queen under the king.

I go one step further in encouraging partner not to lead blind in NT auctions. You hold ♠J9xx ♥A10xx ♦Qx ♣AQx & the auction goes

1♠-P-1NT-P

2♥-P-2♠-P

2NT-P-P-P so your lead. The majority of the Bridge World panel opted for the Ace of clubs lead as they did not want to lead blind. Partner is to encourage if they like the lead , that simple. No further restrictions other than partner please continue the suit.. From complexity to nothing could be more simple.

Opening leads are done from the bidding & not your own hand. Leading an Ace has the advantage of not leading blind & bringing partner & the dummy into the picture. We do not want a partnerships signaling system to discourage this practice. When partner leads an Ace against a NT contract , just advise with your signal whether to continue or switch.

Leading blind is a bad practice. Uncountable contracts have been made by this horrible habit. Blind leads detract from partnership Bridge in that you take partner out of the decision making process whether to continue or switch. An Ace holds the lead & requests partner’s input. A wise Bridge player said only beginners & experts lead unsupported Aces , the vast majority never lead a unsupported Ace. To encourage making these leads , I have adopted this new form of signaling when an Ace or king has been led against NT. The old definition of an Ace lead against NT is just too narrow given the recklessness of modern bidding.