opening lead
Initial defensive play
The opening lead is the first card played in a hand of bridge or similar trick-taking games, made by the player to the left of the declarer before the dummy's cards are revealed.
It's a critical moment requiring both strategy and inference: Her opening lead of the king of spades set up a devastating defense.
The choice of opening lead often determines whether a contract succeeds or fails.
- bridgeStructure spanning an obstacle
- declarerOne who states openly
- contractEnforceable written agreement
- trumpSuit outranking all others
- dummyLifelike substitute figure
suit · bidding · trick · defense · ace · king · partner · table · singleton · doubleton · finesse · vulnerable · hearts · spades · diamonds · clubs · signal · attitude