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.
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Partner leads the
10 and dummy plays the 6. What do you (East) play? A76
10 KQ84 Choose One:1. -42. -83. -Q4. -KAnswer: 3Q. Third-hand high, but cheapest of equals. When the queen wins, your partner knows you also have the king. If you erroneously win the king, your partner will assume declarer has the queen.Your result so far:Partner leads the
2 and dummy plays the 3. What do you (East) play? K93 2 A108 Choose One:1. -82. -103. -AAnswer: 18. Don't waste your ace (even if declarer has the jack, he will get a trick one way or the other). If declarer has the queen, you'd be giving him 2 tricks. Don't waste the 10 when the 8 will do the same job. Picture partner with Jxxx.Your result so far:Partner leads the
2 and dummy plays the A. What do you (East) play? AJ7 2 KQ1093 Choose One:1. -32. -93. -104. -Q5. -KAnswer: 310. When you can't win the trick, give a signal (assuming standard signals, high is encouraging). Sure, the 9 is also high, but why not be as clear as possible. Use any card from a 2-to-10 to signal. Note-this is a signal, so "cheapest of touching" doesn't apply. (Throwing/signalling with the K would show the queen, but you can't afford it as you might be the one leading the suit later on).Your result so far:Partner leads the
2 and dummy plays the3. What do you (East) play?J63 2 K1094 Choose One:1. -42. -93. -104. -KAnswer: 29. Don't waste your king "on air." Picture declarer with A75. Don't play the 10--because it would deny the 9. Play cheapest of equals when playing third to a trick (unless giving a signal when partner or dummy has already won the trick).Your result so far:Partner leads the
J and dummy plays the3. What do you (East) play? Q83 J A92 Choose One:1. -22. -93. -AAnswer: 12. Don't waste the ace (picture declarer with Kxx, or for that matter, with xxx).
Don't signal with the 9 to encourage (you can't afford it)--picture declarer withK54.Your result so far:You are East.
The auction is:
West North East South 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 82Choose One:1. -A2. -93. -5Answer: 1A. You know declarer has at most 1 spade. You want to be on lead to play a club for partner. If partner doesn't have anything in clubs, then you aren't about to beat this contract. Today, however, this is the full deal:Vul:None
Dlr: South 8762 Q74 AKQ 763 KQJ43 2 1076 AQ43 A95 987 95432 82 10 AKJ1053 J8 KJ105Partner wins and and you can ruff the third club.
Your result so far: