THE UNDERLINED CARD INDICATES THE LEAD.
(Hearts) Trump Declared by Dealer.
| ♥ | ♠ | ♦ | ♣ |
| J 8 2 | K J 7 6 | A K Q 5 3 | 7 |
| 8 | A Q 6 5 4 2 | Q 8 4 | K 9 8 |
| J 10 | 10 8 4 | K J 9 | A 8 7 4 3 |
| J 6 4 | A Q J 10 9 | 7 3 2 | 9 6 4 |
| 10 4 | A 6 | A J 7 5 3 2 | 8 7 5 |
| 9 7 | A K 4 | A 8 6 4 3 | 7 6 3 |
| 6 5 3 | 8 6 5 2 | K J 5 3 | A K |
| J 6 5 | 9 6 4 2 | A 10 | 9 7 4 3 |
| 9 5 3 | A 6 | K 9 5 2 | A Q 5 4 |
| 8 6 5 | 9 6 3 | A J 9 4 | 10 5 3 |
| ♥ | ♠ | ♦ | ♣ |
| 8 6 | A 5 | A J 5 | K Q J 7 6 4 |
| 9 8 6 4 | 7 | A 8 5 3 | K Q J 10 |
| K 8 5 | 8 5 4 | 10 6 5 3 | Q J 10 |
| K 10 5 | K 6 3 | K Q 8 5 | A 7 3 |
| A J 6 | K 6 4 | 8 6 4 3 | K Q J |
| Q 7 5 | Q J 10 6 | A 8 5 | A Q 7 |
| J 6 4 | 10 | K Q J 9 7 5 | Q 7 3 |
| ♥ | ♠ | ♦ | ♣ |
| Q J 7 4 | K 10 8 4 | A 7 | J 9 5 |
| K 6 | Q J 9 6 4 | 9 8 6 | 6 5 2 |
| 8 5 | A J 6 | K J 10 8 5 | K 7 4 |
| J 10 | Q J 7 3 | A Q 6 3 | A J 8 |
| A J 7 5 | 4 3 | 10 8 7 4 2 | Q 5 |
| J 8 5 3 | K 10 7 5 3 | A 8 6 | 8 |
| 8 6 4 | 9 5 2 | 8 6 3 | Q 9 6 4 |
| 10 6 | K 10 8 3 | 10 7 6 2 | A J 5 |
| K 10 7 | A J 8 | 10 7 5 4 | Q 9 2 |
| A J | J 6 4 | Q 10 8 6 2 | 8 5 3 |
INFERENCES FROM HIGH CARD LEADS
It is not easy to determine from the lead of a high card how many cards are held in the suit. You can only assume the length from the number of cards you hold and the number in dummy. The fall of the cards may give the information, but you cannot rely altogether on the dealer’s play; it is his object to make it difficult for you to place the cards.
The lead of an ace denies the king. If the king is neither in dummy nor in your own hand, it should be placed with the dealer. Should your partner, however, lead an ace and follow with the king, the lead indicates that he holds no other card of that suit, and should enable you to locate the queen.
Among the better players the lead of an ace also denies the queen, since if the suit is led up to the ace, queen, tenace, two tricks may be made. This inference, however, should not be too rigidly drawn, because great length in the suit might justify an opening from an ace-queen combination.