The selection of the correct lead in Auction is not attended with so

many difficulties as in Whist, or even in Bridge. In Whist, the

original leader is obliged to begin the play in the dark, the turn-up

constituting his entire knowledge of the strength or weakness of the

other players. In Bridge, the extent of his information is limited to

the inferences that can be drawn from the declaration and the double,

but in Auction every player has made at least one announcement which is

more or less instructive.

When there has been considerable bidding it is frequently possible to

accurately estimate the length and strength of the suit of each player

and the trick-taking value of the balance of his hand. When only one or

two declarations have been made, so much information may not be

obtainable, but even then the leader, from the failure of certain

players to bid, may be able to make deductions of considerable value.

The Auction leader, therefore, must remember the various declarations,

draw both positive and negative inferences therefrom, and whenever it

is not advisable to open his partner's suit or his own, should follow

the old principle which, since the days of Pole, has been applicable to

all games of the Whist family, and realize "'Tis seldom wrong to lead

up to the weak and through the strong."

The original opening is materially varied by the character of the final

declaration, the system of leading against a No-trump being quite

different from that employed when a suit is Trump.

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