Develop your bridge---Defence

Attitude

Don't forget that this is only one aspect of Communications, which you need to look at first before studying this page.

Often, when partner has led an ace or a king, he is keen to know if you approve of this suit, either because you yourself have a high card in it which you can contribute later on, or because you have a shortage and may be able to obtain a ruff. So if your holding is Q 8 2, and partner leads the ace, you would play the 8 as an 'encouraging' card. You have a positive attitude towards this suit. If you held 9 8 2, you would play the 2 on partner's ace. You don't think much of this suit. Holding 8 2 with partner leading a side-suit ace against a trump contract, your 8 qualifies both as the beginning of a peter and also as a positive attitude. You are hoping for a ruff.

If you adopt the principle of 'attitude', you will find that it does not conflict with earlier advice on petering.

Have a look at these.

S 5 4 3

Against a contract of 4S, say, the lead of the 7 of diamonds is paving the way for a ruff. Your partner has points. With partner on lead, you would follow to the ace of diamonds with the 7 for the same reason.

H 9 8 4

D 7 3

C A J 7 6 5

S A 8 4

Against a contract of 4H, say, if partner leads the ace of clubs you would play the 7, to show that you like this suit. Replace the king by the 8 and your card would become the 2 or 3.

H 6 3

D Q 5 3 2

C K 7 3 2

S J 7 5

Against a no-trump contract, partner leads the king of spades. It should be from K Q 10, so he wants to know if you have the ace or jack. Tell him by playing the 7.

H 4 3 2

D Q 9 5

C K 7 5 3

S 8 5 3

If partner leads the king of diamonds against any contract, you must overtake with the ace and lead back the 3. We never said this was an easy game!

H J 6 2

D A 3

C 8 6 5 4 2

Go away and try it now, alongside petering, and see how you get on. Remember to take your partner with you! Your next step, when you are ready will be to look at 'count'.

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Serendipity

Bridge was an opportunity for women to gain intellectual parity with their husbands. We worked on their basic instinct of fear. We made it almost shameful not to play contract bridge.

Attributed to Ely Culbertson