Leads

by David Stevenson

Honour Leads

Standard (ace from ace-king)

The higher of two touching honours is led.
A from AKx, K from KQx, Q from QJx, AQJ, J from JTx, AJT, KJT, T from T9x, AT9, KT9, QT9

Standard (king from ace-king)

The higher of two touching honours is led unless ace and king are held
K from AKx, KQx, Q from QJx, AQJ, J from JTx, AJT, KJT, T from T9x, AT9, KT9, QT9

Ace for attitude, king for count
Ace or queen for attitude, king for count
King for attitude, ace or queen for count

These allow leader to choose what to lead from top honours dependent on what signal he wants.

Strong tens

The lead of a ten shows an interior sequence.
T from AJT, AT9, KJT, KT9, QT9

Strong nines

The lead of a nine shows either the ten but no other honour, or the eight and a higher honour.
9 from T9x, A98, K98, Q98, J98

Rusinow

The lead of an honour shows the honour above. There may be further non-touching honours above. Often confused with Roman.
K from AKx, Q from KQx, J from QJx, AQJ, T from JTx, AJT, KJT, 9 from T9x, AT9, KT9, QT9

Roman

The lead of an honour shows one honour above, touching or non-touching. Often confused with Rusinow.
K from AKx, Q from KQx, J from QJx, AQJ, T from JTx, AJT, KJT, 9 from T9x, AT9, KT9, QT9

Coded nines and tens
Zero or two higher

The lead of a nine or higher is either the top card or there are two cards higher.
A from AKx, K from KQx, Q from QJx, J from JTx, AQJ, T from T9x, AJT, KJT, 9 from 98x, AT9, KT9, QT9

Small Card Leads

4th highest

Lead the fourth highest card from any suit of four or more. Often considered to include leading lowest from three to an honour.

Top of nothing

Sometimes played with 4th highest, lead the highest card from a suit not holding an honour. That implies that a 4th highest lead shows an honour.

MUD

Lead the middle card from three small, then the highest (MUD stands for “Middle Up Down”). Often played with Top of nothing from four or more.

4th and 2nd

Lead the fourth highest card from any suit of four or more to an honour, lowest from three to an honour, and second highest from any suit of three or more not headed by an honour.
Often called 2nd and 4th especially in the British Isles.

2nd and 4th

Lead the fourth highest card from any suit of four or more. Lead the second highest card from any suit of two or three. Some players also lead second from any suit not headed by an honour.
Often confused with 4th and 2nd especially in the British Isles.

3rd and 5th

3rd from three or four. 5th from five or more
or
3rd from three or four. 5th from five or six, 7th from seven
When introduced they were played as 3rd and lowest but called “3rd and 5th”. This has led to confusion ever since.

3rd and lowest

3rd from an even number, bottom from an odd number.
People who play this often call them “3rd and 5th”.

Attitude

A low card suggests returning the suit, a high card suggests a switch. Some players add refinements for middle cards.
These leads are often confused with Boston or Small-call.

Small-call Boston

A low card shows an honour, a high card denies. Some players add refinements for middle cards.
Boston stands for “Bottom of Something, Top of Nothing”.
These leads are often confused with Attitude.

Editor's note:

If you want to comment on this article, why not write direct to me, David Stevenson? I shall be pleased to hear from you!

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