The beginner will appreciate the fact that strength in a suit consists of high cards, but is apt to find the term "leading through" difficult to understand. Leading through means to make a person play second in hand to the trick. You always lead through your left-hand adversary.
The object of leading through strength is to help your partner make his high cards by giving him the advantage of playing after the exposed hand.
Holding a sequence of two or more cards, headed by a Queen, Jack, or Ten, when there is an honour in the dummy it is good play to lead the highest card. If the dummy does not cover this lead, it gives your partner an opportunity to pass the trick.
Holding one or two high cards of dummy's strong suit that are not in sequence, avoid leading the suit. Wait until dummy leads to you.
Don't lead through strength when dummy holds a sequence of three or more cards, as
| A | K | Q |
| K | Q | J |
| Q | J | 10 |
Holding a high card or cards in a suit in which the dummy is weak, avoid leading that suit. Try to put your partner in the lead, so that he may lead it to you.
Holding no high cards in the suit, the following combinations should be led through:
| A | Q | x |
| A | J | x |
| A | x | x |
| K | Q | x |
| K | J | x |
| K | x | x |
| Q | x | x |
Holding a sequence of two or more cards the following combinations should be led through: