The Video Transcript:

Okay, we have completed the pass, and now we’re going to come up with a play plan here. And basically, let’s just look at a hearts hand. I wouldn’t say a typical hearts hand because every hearts hand is unique. You’re not likely to get two identical hands dealt to you in your lifetime. I mean, because there are again millions of combinations of hands, but let’s look at a typical hand.

You’ve completed the pass, and um, somebody leads the deuce of clubs, and now you have an opportunity to take it. Okay, what is the best plan for this hand? Well, you don’t have the queen in your hand, so you have completely safe passage in spades. There is no way that you’re going to take the queen of spades leading spades. I’ve never seen it happen unless it’s the ace or king, but if you lead a low spade, you will never get hit with a queen, never, because the queen is the same suit. Okay, more queens get dumped on side suits, and the only way the queen that you can throw it on a spade is if it’s a higher spade.

So if the deuce of clubs is led and it comes around to you, or you know, it comes from the deuce of clubs—don’t forget is the opening lead in most hearts games unless you play a different variation, which would be the person who left to the dealer—you have completely safe play by leading the ace of clubs by taking the ace of clubs because you can’t dump on the first trick.

Okay, what’s the plan? Well, it could lead clubs, but why would you? I mean, you want to protect that three, and why do you want to mess around with this suit? I mean, if the person with the queen is short on diamonds and you lead some of the big boys like you got here, you’re gonna get absolutely blasted. Why not a safe, comfortable spade lead?