3rd and 5th Leads
Playing 3rd and 5th does not affect when or if to lead an honor, what honor to lead, what to return, how to signal, or any other carding you may have. It only affects when you are on opening lead and have decided to lead a small card
So how do you lead 3rd and 5th? Very easy. When you are leading a small card in a suit of odd length, lead the smallest, otherwise lead 3rd best.
3rd and 5th solves several problems.
- Partner is usually given an immediate count of opening leader's suit length. If the card is the smallest, then opening leader has an odd number. Otherwise an even number.
- When playing 4th best, leading from 3 was a problem. So playing 4th best usually turned into 3rd or 4th best, which is hard to decipher from only one card.
Might as well play 3/5 always against suit contracts and solve the problem.