ORIGINAL TRUMP OPENINGS
If a trump has been declared by the dealer it is not, as a rule, good play to lead trumps up to his strong hand; this lead would necessarily place any high trump cards that your partner may hold in a bad position. If, however, you hold a sequence in trumps and strength in the side suits consisting of combinations from which you do not wish to lead, a trump lead is admissible.
The following are given as examples of hands from which the trump should be led when the dealer is the maker. In these cases hearts are trumps.
| ♥ | ♦ | ♣ | ♠ |
| K Q J | A Q x x | K x | K J x x |
| K Q | K J x x | A Q x | K x x x |
| Q J 10 | A J x x | A Q x | K x x |
The underlined card indicates the lead.
When dummy is the maker of the trump, there are many hands from which the trump should be led as an initial opening. If you hold tenace suits, or suit containing single honours, and the adversary or your partner leads to you, you are in a better position to make your high cards, hence a trump opening in order to throw the lead.
If, however, you hold a sequence in any one suit, the trump lead is not necessary. Leading from a sequence is always good play, and rarely results in loss.
The following hands are given as examples of original trump openings when dummy is the maker.
| ♥ | ♦ | ♣ | ♠ |
| J 10 | A Q x | K J x x | A Q x x |
| 9 x | A J x x | A x x x | K x x x |
| 7 3 | A Q x | K x x x | K J x x |
| 8 5 | A Q x x x | A J x |
The underlined card indicates the lead.