28 The dreaded fourth highest

Almost every bridge player I’ve met seems to think that this rule came down to us with Moses’ tablets, but it’s one of the worst rules in bridge unless you understand one thing thoroughly: only use it if you have a good chance of regaining the lead, perhaps twice, in order to reap the fruits of your endeavour. It will usually take your side two rounds of this suit before you have the winning remnants, and what if your nice coloured pictures have somehow disappeared in the meantime? Ah well, you say, perhaps my partner can get in and lead my suit? That’s if he hasn’t carelessly blocked it or thrown it away. I’m saying, don’t lead 4th highest from a poor hand - you need 7 points at least normally. And there’s more. You can wreck your chances even from a good holding like KQJxx if you lead 4th.  That luck came to me once when I was the fortunate declarer holding A10 doubleton. Thanks, chum, I can now see my nine tricks.

Some rules: (sorry, guidelines):

1 If partner has bid a suit, always lead it. Only two excuses not to: void, or heart attack.

2 If you lead your own suit you have at least 7 points and (surely) a 5-suit or better.

3 If your suit has three honours, lead the honours.

Got all that? Here’s what do if you are too weak to lead well: guess partner’s suit and lead that. After all, if you’ve less than 7 points he’ll have 9 (40-25 = 15 even if they are in 3NT).  If he happens to have a long suit, you’ll have fewer of it, so your best chance may be to lead top of nothing in a short suit (I have occasionally led a singleton successfully). A good clue is, if they have not used Stayman, lead a major. Good luck!