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Defense -- Third-Hand Play


Defense -- Third-Hand Play

THIRD-HAND PLAY

When playing 3rd to a trick on defense, the general rule is "Third-Hand High." So, if partner leads low, and dummy plays low (from 762), you put up your king with, say, K94.  But, there are exceptions:

1) With touching cards, play the cheapest you can afford. Partner leads low, dummy plays low and you should insert the Q from KQxx, the 10 from QJ10, the K from AKx, etc.

2) If partner (or dummy) is winning the trick, you won't waste a high card. But, you should signal your attitude. Playing standard signals, the 2 (low card) would say you don't like it and the 10 (high card) would say you do.

3) If dummy has the king, queen, or jack and you have the card that is one or two higher than dummy's, save your high one to capture dummy's high one. So, partner leads low and dummy has Qxx.  If dummy's queen is played, cover. If dummy plays low, insert the 10 with K10x.

You might also consider getting Larry's book on Defense HERE or try Larry's Defense Webinar series which you can find HERE

You can BUY THE DVD, TOO!

 

Partner leads the ♠10 and dummy plays the ♠6. What do you (East) play?

  ♠ A76
♥ 
♦ 
♣ 
 
♠ 10
♥ 
♦ 
♣ 
  ♠ KQ84
♥ 
♦ 
♣ 
Choose One:

♠4

♠8

♠Q

♠K

Partner leads the ♠2 and dummy plays the ♠3. What do you (East) play?

  ♠ K93
♥ 
♦ 
♣ 
 
♠ 2
♥ 
♦ 
♣ 
  ♠ A108
♥ 
♦ 
♣ 
Choose One:

♠8

♠10

♠A

Partner leads the ♠2 and dummy plays the ♠A. What do you (East) play?

  ♠ AJ7
♥ 
♦ 
♣ 
 
♠ 2
♥ 
♦ 
♣ 
  ♠ KQ1093
♥ 
♦ 
♣ 
Choose One:

♠3

♠9

♠10

♠Q

♠K

Partner leads the ♠2 and dummy plays the♠3. What do you (East) play?

  ♠J63
♥ 
♦ 
♣ 
 
♠ 2
♥ 
♦ 
♣ 
  ♠ K1094
♥ 
♦ 
♣ 
Choose One:

♠4

♠9

♠10

♠K

Partner leads the ♠J and dummy plays the♠3. What do you (East) play?

  ♠ Q83
♥ 
♦ 
♣ 
 
♠ J
♥ 
♦ 
♣ 
  ♠ A92
♥ 
♦ 
♣ 
Choose One:

♠2

♠9

♠A

You are East.

The auction is:

WestNorthEastSouth
       1♠
 1♠  2♠  DBL*  4♠
All Pass      

*Double promises an honor here, saying it's safe to lead spades.

 

Partner leads the ♠K. Dummy comes down:

What is your play at trick 1?

Vul:None
Dlr: South
♠ 8762
♥ Q74
♦ AKQ
♣ 763
 
    ♠ A95
♥ 987
♦ 95432
♣ 82

 

 

Choose One:

♠A

♠9

♠5