This Week in Bridge
(627) Fundamentals of Trick Taking – 4th Best Leads (Attitude)
© AIB Robert S. Todd
Level: 3 of 10 robert@advinbridge.com
General
One of the most common opening leads is to lead 4th best from our longest and strongest suit. This opening lead can allow us to take tricks in a variety of different ways, especially against a notrump contract. Here we look at the ways this lead can help us and see how we use many of the techniques we use when declaring in similar ways when we are defending. Let’s see what parts of the card play are similar and what parts are different.
Quicktricks and Promotion
When we lead 4th from our longest and strongest, we usually have an honor at the top of our suit (it is our strongest suit). In addition, many partnerships choose to lead “top of nothing”, when leading from a suit without an honor. That makes 4th from our longest and strongest show an honor! If that is the case, and if partner has an honor, then they can use it in a variety of ways.
Example 1 – Promotion
Dummy
♠ T83
You Partner
♠ KJ542 ♠ A9
Declarer
♠ Q76
Here we lead the ♠4, 4th best from our long strong suit, and partner plays the Ace. Against a suit contract we can take the first three tricks and against a NT contract we take the first five tricks.
We do not have to take our tricks immediately.
Example 2 – Promotion
Dummy
♥ T83
You Partner
♥ KJ542 ♥ Q9
Declarer
♥ A76
Here we lead the ♥4, partner plays their ♥Q, and forces declarer to play their ♥A. This promotes our ♥K and ♥J into winners.
Length
Leading 4th from our longest and strongest can set our suit up, even if we do not have great honor cards to promote.
Example 3 – Length
Dummy
♦ T8
You Partner
♦ J5432 ♦ 976
Declarer
♦ AKQ
If our side keeps playing ♦, then eventually (after leading the suit three times) we will develop some ♦ winners for our side. In a NT contract, if we regain the lead after that, then we can finally take our ♦ tricks.
How Does Partner Know What is Going On?
When partner gains the lead, they are often faced with a difficult decision. Should they return the suit we lead (looking to take or develop tricks in this suit) or should they shift to another suit (one where they have a great holding or where dummy has some weakness)? This is often a difficult decision and one that partner may have to make an educated guess of what to do.
We would like to use our lead to help them with this decision. When we agree to play 4th best leads, from “interest”, and top or second best from bad holdings (sometimes called BOSTON style), then this can help partner know if we have honor cards in this suit. If we lead low, partner will be more likely to return our lead, as we have a chance to take some tricks now. And if we lead a high spot card, partner will think that we are less likely to have useful honor cards and strongly consider shifting to another suit.
Conclusion
4th best opening leads are common against NT contracts but are also useful against suit contacts. These leads, from our long suits can also help develop tricks against suit contracts. We use techniques like Quick Tricks, Promotion, and Length, just as we would as declarer. Make sure that you invest your opening lead wisely (to develop tricks) and to help partner know if they should return your lead or shift to another suit. Your goal is to work together with partner to try to take as many tricks as possible.