INTERMEDIATE BRIDGE COURSE                                                   

 DEFENSIVE PLAY OF THE HAND

 

LESSON 12-B

 

     Third Hand Play:  An old adage does exist which advocates the use of third hand playing high.  In  general, however, there are too many exceptions to enable one to develop a specific set of rules for third hand play, nor is it always appropriate to follow this narrow course of third hand always playing high.  Rather than to memorize and exclusively use this old axiom, one should alternatively utilize information gleaned from partner’s lead, dummy’s hand, possible layout of the suit in question, the contract; etc., in order to better determine the actions of partner in third position relative to partner’s opening lead. Third hand play is extremely important for, in simplistic terms, it is the last card your side will play to the trick, and it can, therefore, have profound significance. 

 

          1. Third hand high:   In each of the following layouts, your partner has led the 5 and the 3 is  

              played from the dummy.   Which card must be played by the third hand in order to ensure the    

              maximum number of tricks to which the defender’s are entitled?

 

                  73                      983                      A83

                     KJ652       A84         Q1065        K72          Q975             K106

                 Q109                     AJ4                      J42

 

          Conclusion:  Usually speaking, under most circumstances, the third hand defender is most     

                                        effective when contributing the highest card available when trying to

                                        maximize the number of tricks taken by the defenders.

 

2.      Only as High as is Necessary:  Playing the highest card available in Third Hand Play is not 

      always the best play.  Keep in mind the objective which must remain to promote cards in 

      partner’s hand by playing only the highest card necessary to do the job.  In the following card 

      layouts, partner again leads the 5 followed by the 3 from dummy.   What card would you play

      and what inferences might partner deduce from your play?

 

                A93                   J83                   A63

             5       QJ10          5       KQ10         5         KJ10

 

                Conclusion:  Third hand should, under all conditions, play only as high as is necessary, 

                                   playing the lower of touching cards when there is a choice to do so.  Before 

                                  deciding how high is necessary, however, the defender must look at both

                                  partner’s lead as well as the cards of the dummy.

 

3.      Trapping High Cards:   When deciding how high a card to play, third hand must try to 

                 visualize the entire layout of the suit.  Not being able to see either partner’s hand or declarer’s, 

                 it is often helpful to consider the bidding and the logic of the situation.   Remember, the       

                 general idea is to try to keep dummy’s high cards trapped whenever possible.   In each of the 

                 following layouts, which card must you play in third seat in order to enable your side tot 

                 eventually take the maximum number of tricks in the suit shown.

                

                  Q73                   J83                      K3

            K965       AJ4               Q765        K102        J9754      A106

                  1082                  A94                      Q82

 

             Conclusion:  When partner leads a low card, he/she is probably leading from an honor.  

                        Try to visualize partner’s holding and, whenever possible, keep dummy’s high cards 

                         trapped

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4.      When Partner Leads a High Card:   So far we have addressed the situation where partner has led a low card which usually necessitates third hand playing high.   When Partner leads a high card, however, third hand may not need to play high, especially when there is an honor

      needing to be trapped in dummy.   In each of the following examples, partner has led the Jack

      and dummy has put in the 4.   How should the defenders play the suit such that all the tricks to

      which they are entitled are secured?

 

           K74                     Q84                      754

    J1085       AQ6                 J1095        A63          KJ109       A63

                 932                     K72                      Q82

 

                         Conclusion:  When partner leads a high card, you may be capable of trapping a high card

                         in the dummy by playing a low card rather than third hand high.   On the other hand, if

                         there are only small cards in the dummy, you may have to overtake partner’s high card if

                         there be an opportunity of potentially trapping a high card in declarer’s hand.

 

5.      Unblocking:   There are times when it is appropriate for third hand to play high even though it might, at first glance, seem unnecessary.   One of these conditions is when the suit would

      otherwise block; i.e., one would not be able to lead the suit back for partner to take his/her

      winners.  In the following examples partner has led the underlined card with dummy   

      following as indicated.   Assuming partner to have no other outside entries except for the suit  

      shown, which card must third hand play in order for the defenders to maximize their tricks?

 

                      942              A92              A83               A94

      KQJ75    A3     QJ1063    K4     J10965    KQ2     Q10752    K3

           1086             875               74                J86

 

       Conclusion:  In order to avoid stranding partner’s winners, third hand must sometimes 

             play a high card, even though it is not needed to win the trick.   The goal must rather be to

             maintain a small card with which to lead the same suit back to partner.

 

6.      Putting it all Together:   Partner has led the indicated card.   Which card should third hand 

      play so as to maximize the defender’s trick-taking capacity, and why?

 

    1083         A83          AQ3         Q83          K3         843

   4    KJ5     6   QJ2     10   KJ4     4   KJ10     2  AJ4     Q    K7

 

 

CONCLUSION:   The general guideline dictates that third hand usually plays high.   Before automatically contributing your highest card, however, take a look at both the specific card which partner has led as well as the cards visible in the dummy.   One must play a card that is no higher than is necessary while, at the same time, attempting to entrap any high card in the dummy’s hand.  At the same time, one must guard against blocking the suit by being left with the highest card in the suit when partner is waiting to take his/her remaining winners.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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