Follow the Leader

You are on defense and hold an honor sequence in a suit: two or more cards "touching" or equal in rank. For example, the K-Q  or the J-10-9 . Since they all have the same practical effect toward winning a trick, does it matter which one you play? Does it matter whether you are on lead or following suit?

ANSWER: Yes, yes, it matters a lot to partner! Which card you play from equal honors gives your partner (and okay, yes, declarer too) some important clues about the other cards you hold in that suit. There is a very standard way of playing honor sequences:

1. Lead from the top of the sequence. The standard opening leads we all learned are the K from K-Q-whatever, the Q from Q-J-whatever, and so on. In general, the lead of an honor promises the next-lower honor (or a void) and denies the next-higher. Most experts today prefer A from A-K against suit contracts, although this is not universal; you and your partner should discuss how your partnership will lead from A-K. Note that this applies throughout the hand, not just on opening lead.
    
2. Follow from the bottom of the sequence. In general, try to win the trick as cheaply as possible. The card you play denies the next lowest card. For example, if you follow suit with the Q you have denied holding the J; you haven't promised the K, but partner will know that you don't have the J. As with leading from the top, this rule applies throughout the hand.
    
3. Discard (signal) from the top of the sequence. Discarding an honor promises the next-lower honor (or a void) and denies the next-higher. For example, discarding the Q promises the J and denies the K. 

There are, of course, some important exceptions:

• With doubleton honors (no other cards in the suit), reverse the above rules. For example, with K-Q doubleton, lead the Q; when you later play the K, partner will realize why you "broke the rule" of leading from the top.
• With three or more, lead from the top and then lead next from the bottom. For example, with K-Q-J you'll lead the K and then next lead the J; partner will realize that you have the Q but not the 10.
• When splitting honors in second or fourth seat I suggest "follow low" just for simplicity, but you should discuss this with your partner. Expert agreements vary in this situation, often depending on how many cards are in the sequence.

So how to remember this? Here are some mnemonic ideas:

• The leaders in an organization are at the top of the organization chart (sequence) and the followers are at the bottom. 
• The leaders are at the head of the parade (sequence) and the followers at the end
• "folLOW" (follow low)
• For signaling, think of smoke signals from the top of the mountain (sequence).

BONUS MINUTE: When you have the doubleton Q-J in a suit that declarer controls, it is best to follow suit randomly; play the Q first 50% of the time, and play the J first 50% of the time. Note that you'll have to make your decision before declarer plays the suit, otherwise declarer will read your hesitation like a book. The reasons for the randomized play are too complicated to explain here; you can Google "restricted choice in bridge" for more details.