Goren Bridge

Many of today’s tournament players use a lead agreement known as “third and fifth.” They lead the third highest card from an even number of cards in the suit and the lowest card from an odd number. This helps them get a quick count on the hand but can cause problems when they need information about the location of high cards. Other players use “second and fourth.” They lead their second highest card from a worthless suit, defined as holding no jack or higher, and their fourth highest card from an honor, giving their count on the second play in the suit. “Third and fifth” players claim they can often work out where the high cards are, and indeed they can — sometimes.

“Second and fourth” players wouldn’t even consider today’s deal as a problem. West’s lead of the spade five would promise an honor, on this deal the queen, and East would routinely return a low spade at trick two to partner’s queen for a heart shift to defeat the contract.

“Third and fifth” players would have a problem. They would solve it correctly on this deal, as they can see that partner must be put on play for a heart lead through the dummy before the ace of clubs is knocked out. They would win the king of spades at trick one, take a deep breath, and return the jack of spades, hoping partner had the queen. West would know what to do — overtake the jack with the queen and shift to a heart. Problem solved on this deal.