ACBL07D – Defense: Opening Notrump Leads         Ward Trumbull

                             S I F T Supersedes F I S T                       Apr 23, 2013

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      For the past few years I have been using F I S T as the reminder acronym for opening leads against notrump contracts.  The priority sequence for these type leads is;

  1. Top of Sequence of three
  2. Interior Sequence
  3. Fourth longest                 (Used 90% of time – poor choice)
  4. Top of nothing  

 

      S I F T matches that priority sequence better than F I S T.

 

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S 1. Top of Sequence of 3 from 4+ card suit.

2 Top of complimentary Sequence of 3 from 4+ card suit.

 

Complimentary A K J x Q J 9 x

EXAMPLES: (3rd card missing)

K Q 10 x J 10 8 x

 

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I Second card from top of Interior sequence from a 4+ card suit.

 

EXAMPLES: A Q J x

(2nd card missing)

K J 10 x

ACBL07D – Defence: Opening Notrump Leads          Ward Trumbull

                             S I F T Supersedes F I S T                         Apr 23, 2013

                                                                                                                            Page 2 of 2

 

F Fourth card down from a suit headed by an Ace and/or

one-or-more face cards.

 

EXAMPLES: A 10 9 4 K J 9 6 Q 7 5 2 A K 9 4 3

 

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T Top of nothing spot card, hoping it is partner’s strong suit.

 

EXAMPLES: 8 6 9 7 5 3 10 7 6 6 5 4 2

 

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I use Top more often than Fourth.