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Home > Tutorial > Defence > General principles > Defender's play when third in hand
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Defender's play when third in hand
Generally speaking, this is the last chance that 'our side' has of taking the trick. So, we will normally play the highest card necessary to take the trick, bearing in mind that this choice of card will often be influenced by what we can see in dummy.
At the same time, since our partner has led this suit, we should try and work out his plan, if he has one, where the other cards in this suit are and whether it will pay us to continue this suit now or later.
In the four hands that follow, dummy is still to play, the lead is in the middle of the game and the cards played are underlined. This is pretty straightforward.
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The 2 is led. We must play the Queen otherwise declarer's Jack will take the trick. |
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The 5 is led. The play of the 9 is sufficient. To play the King would be a waste here. |
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The Queen is led. If partner's card is holding the trick and cannot be beaten by dummy, there is usually no need to contribute a high card. |
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The Queen has been led and the situation appears much the same as the hand above. However....if overtaking would not cost anything, and you judge that the lead to the next trick could best come from your hand, then overtake ie play your King. |
The more difficult situation is where dummy is playing second. The important (albeit obvious) thing to remember here is that if you are following dummy, then once dummy's card has been chosen, the other cards in dummy cannot be played.
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If the 9 is played from dummy, the 10 is sufficient since none of J, Q or K can be played by declarer to beat this. By the same reasoning, if the 3 is played, then the 8 is sufficient. |
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If the 9 or the 7 is played from dummy, the Jack is enough to take the trick. If the Queen is played, you must play your King. |
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If the 4 is played from dummy, the 5 is sufficient. If the 6 were played, play your 7. |
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