The second lead is as important

Willie Tyler, a ventriloquist, comedian and thespian, said, "The reason lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place is that the same place isn't there the second time."

That sounds logical, although an overbid on the power of lightning. The key word for today's deal, though, is "second."

A defender's opening lead imparts information about his holding in that suit, but sometimes it takes his second lead to tell partner exactly how to defend.