ACBL07D – Defense: Opening Notrump Leads Ward Trumbull
S I F T Supersedes F I S T Apr 23, 2013
Page 1 of 2
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;
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.