Long Thru, Short To
Definition
A core position maxim: lead a fail suit your opponent is long in when you sit to their left ("through" the picker), and lead a suit they are short in when you sit to their right ("to" the picker). The goal is to force them to play their best card from an awkward seat.
Long Thru, Short To in play
This is the defenders' positioning rule. Sitting to the picker's left, you lead a suit they are long in, forcing the picker to act before their partner can help. Sitting to the picker's right, you lead a suit they are short in, so they must trump in or duck. Applied well, it repeatedly puts the picker in awkward spots and is the backbone of skilled defense.
Example
“Sitting left of the picker, lead a suit you suspect they have many of — they must play before their partner can help.”
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Related Terms
Long Suit
A fail suit in which you hold many cards (typically 3+). Long suits are weak on offense because the suit usually gets trumped before your low cards can win — but they can be useful for grinding out tricks once trump is exhausted.
Short Suit
A fail suit in which you hold only one or two cards. Short suits are valuable: leading them creates a void quickly, and being short to a strong opponent (right-side seat) forces them to commit high cards early.
Picker
The player who took the blind. They're the "captain" of their team and score double points (win or lose).
Partner
The player holding the called Ace who teams up with the picker. The partner's identity is secret until the called Ace is played.