,transcriber's ,notes3 ,underscores 80 before and after a word or phrase indicate italics in the original text4 ,equal signs 80 before and after a word or phrase indicate bold in the original text4 ,small capitals have been converted to ,,solid capitals4 ,old or antiquated spellings have been preserved4 ,the original text used both 8redouble0 and 8re-double0 interchangeably4 ,in this edition only the modern spelling of 8redouble0 is used4 ---------------------------------------- --------------------------- ,,advanced ,,bridge ,,mr4 ,,elwell',s ,,books ,,advanced ,,bridge3 ,the ,higher ,principles of the ,game ,analysed and ,explained1 and their ,application ,illustrated1 by ,hands taken from ,actual ,play4 #a4ej1 net4 ,postage1 #h cents4 ,,bridge3 ,its ,principles and ,rules of ,play4 #a4be1 net4 ,,the ,,analysis ,,and ,,complete ,,play ,,of ,,the ,,bridge ,,tournament ,,hands4 #fj cents1 net4 ,postage1 #e cents4 ,,advanced ,,bridge ,,the ,,higher ,,principles ,,of ,,the ,,game ,,analysed ,,and ,,explained1 ,,and ,,their ,,application ,,illustrated1 ,,by ,,hands ,,taken ,,from ,,actual ,,play ,,by ,j4 ,b4 ,,elwell ,,author ,,of 8,,elwell ,,on ,,bridge0 8,,bridge ,,tournament ,,hands0 ,,sixth ,,edition ,,new ,,york ,,charles ,,scribner',s ,,sons #aijg ,,copyright1 #aijd1 #aije1 ,,by ,j4 ,b4 ,,elwell ,illustration ,,to ,,mr4 ,,henry ,i4 ,,barbey ,,who ,,first ,,introduced ,,bridge ,,in ,,america ,,the ,,author ,,cordially ,,dedicates ,,this ,,book ,,preface ,in the study of any game1 the foundation of success must be a thorough acquaintance with the principles of play4 ,this once attained1 future progress becomes easy and rapid4 ,many writers on ,bridge have left much of the play to the individual judgment and knowledge of the player1 and in most works on this subject1 illustrations of the fundamental principles are largely wanting4 ,the present work is an attempt to supply these deficiencies2 this volume is intended to aid the ,bridge student in acquiring a practical acquaintance with the various forms of attack and defence as outlined by the best players4 ,particular attention is given to the dealer's play of the dummy hand1 the management of trumps is outlined in detail1 and the underlying principles are fully illustrated by the complete play of selected hands4 ,the writer has endeavoured to make this work simple in its arrangement and style so as to be adapted to the capacity of all lovers of ,bridge1 comprehensive and complete so as to be a sufficient and certain guide in the most difficult as well as in the easy situations4 ,the laws of ,bridge published in this edition have been prepared by the author1 who has used as a foundation the codes accepted by the principal clubs of the world4 ,the author does not favour the exaction of a penalty for the dealer's lead out of turn4 ,the ,american opinion on this point is divided1 but the ,english practice is to exact no penalty4 ,otherwise the various club codes show but minor differences4 ,,contents ,,page ,,preface vii ,,the ,,laws ,,of ,,bridge #a ,,etiquette #bb ,,bridge ,,for ,,three ,,players #be ,,the ,,score #bg ,declaring to the score #bg ,playing to the score #bh ,the non-dealer's play to the score #bi ,,the ,,declaration #ca 8,no-,trump0 declaration by the dealer #cb ,rules for 8,no-,trump0 declaration by the dealer #cb 8,no-,trump0 with three aces #ce 8,no-,trump0 with two aces and one other guarded suit #ce 8,no-,trump0 with two aces #cf 8,no-,trump0 with one ace #cg 8,no-,trump0 without an ace #cg ,examples of 8,no-,trump0 makes #ch ,hearts #ch ,rules for the heart make #dj ,five hearts including three honours #dj ,five hearts including two honours #da ,five hearts with one honour #da ,four hearts with three honours #da ,examples of hands that should not be passed #db ,hearts in preference to 8,no-,trump0 #db ,hearts1 not 8,no-,trump0 #dc ,diamonds #dc ,clubs #df ,spades #dg ,passed makes #dg ,abandoning spade hands #di ,,doubling #ea ,redoubling #ed ,estimating the value of a hand #ed ,the lead when partner has doubled #ee ,the heart convention #eg ,the weak suit convention #eg ,,the ,,non-,,dealer',s ,,play ,,against ,a ,,declared ,,trump #ei ,the opening lead #fj ,examples of opening leads #fc ,inferences from high card leads #fd ,inferences from low card leads #fg ,examples of inference from opening leads #fh ,original trump openings #gj ,original trump openings from strength #gb ,the trump lead against a spade make #gb ,how to play to partner's trump opening #gc ,leading trumps to prevent a ruff in the weak trump hand #gd ,short suit openings #gd ,leading through strength #gg ,when to lead through strength #gh ,choice of suits to lead through #gi ,suggestions for third hand play #hj ,inferences from third hand play #hb ,leading up to dummy #hg ,the ,echo #hh ,forcing #hi ,returning partner's lead #ia ,second hand play #ia ,when you play before the dummy #ib ,when you play before the dealer #id ,,inferences #ie ,the value of information #if ,how to draw inferences #ig ,inferences regarding the make #ih ,general inferences #ii ,,the ,,non-,,dealer',s ,,play ,,of ,a 8,,no-,,trump0 ,,hand #ajb ,the original lead #ajc ,the original lead at 8,no-,trump0 #ajf ,opening a short suit against a 8,no-,trump0 declaration #ajg ,unblocking #ajh ,returning partner's lead #aji ,holding up by the non-dealers #aaa ,examples of holding up #aab ,taking out re-entry cards #aae ,,the ,,discard #aaf ,the discard against a declared trump #aag ,the discard at 8,no-,trump0 #aah ,hints on discarding #aba ,the reverse discard #abb ,discarding by the dealer #abb ,,the ,,dealer',s ,,play #abd ,combining the hands of dealer and dummy #abe ,ace1 ,queen1 ,jack ,combination #abe ,ace1 king1 jack combination #abg ,ace1 jack1 ten combination #abi ,king1 jack1 ten combination #abi ,miscellaneous combinations #acj ,arranging the lead #aca ,finessing #acb ,the finesse obligatory #acd ,watching the discards in order to locate finesses #ace ,second hand plays #acf ,,management ,,of ,,trumps ,,by ,,the ,,dealer #aci ,when to lead trumps #aci ,when not to lead trumps #ada ,unblocking the trump suit #adb ,not forcing your strong trump hand #adb ,leading trumps to prevent a ruff #adc ,when to draw the remaining trumps #add ,discontinuing the lead of trumps #add ,when to trump #adf ,overtrumping #adg ,re-entry cards #adh ,forcing discards #adh ,throwing the lead #aej ,,the ,,dealer',s ,,play ,,of ,a 8,,no-,,trump0 ,,declaration #aea ,choice of suits #aeb ,keeping the commanding card of the adversaries' suit #aed ,re-entry cards #aeh ,unblocking #afb ,overtaking #afd 8,ducking0 #afg 8,overtaking and unblocking0 #aga 8,overtaking and ducking0 #agb ,the defence against overtaking and 8ducking0 #agc ,,card ,,strategy #age ,,lost ,,tricks #ahc 8,,your ,,partner40 ,,his ,,idiosyncrasies1 ,,and ,,some ,,of ,,yours #aij ,,illustrative ,,hands #aie ,,end ,,plays #bgg ,refusing to draw the losing trump #bgi ,leading the losing trump #bhj ,throwing the lead #bha ,leading a singleton #bhb ,saving a low trump to lead #bhc ,refusing to over trump #bhd ,the extra trump #bhe ,unblocking #bhf ,making a tenace #bhg ,,glossary #bhi ,,index #bic ,,index ,,to ,,illustrative ,,hands ,,no4 ,,page #a4 ,saving an entry card4 ,leading the losing trump #aig #b4 ,not showing adversaries that the weak hand can 8ruff0 #aii #c4 ,leading the losing trump #bja #d4 ,arranging the lead #bjc #e4 ,not leading trumps until losing cards have been discarded #bje #f4 ,leading through #bjg #g4 ,refusing to accept a force #bji #h4 ,not taking a finesse which1 if unsuccessful1 would block the trump suit #baa #i4 ,saving an entry card4 ,overtaking #bac #aj4 ,double entry #bae #aa4 ,making an entry card #bag #ab4 ,a card of re-entry #bai #ac4 ,double entry #bba #ad4 ,overtaking to make an entry card #bbc #ae4 ,not holding up an ace4 ,unblocking #bbe #af4 ,holding up a king #bbg #ag4 ,overtaking1 losing a trick1 in order to make a suit #bbi #ah4 ,not taking a finesse #bca #ai4 ,forcing discards to locate a finesse #bcc #bj4 ,deschapelles coup4 ,finesse obligatory #bce #ba4 ,not allowing adversary to lead through a once guarded king #bcg #bb4 ,not allowing an established suit to make #bci #bc4 8,ducking0 #bda #bd4 ,leading through dummy's strength #bdc #be4 ,preventing a ruff by the weak trump hand #bde #bf4 ,preventing a ruff by the weak trump hand #bdg #bg4 ,not forcing #bdi #bh4 ,inference #bea #bi4 ,inference #bec #cj4 ,inference #bee #ca4 ,leading through #beg #cb4 ,overtaking by the adversary #bei #cc4 ,refusing to play the high card of a long suit #bfa #cd4 ,arranging the lead #bfc #ce4 ,not unblocking4 ,deschapelles coup #bfe #cf4 ,abandoning a suit #bfg #cg4 ,discarding commanding cards #bfi #ch4 ,counting #bga #ci4 ,allowing the weaker hand to 8ruff0 #bgc #dj4 ,not holding up an ace #bge ,,advanced ,,bridge ,,the ,,laws ,,of ,,bridge ,,revised #aije ,,the ,,rubber #a4 ,the partners first winning two games win the rubber4 ,if the first two games be won by the same partners1 the third game is not played4 ,,scoring #b4 ,a game consists of thirty points obtained by tricks alone1 exclusive of any points counted for honours1 chicane or slam4 #c4 ,every hand is played out1 and any points in excess of thirty points necessary for the game are counted4 #d4 ,each trick above six counts two points when spades are trumps1 four points when clubs are trumps1 six points when diamonds are trumps1 eight points when hearts are trumps1 and twelve points when there are no trumps4 #e4 ,honours are ace1 king1 queen1 knave and ten of the trump suit2 or the aces when no trump is declared4 #f4 ,honours are credited to the original holders and are valued as follows3 ---------------------------------------- ------------------- ,,no ,,declaration4 ,,trumps ---------------------------------------- ------------------- ,each ,trick above ,six #b #d #f #h #ab #c ,honours #d #h #ab #af #cj #d #h #af #bd #cb #dj #d 7,all in one hand7 #af #cb #dh #fd #ajj ,,honours #e #aj #bj #cj #dj -- #e 7#d in one hand7 #ah #cf #ed #gb -- #e 7,all in one hand7 #bj #dj #fj #hj -- ,chicane #d #h #ab #af -- ---------------------------------------- ------------------- ,rubber #ajj1 ,grand ,slam #dj1 ,little ,slam #bj4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------------ #g4 ,if a player and his partner make thirteen tricks1 independently of any tricks gained by the revoke penalty1 they score ,grand ,slam and add forty points to their honour count4 #h4 ,little slam is twelve tricks similarly scored1 and adds twenty points to the honour count4 #i4 ,chicane 7one hand void of trumps7 is equal in value to three honours1 i4e4 if partner of player having chicane scores honours he adds the value of three honours to his honour score1 while1 if the adversaries score honours1 it deducts an equal value from their honour score4 ,double ,chicane 7a player and his partner both void of trumps7 is equal in value to four honours1 and the value thereof may be deducted from the total honour score of the adversaries4 #aj4 ,the value of honours1 slam1 little slam1 or chicane1 is in nowise affected by doubling or redoubling4 #aa4 ,at the conclusion of a rubber the scores for tricks1 honours1 ,chicane1 and ,slam1 obtained by each side are added1 and one hundred points are added to the score of the winners of the rubber4 ,the difference between the completed scores is the number of points won or lost by the winners of the rubber4 #ab4 ,if an erroneous score affecting tricks be proven1 such mistake must be corrected prior to the conclusion of the game in which it has occurred1 and such game shall not be considered as concluded until the following deal has been completed and the trump declared1 unless it be that the game is the last one of the rubber1--then the score is subject to inquiry until an agreement between the sides 7as to the value of the rubber7 shall have been reached4 #ac4 ,if an erroneous score affecting honours1 chicane or slam be proven1 such mistake may be corrected at any time before the score of the rubber has been made up and agreed upon4 ,,cutting #ad4 ,the ace is the lowest card4 #ae4 ,in all cases every player must cut from the same pack4 #af4 ,should a player expose more than one card1 he must cut again4 ,,forming ,,tables #ag4 ,the prior right of playing is with those first in the room4 ,if there are more than four candidates for seats at a table1 the privilege of playing is decided by cutting4 ,the four who cut the lowest cards play first4 #ah4 ,after the table is formed1 the players cut to decide on partners2 the two lowest play against the two highest4 ,the lowest is the dealer1 who has choice of cards and seats1 and who1 having once made his selection1 must abide by it4 #ai4 ,should the two players who cut lowest1 secure cards of equal value1 they shall re-cut to determine which of the two shall deal1 and the lower on the re-cut deals4 #bj4 ,should three players cut cards of equal value1 they cut again2 if the fourth card be the highest1 the two lowest of the new cut are partners and the lower of the two the dealer2 if1 however1 the fourth card be the lowest1 the two highest on the re-cut are partners and the original lowest the dealer4 #ba4 ,six players constitute a full table1 and no player shall have a right to cut into a game which is complete4 #bb4 ,when there are more than six candidates1 the right to succeed any player who may retire is acquired by announcing the desire to do so1 and such announcement shall constitute a prior right to the first vacancy4 ,,cutting ,,out #bc4 ,if at the end of a rubber1 should admission be claimed by one or two candidates1 the player or players having played a greater number of consecutive rubbers shall withdraw2 but when all have played the same number1 they must cut to decide upon the outgoers2 the highest are out4 ,,rights ,,of ,,entry #bd4 ,a candidate desiring to enter a table must declare such wish before any player at the table cuts a card1 either for the purpose of beginning a new rubber or of cutting out4 #be4 ,in the formation of new tables1 those candidates who have neither belonged to nor played at any other table have the prior right of entry4 ,those who have already played decide their right of admission by cutting4 #bf4 ,a player who cuts into one table while belonging to another1 shall forfeit his prior right of re-entry into the latter1 unless by doing so he enables three candidates to form a fresh table4 ,in this event he may signify his intention of returning to his original table1 and his place at the new one can be filled4 #bg4 ,should any player quit the table during the progress of a rubber1 he may1 with the consent of the other three players1 appoint a substitute during his absence2 but such appointment shall become void with the conclusion of the rubber1 and shall not in any way affect the substitute's rights4 #bh4 ,if anyone break up a table1 the remaining players have a prior right to play at other tables4 ,,shuffling #bi4 ,the pack must neither be shuffled below the table nor so the face of any card be seen4 #cj4 ,the dealer's partner must collect the cards for the ensuing deal and he has the first right to shuffle the cards4 ,each player has the right to shuffle subsequently4 ,the dealer has the right to shuffle last1 but should a card or cards be seen during his shuffling1 or whilst giving the pack to be cut1 he must re-shuffle4 #ca4 ,each player1 after shuffling1 must place the cards properly collected and face downward to the left of the player next to deal4 ,,the ,,deal #cb4 ,each player deals in his turn2 the order of dealing goes to the left4 #cc4 ,the player on the dealer's right cuts the pack1 and in dividing it he must not leave fewer than four cards in either packet2 if in cutting or in replacing one of the two packets a card be exposed1 or if there be any confusion of the cards or a doubt as to the exact place in which the pack was divided1 there must be a fresh cut4 #cd4 ,when the player whose duty it is to cut has once separated the pack he can neither re-shuffle nor re-cut the cards4 #ce4 ,should the dealer shuffle the cards1 after the pack is cut1 the pack must be cut again4 #cf4 ,the fifty-two cards shall be dealt face downward4 ,the deal is not completed until the last card has been dealt face downward4 #cg4 ,,there ,,is ,,no ,,misdeal4 ,a ,,new ,,deal #ch4 ,there must be a new deal-- a ,if the cards be not dealt into four packets1 one at a time1 and in regular rotation1 beginning at the dealer's left4 b ,if1 during a deal1 or during the play of a hand1 the pack be proven incorrect or imperfect4 c ,if any card be faced in the pack4 d ,if any player have dealt to him a greater number of cards than thirteen4 e ,if the dealer deal two cards at once and then deal a third before correcting the error4 f ,if the dealer omit to have the pack cut and the adversaries call attention to the fact prior to the conclusion of the deal and before looking at their cards4 g ,if the last card do not come in its regular order to the dealer4 #ci4 ,there may be a new deal-- a ,if the dealer or his partner expose a card4 ,the eldest hand may claim a new deal4 b ,if either adversary expose a card4 ,the dealer or his partner may claim a new deal4 c ,if1 before fifty-one cards are dealt1 the dealer should look at any card4 ,his adversaries have the right to see it1 and the eldest hand may exact a new deal4 d ,if1 in dealing1 one of the last cards be exposed by the dealer or his partner1 and the deal is completed before there is reasonable time for the eldest hand to decide as to a new deal4 ,but in all other cases such penalties must be claimed prior to the completion of the deal4 #dj4 ,the claim for a new deal by reason of a card exposed during the deal may not be made by a player who has looked at any of his cards4 ,if a new deal does not take place1 the card exposed during the deal cannot be called4 #da4 ,should three players have their right number of cards1 and should the fourth1 not being dummy1 have less than thirteen and not discover such deficiency until he has played any of his cards1 the deal stands good2 should he have played1 he is answerable for any revoke he may have made as if the missing card or cards had been in his hand4 ,the other pack may be searched for the missing card or cards4 #db4 ,if during the play of a deal a pack be proven incorrect or imperfect1 such proof renders only the current deal void1 and does not affect any prior score4 ,the dealer must deal again 7,law #ch b74 #dc4 ,any one dealing with the adversaries' cards must be corrected before the play of the first card1 otherwise the deal stands good4 ,if any one deals when it is the turn of an adversary1 such error must be corrected before the cards are dealt for the following deal4 #dd4 ,a player can neither shuffle1 cut nor deal for his partner without the permission of his adversaries4 ,,declaring ,,trumps #de4 ,the trump is declared4 ,no card is turned4 a ,the dealer may either make the trump or pass the declaration to his partner4 b ,if the declaration be passed to partner1 he must make the trump4 #df4 ,should the dealer's partner make the trump without receiving permission from the dealer1 the eldest hand may demand1 #ast4 ,that the trump shall stand1 or #b;d4 ,that there shall be a new deal4 ,but if any declaration as to doubling1 or not doubling1 shall have been made1 or if a new deal be not claimed1 the declaration wrongly made shall stand4 ,the eldest hand is the player on the left of the dealer4 #dg4 ,should the dealer's partner pass the declaration to the dealer it shall be the right of the eldest hand to claim a new deal or to compel the offending player to declare the trump2 provided1 that no declaration as to doubling has been made4 #dh4 ,if either of the dealer's adversaries make or pass the declaration1 the dealer may1 after looking at his hand1 either claim a new deal or proceed as if no declaration had been made4 #di4 ,a declaration once made cannot be altered4 ,,doubling1 ,,redoubling1 ,,etc4 #ej4 ,the effect of doubling1 re-doubling1 and so on1 is that the value of each trick above six is doubled1 quadrupled1 and so on4 #ea4 ,after the trump declaration has been made by the dealer or his partner1 their adversaries have the right to double4 ,the eldest hand has the first right4 ,if he does not wish to double1 he may ask his partner1 8,may ,i lead80 ,his partner shall answer1 8,yes0 or 8,i double40 #eb4 ,if either of their adversaries elect to double1 the dealer and his partner have the right to redouble4 ,the player who has declared the trump shall have the first right4 ,he may say1 8,i redouble0 or 8,satisfied40 ,should he say the latter1 his partner may redouble4 #ec4 ,if the dealer or his partner elect to redouble1 their adversaries shall have the right to again double4 ,the original doubler has the first right4 #ed4 ,if the right-hand adversary of the dealer double before his partner has asked 8,may ,i lead80 the declarer of the trump shall have the right to say whether or not the double shall stand4 ,if he decide that the double shall stand1 the process of re-doubling may continue as described in paragraphs #eb1 #ec1 #ee4 #ee4 ,the process of re-doubling may be continued indefinitely4#a ,the first right to continue the re-doubling on behalf of a partnership belongs to that player who has last redoubled4 ,should he1 however1 express himself satisfied1 the right to continue the re-doubling passes to his partner4 ,should any player redouble out of turn1 the adversary who last doubled shall decide whether or not such double shall stand4 ,if it is decided that the redouble shall stand1 the process of re-doubling may continue as described in this and foregoing laws 7#eb and #ec74 ,if any double or redouble out of turn be not accepted there shall be no further doubling in that hand4 ,any consultation between partners as to doubling or re-doubling will entitle the maker of the trump or the eldest hand1 without consultation1 to a new deal4 #a ,in some clubs1 doubling ceases whenever the value of the odd trick exceeds one hundred points2 in other clubs the limit is placed at two hundred points4 #ef4 ,if the eldest hand lead before the doubling be completed1 his partner may redouble only with the consent of the adversary who last doubled2 but such lead shall not affect the right of either adversary to double4 #eg4 ,when the question1 8,may ,i lead80 has been answered in the affirmative or when the player who has the last right to continue the doubling1 expresses himself satisfied1 the play shall begin4 #eh4 ,should the eldest hand lead without asking permission1 his partner may double1 but only if the maker of the trump consent4 #ei4 ,should the right-hand adversary of the dealer ask permission to lead1 the eldest hand does not thereby lose his right to double4 ,should the right-hand adversary of the dealer double before his partner has asked 8,may ,i lead80 the maker of the trump shall have the right to say whether or not the double shall stand4 ,if he decide that the double shall stand1 the process of re-doubling may continue as described in ,laws #eb1 #ec1 #ee4 #fj4 ,if the right-hand adversary of the dealer lead out of turn1 the maker of the trump may call a suit from the eldest hand1 who may only double if the maker of the trump consent4 ,a declaration as to doubling or re-doubling once made cannot be altered4 ,,dummy #fa4 ,as soon as the eldest hand has led1 the dealer's partner shall place his cards face upward on the table1 and the duty of playing the cards from that hand shall devolve upon the dealer1 unassisted by his partner4 #fb4 ,before exposing his cards1 the dealer's partner has all the rights of a player1 but after his cards have been shown the dealer's partner takes no part whatever in the play1 except that he has the right-- a ,to ask the dealer whether he has none of the suit in which he may have renounced4 b ,to ask the dealer when called upon to play his highest or lowest card whether he has conformed to the penalty4 c ,to call the dealer's attention to the fact that a trick has not been completed4 d ,to correct the claim of either adversary to a penalty to which the latter is not entitled4 e ,to call attention to the fact that a trick has been erroneously taken by either side4 f ,to participate in the discussion of any disputed question of fact which may arise between the dealer and either adversary4 g ,to correct an erroneous score4 #fc4 ,should the dealer's partner call attention to any other incident of the play1 in consequence of which any penalty might be exacted1 the fact of his so doing precludes the dealer exacting such penalty4 #fd4 ,if the dealer's partner1 by touching a card or otherwise1 suggest the play of a card from dummy1 either of the adversaries may1 but without consultation1 call upon the dealer to play or not to play the card suggested4 #fe4 ,dummy is not liable to the penalty for a revoke2 and if he should revoke and the error be not discovered until the trick is turned and quitted1 the trick stands good4 #ff4 ,a card from the dealer's hand is not played until actually quitted2 but should the dealer name or touch a card from the dummy hand1 such card is considered as played1 unless the dealer in touching the card or cards says1 8,i arrange10 or words to that effect4 ,,cards ,,exposed ,,before ,,play #fg4 ,if1 after the deal has been completed and before the trump declaration has been made1 either the dealer or his partner expose a card from his hand1 the eldest hand may1 without consulting with his partner1 claim a new deal4 #fh4 ,if1 after the deal has been completed and before a card is led1 any player shall expose a card1 his partner shall forfeit any right to double or redouble which he otherwise would have been entitled to exercise2 and in case of a card being so exposed by the leader's partner1 the dealer may either call the card or require the leader not to lead the suit of the exposed card4 ,,cards ,,exposed ,,during ,,play #fi4 ,all cards exposed by the dealer's adversaries are liable to be called1 and such cards must be left face upward on the table4 #gj4 ,the following are exposed cards3 #ast4 ,two or more cards played at once4 #b;d4 ,any card dropped with its face upward1 or in any way exposed on or above the table1 even though snatched up so quickly that no one can name it4 #c;d4 ,every card so held by a player that his partner can see any portion of its face4 #ga4 ,a card dropped on the floor or elsewhere below the table is not an exposed card4 #gb4 ,if two or more cards be played at once1 by either of the dealer's adversaries1 the dealer shall have the right to call which one he pleases to the current trick1 and the other card or cards shall remain face upward on the table and may be called at any time4 #gc4 ,if1 without waiting for his partner to play1 either of the dealer's adversaries should play on the table the best card or lead one which is a winning card1 as against the dealer and dummy1 or should continue 7without waiting for his partner to play7 to lead several such cards1 the dealer may demand that the partner of the player in fault1 win1 if he can1 the first1 or any other of these tricks1 and the other cards thus improperly played are exposed cards4 #gd4 ,if either or both of the dealer's adversaries throw his or their cards on the table face upward1 such cards are exposed and are liable to be called2 but if either adversary retain his hand he cannot be forced to abandon it4 ,if1 however1 the dealer should say1 8,i have the rest10 or any other words indicating that the remaining tricks are his1 the adversaries of the dealer are not liable to have any of their cards called should they expose them1 believing the dealer's claim to be true1 should it subsequently prove false4 #ge4 ,if a player who has rendered himself liable to have the highest or lowest of a suit called 7,laws #hb1 #ia1 #ib and #ajj71 fail to play as directed1 or if1 when called on to lead one suit1 lead another1 having in his hand one or more cards of the suit demanded 7,law #gf71 or if called upon to win or lose a trick1 fail to do so when he can 7,laws #gc1 #hb and #ajj71 he is liable to the penalty for revoke1 unless such play be corrected before the trick is turned and quitted4 ,,leads ,,out ,,of ,,turn #gf4 ,if either of the dealer's adversaries lead out of turn1 the dealer may call the card erroneously led1 or may call a suit when it is the turn of either adversary to lead4 #gg4 ,if the dealer lead out of turn1 either from his own hand or dummy1 he incurs no penalty2 but he may not rectify the error after the second hand has played4 #gh4 ,if any player lead out of turn and the other three follow him1 the trick is complete and the error cannot be rectified2 but if only the second1 or second and third play to the false lead1 their cards may be taken back2 there is no penalty against anyone except the original offender1 who1 if he be one of the dealer's adversaries1 may be penalised as provided in ,laws #fj and #gf4 #gi4 ,in no case can a player be compelled to play a card which would oblige him to revoke4 #hj4 ,the call of an exposed card may be repeated at every trick until such card has been played4 #ha4 ,if a player called on to lead a suit have none of it1 the penalty is paid4 ,,cards ,,played ,,in ,,error #hb4 ,should the third hand not have played and the fourth play before his partner1 the latter 7not being dummy or dealer7 may be called upon to play his highest or lowest card of the suit played1 or to win or lose the trick4 #hc4 ,if anyone1 not being dummy1 omit playing to a former trick and such error be not corrected until he has played to the next1 the adversaries may claim a new deal2 should they decide that the deal stands good1 the surplus card at the end of the hand is considered to have been played to the imperfect trick1 but does not constitute a revoke therein4 #hd4 ,if anyone 7except dummy7 play two cards to the same trick1 or mix a card with a trick to which it does not belong1 and the mistake be not discovered until the hand is played out1 he is answerable for any consequent revokes he may have made4 ,if during the play of the hand the error be detected1 the tricks may be counted face downward1 in order to ascertain whether there be among them a card too many2 should this be the case1 the trick which contains a surplus card may be examined and the card restored to its original holder1 who 7not being dummy7 shall be liable for any revoke he may meanwhile have made4 ,,the ,,revoke #he4 ,a revoke occurs when a player 7other than dummy71 holding one or more cards of the suit led1 plays a card of a different suit4 ,the penalty for a revoke takes precedence of all other counts4 #hf4 ,a revoke is established if the trick in which it occurs be turned and quitted1 i4e4 the hand removed from the trick after it has been gathered and placed face downward on the table2 or if either the revoking player or his partner1 whether in his right turn or otherwise1 have led or played to the following trick4 #hg4 ,the penalty for a revoke is three tricks taken from the revoking player and added to those of the adversaries4 #hh4 ,the penalty is applicable only to the score of the game in which it occurs4 #hi4 ,under no circumstances can the revoking side score game1 in that hand4 ,whatever their previous score may have been1 the side revoking cannot attain a higher score toward game than twenty-eight4 #ij4 ,a player may ask his partner1 whether he has not a card of the suit which he has renounced2 should the question be asked before the trick is turned and quitted1 subsequent turning and quitting does not establish a revoke1 and the error may be corrected unless the question be answered in the negative or unless the revoking player or his partner has led or played to the following trick4 #ia4 ,if a player correct his mistake in time to save a revoke1 any player or players who have followed him may withdraw their cards and substitute others1 and the cards so withdrawn are not exposed cards4 ,if the player in fault be one of the dealer's adversaries1 the card played in error is an exposed card1 and the dealer can call it whenever he pleases2 or he may require the offender to play his highest or lowest card of the suit to the trick in which he has renounced4 #ib4 ,if the player in fault be the dealer1 the eldest hand may require him to play the highest or lowest card of the suit in which he has renounced1 provided both adversaries of the dealer have played to the current trick2 but this penalty cannot be exacted against the dealer when he is fourth in hand1 nor can it be enforced at all from dummy4 #ic4 ,at the end of a hand the claimants of a revoke may search all the tricks4 ,if the cards have been mixed the claim may be urged and proved if possible2 but no proof is necessary1 and the revoke is established if1 after it has been claimed1 the accused player or his partner mix the cards before they have been sufficiently examined by the adversaries4 #id4 ,a revoke must be claimed before the cards have been cut for the following deal4 #ie4 ,should the players on both sides subject themselves to the revoke penalty neither can win the game by that hand4 #if4 ,the revoke penalty may be claimed for as many revokes as occur during a hand2 but the accumulated penalty shall in no event exceed thirteen tricks4 7,see ,law #g47 ,,general ,,rules #ig4 ,there should not be any consultation between partners as to the enforcement of penalties4 ,if they do so consult1 the penalty is paid4 #ih4 ,once a trick is complete1 turned and quitted it must not be looked at 7except under ,law #hd71 until the end of the hand4 #ii4 ,any player during the play of a trick or after the four cards are played and before they are touched for the purpose of gathering them together1 may demand that the cards be placed before their respective players4 #ajj4 ,if either of the dealer's adversaries1 prior to his partner's playing1 should call attention to the trick1 either by saying it is his1 or1 without being requested so to do1 by naming his card or drawing it toward him1 the dealer may require that opponent's partner to play his highest or lowest card of the suit led1 or to win or lose the trick4 #aja4 ,either of the dealer's adversaries may call his partner's attention to the fact that he is about to lead out of turn1 but if he make any unauthorised reference to any incident of the play the dealer may call a suit from the adversary whose turn it is next to lead4 #ajb4 ,in all cases where a penalty has been incurred1 the offender is bound to give reasonable time for the decision of his adversaries2 but if a wrong penalty be demanded none can be enforced4 #ajc4 ,the partner of the eldest hand may inform him that their adversaries have incurred a penalty1 but may not give any further information4 ,should he suggest the penalty1 or demand the enforcement of it1 such action shall be deemed a consultation1 and no penalty can be enforced4 ,,new ,,cards #ajd4 ,unless a pack be imperfect1 no player shall have the right to call for one new pack4 ,if fresh cards are demanded1 two packs must be furnished and paid for by the player who has demanded them4 ,if they are furnished during a rubber1 the adversaries shall have their choice of new cards4 ,if it is the beginning of a new rubber1 the dealer1 whether he or one of his adversaries be the party calling for the new cards1 shall have the choice4 ,new cards must be called for before the pack is cut for a new deal4 #aje4 ,a card or cards torn or marked must be replaced by agreement or new cards furnished4 ,,bystanders #ajf4 ,while a bystander1 by agreement among the players1 may decide any question1 yet he must on no account say anything unless appealed to2 and if he make any remark which calls attention to an oversight affecting the score1 or to the exaction of a penalty1 he is liable to be called on by the players to pay the stakes on that rubber4 ,,spade ,,convention ,i4--,where players agree 8not to play spades0 the rule is1 that if the spade make is not doubled1 the hand shall be played where either side is #bj or over4 ,,ii4--,if the third hand player ask1 8,shall ,i play80 or should he lead out of turn1 or should the eldest hand lead without asking permission to play1 the spade maker may take two on the score or may call a lead and require the hand to be played out4 ,,iii4--,should the third hand player double before his partner asks permission to play1 the spade maker may decide whether the double shall stand or not2 but the hand must be played out4 ,,etiquette ,it has been truthfully said that there is no game in which slight intimations can convey so much information as that of ,bridge4 ,in justice to those who1 by their manner1 give information1 it may be stated that most of the apparent unfairness at the ,bridge table is unintentional4 ,hesitation and mannerisms1 however1 cannot be too carefully avoided2 such a breach of etiquette is an offence for which the adversaries have no redress except perhaps a refusal to continue the play4 ,it is obviously a greater fault to take advantage of information thus given4 ,a play in your judgment may be perfectly sound1 but you leave yourself open to criticism if it is in any way contingent on information obtained from your partner's manner4 ,cultivate uniformity in your style of play2 let there be no remarkable haste or hesitation in making or passing2 try always to use the same formula of words1 and do not call attention to the score after the cards have been dealt4 ,remember that any undue hesitancy in regard to doubling will deprive a fair-minded partner of the privilege of so doing4 ,such delays are too frequent at spade declarations4 ,emphasise no play of your own and show no pleasure or displeasure at any other play4 ,do not ask to have the cards placed unless it is solely for your own information4 ,it is an offence either to revoke purposely or to make a second revoke in order to conceal the first4 ,the dealer's partner should not call attention to the score nor to any card or cards that he or the other players hold1 and neither should he leave his seat for the purpose of watching his partner's play4 ,when there is an unusual distribution of the cards1 no remarks of any kind should be allowed4 ,after a hand has been played1 it may be discussed to the common benefit2 but the bore who is continually blowing up his partner to show his superior knowledge1 together with the player who interrupts the game to discuss the play1 should be ostracised from the card-room4 ,superiority of skill is shown by the play of the cards1 not by mannerisms4 ,it is often difficult to refrain from showing pleasure at the accomplishment of a desired purpose1 but undue elation is most aggravating to the adversaries4 ,do not make a dig at the adversaries by confiding to your partner that your success was due to an ill-judged play of the opponent4 ,it is not good form to complain of poor cards1 as you imply that the adversaries profit by your weak hands and not by their skill4 ,the better players rarely criticise unless asked to do so2 it is usually the inexperienced player who offers an astonishing amount of gratuitous and unsought-for advice4 ,do not tell your partner1 after seeing all the cards1 what he should have done1 but think what you would have done in your partner's place4 ,do not criticise at all1 but if you must1 criticise fairly4 ,,bridge ,,for ,,three ,,players ,when the game is played by three persons1 the cards are cut to decide which shall have the dummy2 the one cutting the lowest card has the deal and a permanent dummy during the game or the rubber1 as the case may be4 ,it is then customary for each player to have dummy in turn1 during one game or rubber4 ,in playing rubbers1 #ajj points are added to the score of the winning side4 ,in playing games1 #ej points are added to the score of the winning side4 ,if the make is passed to dummy1 four aces or three aces constitute a compulsory 8no-trump0 declaration2 otherwise1 dummy must declare the longest suit4 ,when there are two suits of equal length1 dummy must select the suit1 which counts most by spots1 the ace counting eleven and the other honours ten each4 ,if the suits are still equal1 dummy declares the one having the higher trick valuation4 ,only one adversary1 the leader1 can double4 ,if the dealer has seen the two hands1 he is not allowed to redouble4 ,the dummy hand is not exposed until the doubling has been settled and a card led4 ,when the dummy is the leader1 his partner must look at the dummy hand and lead from it before seeing his own cards2 and dummy alone has the right to double4 ,there are various methods of playing ,dummy ,bridge4 ,an approved feature is to allow either adversary to double the dealer's make and to eliminate doubling on a forced make4 ,,the ,,score ,practise soon shows a player the relative importance of playing for the greatest possible number of points and tricks1 and of playing to win or to save the game4 ,no matter how cleverly the cards are managed1 the player who underestimates the attention the state of the score demands1 will unnecessarily lose many a rubber4 ,the declaration largely depends upon the score1 and much of the play is influenced by the number of tricks required to win or to save the game4 ,most ,bridge players take means to ascertain the score before announcing a declaration2 it is only an occasional game that is lost by a hasty declaration regardless of the state of the score2 but in the play of the hand1 the score is frequently entirely overlooked4 ,interested in his scheme of play1 the dealer will try for too much or too little1 and quite lose sight of what should be his first goal--to win or to save the game4 ,,declaring ,,to ,,the ,,score ,with a game to the good1 the advantage conferred by the position is too great to risk by a rash make4 ,when you are a game ahead1 make none but a conservative and sound declaration4 ,when you are a game behind1 the score justifies a bold make4 ,on the rubber game1 particularly if the adversaries are over twenty1 the dealer may attempt a forward declaration1 but his partner should not be too reckless1 realising that the dealer knew the situation and did not consider his hand worth a venture4 ,at twenty-four or more on the score1 with a strong black suit the make should not be passed2 average assistance in your partner's hand will probably enable you to win the game2 and with weak red suits1 a passed red declaration may be doubled and the game won by the adversaries4 ,when the score is twenty-four to nothing against you either on the first game or when you are a game to the good1 avoid a doubtful declaration which may enable the adversaries to win the game on your deal4 ,there is a vast difference whether the adversaries start their deal wanting a few points or whether they have the first deal on a new game4 ,when the score is twenty-four all on the rubber game1 the dealer may pass a fairly strong hand trusting he can win the game with any declaration2 and at this score dummy should not hesitate to declare his best suit4 ,it is highly probable that the adversaries would win out on the next deal4 ,,playing ,,to ,,the ,,score ,correct dealer's play is closely influenced by the state of the score4 ,the game is an important goal which should never be hazarded for the sake of an extra trick2 but1 if this goal is not assured1 the loss of a few extra points in an effort to reach it1 demands but small consideration4 ,when there is the slightest chance that the adversaries may win the game on your deal1 hasten to secure the tricks needful to insure its safety4 ,many times the game can only be won or saved in case the cards lie in a certain position1 and the dealer must assume that the cards are favourably placed and play the hand accordingly4 ,when the game is saved1 but with no possibility of winning it1 the seventh trick should be the objective point in the dealer's play4 ,when you cannot reach game1 never hazard the odd trick in an attempt to win two tricks4 ,in a no-trump declaration1 the risk would be twenty-four points for a possible gain of twelve points2 and if you lose the odd trick1 it may enable the adversaries to win the game on their deal4 ,,the ,,non-,,dealer',s ,,play ,,to ,,the ,,score ,the probabilities are not in favour of winning against declared strength4 ,the score will indicate the number of tricks needful to save the game1 and the adversaries should take no chances until this important object is attained4 ,until the game is saved1 make no effort to gain extra tricks4 ,many a rubber which the prompt lead of a high card might have saved is lost by trying for too much4 ,if you find that the continuation of a certain line of play will lose the rubber1 abandon your scheme and take the one chance of finding in your partner's hand the cards that will save the game4 ,the loss of an extra trick is of slight importance compared with the loss of the game4 ,,the ,,declaration ,the advantage of the deal is enormous1 and it is important to utilise it properly to make the largest possible score with the least possible risk4 ,the make shows the great increase in percentage of the good player over the poor one4 ,more rubbers are lost by bad makes than by bad play4 ,the cautious man who passes 8no-trumpers0 will lose many games by his extreme carefulness4 ,the reckless man loses even more by declaring 8no-trump0 when his partner must have a 8no-trumper0 to pull him through4 ,as the element of luck has a potent influence on the result of a make1 a sound declaration based on the merits of the hand may be unsuccessful4 ,no one can select the winning trump every time1 and an occasional loss must be borne with equanimity for the sake of the many successes2 the make that will win with average strength in the dummy hand will pay in the long run4 ,do not hope for too much1 or expect too little assistance from your partner2 give him credit for no more and no less than the average hand4 ,if you question yourself--what will my partner probably make it if ,i pass8--you will find it a great help in determining the declaration4 ,he will usually make it your weak suit1 and it follows that you may depend on him for protection in that suit4 ,a sound make may necessitate the sacrifice of the possibility of a large score for the sake of positively winning the game4 ,the chance for the game takes precedence of all other considerations4 ,as ,bridge is played for points1 a fair amount of regard is also due the honour score4 ,a declaration that is apt to give honours to the adversaries is a costly method of winning the game4 ,it is difficult for the beginner to understand the reason for certain formulated rules for the makes1 but it will pay the average novice to accept the judgment of those who have learned by1 often bitter1 experience4 ,sound makes will win in the long run1 and the rules should not be scorned merely because in a few hands the cards were badly placed4 8,,no-,,trump0 ,,declaration ,,by ,,the ,,dealer ,while a good red declaration is always preferable to a doubtful 8no-trumper10 yet when a bold dash for the game must be made1 a forward 8no-trump0 declaration is the safest risk2 and experience certainly shows that what is called a doubtful 8no-trumper0 will succeed more often than it fails4 ,such a declaration has a great advantage over a light red make4 ,there is a wider range for assistance in the dummy hand4 ,the make does not disclose the dealer's principal strength4 ,it offers the adversaries a larger scope for errors1 and an error is more costly in a 8no-trump0 hand4 ,the opponents have no means of knowing their combined strength1 and for this reason their best suit may never be made2 while the dealer knows the suit to establish and can arrange the lead to bring it in4 ,in short1 the dealer can utilise his strength and the adversaries' drawbacks to the best advantage in a 8no-trump0 hand4 ,as a logical consequence1 a strong player may take more chances in the make4 ,your goal is the game1 and at a love score1 this can be reached with fewest tricks at a 8no-trump0 declaration4 ,therefore1 lacking a good red hand1 a 8no-trump0 declaration that with average strength in your partner's hand will secure the odd trick1 will more often win than lose4 ,what constitutes an average hand1 and how much help should you expect from your partner1 are frequent inquiries4 ,as the trick-taking value of a hand may depend entirely on the distribution of the remaining cards1 these questions are difficult to answer4 ,an average hand1 however1 contains the equivalent of one ace1 one king1 one queen1 etc4 ,an established suit that can be made before the adversaries obtain the lead the second time is always a great advantage4 ,a 8no-trump0 make that is not protected in three suits is dangerous1 but1 even if you are entirely void of a suit with real strength in the other three1 you can reasonably expect your partner to supply protection in the missing suit4 ,aces are an important help in establishing your suits1 and are much greater strength than kings or queens1 which may be led through and captured4 ,a no-trump make without an ace is liable to score honours for the adversaries--in rare cases #ajj points--and is almost never sound4 ,,rules ,,for 8,,no-,,trump0 ,,declaration ,,by ,,the ,,dealer ,there should be a certain set standard for a 8no-trump0 make1 but at times it is difficult to draw the line that divides the hands that should be passed from those that warrant a 8no-trump0 declaration4 ,it is obvious that a good player will make more with a hand than a poor one2 consequently a greater risk may be taken by players who thoroughly understand the finesse and strategy of the game4 ,the make which would prove successful if played correctly1 if badly played might be disastrous4 ,then again your adversaries must be regarded2 if pitted against weak players1 you are more apt to pull a 8no-trumper0 through than when matched against opponents who will take advantage of any failing in your hand or play4 #d ,aces4 ,declare #c ,aces4 8,no-trumps0 #b ,aces and one other guarded suit4 holding #a ,ace and three other guarded suits4 #a long established black suit 7,a ,k ,q x x x7 and one other ,ace4 8,,no-,,trump0 ,,with ,,three ,,aces ,unless you hold a strong heart hand1 or1 unless the game can be won with a trump declaration1 three aces should usually be considered an obligatory 8no-trumper40 ,no doubt a three-ace hand containing no other honour1 is a weak one with which to make the strongest declaration2 but experience demonstrates that if your partner holds an average hand or any one long suit1 loss seldom occurs4 ,when the make does lose1 the points secured above the line usually compensate for the loss sustained in trick points1 and if the rule is consistently followed1 the total gain will be many times greater than the aggregate loss4 8,,no-,,trump0 ,,with ,,two ,,aces ,,and ,,one ,,other ,,guarded ,,suit ,at a love score1 if the ace suits contain additional honours1 8no-trumps0 should always be declared with two aces and a guarded honour in another suit4 ,this is particularly true if the aces are red2 if you hold the two red aces1 it is doubtful if your partner could declare any other than a black make4 ,a long suit1 particularly one that can be easily established1 is additional strength2 and jacks1 tens and nines are an important assistance to a two-ace 8no-trump0 declaration4 ,if all the remaining cards in the ace suits are small1 and if the protection in the third suit is doubtful1 8no-trumps0 can scarcely be considered a safe declaration4 ,a guarded honour or a protected suit is supposed to imply a certain trick2 but a king once guarded or a queen twice guarded may be led through and captured4 ,guarded suits are3 ,k ,q ,j ,k #aj x ,q ,j #aj ,q x x ,k ,q x ,k x x ,q ,j x ,j #aj x x ,k ,j x ,k x ,q #aj x ,j x x x ,the value of these suits is greater or less according to the size of the top honour1 the number of cards in sequence1 and the length of the suit4 ,an ace suit may contain3 ,a ,k x ,a ,q x ,a ,j x ,a #aj x ,a x x ,a ,but the value of the ace suit diminishes according to the decreased value of the next card4 ,a single ace is of little use in blocking the adversaries' suit1 and it may often block the long suit in dummy4 8,,no-,,trump0 ,,with ,,two ,,aces ,a 8no-trump0 declaration that is unguarded in two suits1 is always dangerous2 while you can rely on your partner to protect one suit1 it is a bit sanguine to expect him to hold guards in two4 ,however1 a hand containing a long established suit1 headed by ace1 king1 queen1 and another ace1 wins at 8no-trump0 many more times than it loses1 and the make must1 therefore1 be classed as sound4 ,if you hold two suits headed by ace king1 and particularly if these suits are red1 a 8no-trump0 declaration is preferable to passing2 but with less strength1 the make should not be attempted except at an adverse score4 8,,no-,,trump0 ,,with ,,one ,,ace ,with one ace and general protection in all the suits1 8no-trump0 should be declared4 ,of course1 the adversaries may secure the honour score1 and it is probable that such a hand will contain no long suit2 but any good suit in your partner's hand will ensure the safety of the make4 ,with one ace and but two other protected suits1 8no-trumps0 should not be declared unless the guarded suits include at least two honours4 8,no-trump0 declarations with one ace and a single honour in each of two other suits are often made to the score1 but a venture of this kind is dangerous and is more apt to lose than to win4 ,a six or seven card suit headed by ace1 king1 and queen1 with a guarded king in another suit1 will usually succeed as a 8no-trumper40 8,,no-,,trump0 ,,without ,,an ,,ace ,a 8no-trump0 make without an ace is almost never sound4 ,there are1 no doubt1 extreme cases where1 with a king and queen in each suit1 this make may be justifiable2 but the honour score obtained by the adversaries will usually far exceed the trick points secured by the dealer4 ,,examples ,,of ,,no-,,trump ,,makes ---------------------------------------- ------------ ---------------------------------------- ------------ ,a #h #e #c ,a #aj #f #d #g #b ,a #h #c ,a ,q #f #g #c ,a ,j #aj #h #d ,a #f #b ,a #e ,a ,q #aj #h ,a ,j #aj #f #aj #g #d #h #c ,a ,q #g #e ,a ,j #aj #g ,k ,j #e ,k ,j #d #h #f ,a ,j #g #d ,a #aj #f #e #h #f ,a ,q #aj #g ,a ,k #g #e ,q #h #d ,a #aj #h #f ,q ,j #aj ,a ,j #i #d #g #c ,a #g #e ,k ,q #h ,q ,j #aj #f ,k #h #f ,j #aj #g #d ,a ,k ,q ,q #h #e ,k ,q #f ,a #aj #d ,a ,k #c ,k ,q ,j #i #d ,q #g ,a ,j #e #c #i #c #b ,a ,k ,q #i #g #e ,k ,a ,j #g #d ,a ,k ,q #h #e #f #c #b ,k #g #f #e #g #b ,a ,k ,q ,j #g #e #b ,k ,q #f ,k ,j #g ,a ,k #d #b #f #c #b ,k ,j #i #g ,a ,q #i #h ,k ,q #f #d #aj ,k ,q #i #h ,k ,j #c ,a ,q #aj #d #aj #f ---------------------------------------- ------------ ,,hearts ,the advisability of a heart make is contingent on the length and strength of the heart suit1 as well as on the probable trick-taking value of the hand4 ,however1 as the honour score must also be regarded1 hearts should be declared with four honours irrespective of the strength of the other suits2 the honour score will usually more than compensate for any possible loss in trick points4 ,declare hearts with but four cards1 including three high honours1 provided you hold another long suit or two outside tricks2 results show conclusively that this make is sound4 ,hearts should be declared with five hearts1 including two honours and at least one outside trick4 ,without this extra trick a five-heart declaration with two honours--unless they are ace and king--is unsafe4 ,hearts should be declared with six trumps1 including one honour2 but1 with fewer than six trumps1 a one honour make is doubtful4 ,occasionally it may not be advisable to pass five hearts with one honour--holding1 say1 five hearts and four diamonds2 your partner's make would probably be black4 ,in considering such a declaration1 the value of a long side suit that either is1 or can be easily established1 must not be overlooked4 ,the strength of a five-card trump hand with a long suit and a re-entry card1 is apparent to those who have had ,whist experience4 ,it requires but one trump honour from your partner to make this a winning hand1 and unless the remaining cards are very unfortunately placed1 it is difficult to defeat the make4 ,with a good side suit1 do not hesitate to declare hearts with five1 including an honour4 ,even a four-card side suit is usually a help4 ,it is when the hand is divided #e1 #c1 #c1 #b1 that you are apt to lose by being forced to follow suit4 ,therefore a short suit is a help to a five-trump hand2 to be sure1 it may at times enable the adversaries to force you1 but as you can always prevent the adversaries' high cards in that suit from making1 a short suit is a greater benefit than detriment4 ,,rules ,,for ,,the ,,heart ,,make ,generally declare a red make holding six cards with one honour1 five cards with two honours1 or four with three honours4 ,some makes may be attempted with or without outside strength1 while others require a certain amount of strength in side suits4 ,the value of a long suit and the importance of inferring the probable passed make1 has been mentioned4 ,below are given various combinations of honours showing the strength required for a red make4 ,only general rules are cited and the particular value of the hand must be left to the individual judgment4 ,in these examples1 the score has not been considered4 ,,five ,,hearts ,,including ,,three ,,honours ,a ,k ,q ,a ,k ,j ,a ,k #aj ,a ,q ,j ,with or without other tricks4 ,k ,q ,j ,a ,j #aj ,k ,q #aj ,k ,j #aj ,with one outside trick4 ,q ,j #aj ,,five ,,hearts ,,including ,,two ,,honours ,a ,k ,with or without an outside trick4 ,a ,q ,k ,q ,a ,j ,with one outside trick4 ,k ,j ,a #aj ,k #aj ,q #aj ,with a four or five card plain suit1 or two ,j #aj outside tricks4 ,,five ,,hearts ,,with ,,one ,,honour ,with any good four or five card plain suit1 ,a when partner will probably declare black1 ,k or with two or three outside tricks4 ,q ,j ,with an established black suit1 especially #aj when void in one suit1 or with two or three outside tricks4 ,,four ,,hearts ,,with ,,three ,,honours ,a ,k ,q ,a ,k ,j ,with any good suit1 with an outside ace1 ,a ,k #aj or with two or more outside tricks4 ,k ,q ,j ,,examples ,,of ,,hands ,,that ,,should ,,not ,,be ,,passed ,a number of hands are given below to illustrate the value of a long suit4 ,if your partner holds an average hand the long suit can usually be made4 ---------------------------------------- ------------ ---------------------------------------- ------------ ,j #aj #h #f #d #g #e ,a ,k #e #c #b #h #aj #i #h #g #e ,none ,k ,q ,j #g #f #c ,k #g ,k ,j #h #f #d #f #h #c ,k #aj #h #g #d ,a #i #g #f #d ,k #h #f #e #c #d #b #f ,j #i #h #g #d #f ,a ,k ,q #aj #h #g #f ,k #i #h #f #e #d ,a ,q ,j #f #c #c #b ,q #i #g #f #c ,none ,k ,j #aj #g #e ,a #aj #d ,a #i #h #e #c ,k #g #f ,k ,q ,j #i #f #aj #i #h #f #e ,none ,q ,j #i ,a ,k ,q #g #e ---------------------------------------- ------------ ,,hearts ,,in ,,preference ,,to 8,,no-,,trump0 ,there are many players who delight in declaring 8no-trumps10 overlooking the fact that they may hold a suit declaration that would be certain to win the game without the risk attending a 8no-trump0 make4 ,although one more trick is necessary at hearts1 the chances are that if the game can be won at 8no-trump10 it will be won with equal facility at hearts4 ,the adversaries may hold an established suit or may establish and make a suit at 8no-trump0 which it would be impossible for them to bring in with a trump declaration4 ,there is no rule so universally followed among the better players as that of declaring hearts in preference to 8no-trump40 ,,hearts1 ,,not 8,,no-,,trumps0 ---------------------------------------- ------------ ---------------------------------------- ------------ ,a ,q ,j #i #e ,a #f #d ,a #g #e #g #c ,k ,q ,j #i #f #c ,a #g #e #c ,a #h #d ,a ,k ,q #i #h ,a ,q #g ,a ,k ,q ,j #d ,a ,k ,q #i ,a #h #d #e ,j #aj #h #f #c ,a ,k ,q #i #g ,q #a,o #e ,k ,j #h #e #c ,k ,q ,j #i #g ,a ,a #e ,k ,j #i #h #g ,a ,k ,q #i #h ,k ,q #g ,a ,q #e #c #b ,none ---------------------------------------- ------------ ,,diamonds ,as there are two declarations of greater value1 it is often advisable to pass a fair diamond make to your partner in the hope that he may be able to make it a 8no-trumps0 or hearts4 ,there is no declaration more universally disliked than diamonds4 ,it is frequently spoken of as the 8deadly0 or 8unlucky0 diamond make4 ,players seem to be continually making or not making it at the wrong time4 ,often an original diamond declaration will find your partner with a game hand at 8no-trumps0 or hearts2 again1 when the make is passed and your partner declares spades1 you make eternal vows never to pass a diamond hand4 ,the diamond is essentially a score make1 and should be attempted at a score which admits of a reasonable chance to win the game4 ,with a love score it requires a very strong hand to win the game2 eleven of the thirteen tricks must be won4 ,when the adversaries are #bd to your nothing either on the first or on the rubber game1 it is most important that you win the game before it becomes the turn of the adversary to deal4 ,winning three or four odd tricks will be of little use1 as in all probability the adversaries will make the number of points requisite to go out on their own deal4 ,at this score1 it is usually better to pass a fair diamond hand in the hope that your partner can make a stronger declaration4 ,if at least #bd points are necessary to win the game and there is a question between a diamond and a 8no-trump0 make1 the preference should be given to the 8no-trump0 declaration4 ,each trick at 8no-trump0 is worth just twice as much as at diamonds1 and if it is possible to win four or five odd tricks with diamonds1 you will have no difficulty in making the fewer number required at 8no-trump40 ,in considering the advisability of a diamond make1 infer from your hand your partner's probable declaration4 ,if you hold no ace1 there is a fair chance that he will declare 8no-trump40 ,if you hold but one or two hearts1 you are likely to get a heart declaration2 an honour included in these hearts would support the supposed make4 ,if you hold length in the heart suit1 say five diamonds and four hearts1 there is small hope for a red declaration by your partner2 at this time1 and when your hand contains cards that preclude the possibility of a 8no-trumper10 the make should not be passed4 ,occasionally diamonds should be declared as a safety make1 with a hand that affords little help to a 8no-trump0 or a heart declaration4 ,take the following hand3 ,j #aj #g #e #c #b #h ,j #g #e #c #f #d ,should the hand be passed1 partner will either declare hearts or 8no-trump40 ,unless he holds great strength or the cards are very fortunately placed1 you must lose1 and not only that1 your partner's make is also very apt to be doubled4 ,if your partner holds a strong hand the diamond declaration may win the game2 at any rate it will sufficiently increase your score to facilitate winning on your next deal4 ,as a matter of fact1 this hand was held and the make was passed4 ,the dummy held the following hand3 ,k #f ,a ,k #aj #f #b ,k #i ,q ,j #i #e ,hearts were declared1 the adversary doubled1 and the dealer lost three by cards4 ,while in this hand the remaining cards were unfortunately placed for the dealer1 still it shows that a strong make may be defeated when you can lend it no support4 ,the general rules given for the heart makes may be applied to the diamond declaration4 ,,clubs ,an original club should be made only when the score is #ah or more1 and the hand strong enough1 with slight assistance1 to win the game4 ,as there are three declarations of greater value than either clubs or spades1 unless there is a reasonable chance to win the game1 black makes should not be considered4 ,your partner may be able to make a red or a 8no-trump0 declaration1 and1 failing these1 his defensive black declaration may suit your hand4 ,there are unpleasant occasions when you hold a strong club hand and your partner declares spades4 ,when the make has been doubled and you have little strength to support it1 you are very apt to regret that you did not make an original club4 ,while this may be true of an occasional hand1 don't forget the many times your partner can give you a heart or a 8no-trump0 make which will enable you to win the game4 ,if1 however1 you hold a black hand when you are a game to the good1 with #h points or more on the second game1 particularly if the hand contains four club honours1 it may not be advisable to pass the declaration4 ,the honour score together with the probable trick value of the hand will win more points than the average hand is worth1 whereas you could not support your partner's red declaration4 ,,spades ,spades should never be declared offensively1 unless to win the game at a score of #bd or more points4 ,with a very weak hand some players advise a defensive spade make with the hope of preventing a disastrous passed make4 ,statistics1 no doubt1 prove the correctness of this theory1 still but few of the better players attempt a defensive spade declaration unless the score justifies their so doing4 ,if you are a game to the good and perhaps well along on the second game1 with a hand too poor to support an average 8no-trump0 or red make1 it might be wise not to risk the advantage already gained4 ,should the adversaries win the game on your deal1 it would give them the first deal on the rubber game4 ,at a love score1 however1 no player should deprive his partner of the privilege of declaring the trump to win4 ,many times a passed 8no-trump0 or red make is strong enough with slight assistance to win the game4 ,,passed ,,makes ,the success of an original 8no-trump0 make is often due to the fact that the adversaries do not discover the dealer's weak suit2 a passed 8no-trumper10 however1 is exposed1 and has the additional disadvantage of the dealer's acknowledged weakness4 ,the dealer shows by passing that he has not a strong hand2 neither has he much strength in the red suits2 while this latter inference may be doubtful1 for the dealer often passes with fair strength in diamonds and occasionally in both red suits1 still the fact remains that a passed 8no-trump0 make that is weak in the red suits1 is extremely risky4 ,it is remarkable how many passed 8no-trumpers0 go astray1 and the number proves the necessity for more cautious passed makes4 ,the dummy hand1 in declaring the trump1 should keep in mind the general rules suggested for the dealer1 and be governed in his choice by the state of the score1 by the general strength of his hand1 and by the dealer's acknowledged weakness4 ,a speculative spirit is so strong in some players that they find it difficult to resist announcing a make which they know to be unsound1 yet with which they hope1 by a fortuitous combination of circumstances1 to win4 ,often the result of one hand1 which proves nothing1 will encourage this tendency toward unsound makes4 ,be very careful about declaring a red trump with but four cards4 ,the beginner's distaste for spade makes1 frequently leads to a light red make which is doubled1 and the game thrown away4 ,as a general rule1 it is wrong to attempt a red trump unless the hand is worth at least four tricks4 ,with fewer than four tricks1 make the declaration that will lose the least4 ,the score will often warrant a risky make1 but consider that your partner knew the score and did not deem his hand worth a venture4 ,do not flatter your partner by a few kind remarks and then place a hand on the table that is a disgrace to your judgment4 ,when you are ahead on the game1 avoid all weak heart and diamond makes4 ,if you must gamble1 a 8no-trump0 make is a safer speculation4 ,with four or more clubs1 including two honours and one or two worthless spades1 clubs will usually prove the more profitable declaration4 ,for defensive purposes a club is useful and is a safer defence than an extremely weak spade1 which the adversaries will probably double4 ,do not hesitate to make it spades when your hand is weak2 and be cautious at all times about making a declaration which will more easily win the game for your adversaries than for you4 ,,abandoning ,,spade ,,hands ,a custom that is rapidly growing in favour is that of not playing an undoubled spade make unless the dealer is #bj or more on the game4 ,if the hand is not to be played1 the dealer scores two points for the odd trick and the honours are credited to the side that holds them4 ,all ,bridge players have objected at times to the tediousness of spade hands1 and this may be the cause of the increasing popularity of this innovation in the more prominent clubs4 ,when ,bridge is played for a stake1 the result is reached in a much shorter time by throwing spade hands1 but there is no reason why other players should not find as much interest in a spade hand as in a stronger declaration4 ,the rule of abandoning spade hands unless the dealer is #bj or more is unsound4 ,if this custom is to stand the test of time1 it must be equitable4 ,it should read3 8,if either side is #bj or more the hand should be played40 ,it is an obvious injustice to the adversaries not to play a spade hand when the dealer is1 say1 #ad and the adversaries #bh2 for1 if the opponents do not double1 they have no chance to win the game on that hand2 while if they do double1 a redouble might follow1 which would give the dealer an excellent chance to win the game4 ,,doubling ,with any kind of fair strength the novice at ,bridge is invariably anxious to double2 but a few experiences with an adversary glad to embrace the opportunity to redouble1 will turn the course of his anxiety to a desire to conceal such strength as he may hold4 ,ordinarily be satisfied to win at all on the opponent's make4 ,by doubling you not only place the strength and thus enable the dealer to finesse successfully1 but your double is a warning to the dealer to be cautious in leading trumps1 and therefore1 lessens your chances of winning tricks4 ,to increase safely the value of the tricks it is essential that you consider the state of the score1 the possibility of a redouble1 and your position in regard to the maker4 ,the score is a most important factor1 and even1 at times1 justifies a double with only a fair hand4 ,for instance1 suppose the odd trick wins the game for your adversaries1 and does not win it for you2 if you double and secure the odd trick1 the additional count may enable you to win the game on that deal or the next4 ,it is bad play to double when you need only an odd trick to win the game4 ,if you double you lessen your chance of winning the trick1 and by opening the way to a redouble perhaps give the adversaries the game4 ,doubling on the rubber game is dangerous4 ,the increased value of the tricks may enable your adversaries to win the rubber on that hand1 when1 otherwise1 you might go out on the next deal4 ,your position in regard to the maker claims equal consideration4 ,if the trump has been made at your right1 you play after the strong hand1 and are1 therefore1 in a good position to make your high trump cards2 but1 if you double when this arrangement is reversed1 and the maker is over you1 the dealer has this advantage4 ,as spades are made for safety1 occasions for doubling the spade declaration obviously arise more frequently than any other2 yet players are prone to go to extremes in doubling spade hands1 for1 while it does not require much strength to double a defensive spade declaration1 there is always a possibility of great trump strength in the adversaries' hands4 ,do not double the make of hearts1 diamonds1 or clubs without some strength in the trump suit2 as high cards1 particularly if the suits are long1 may be trumped1 strength in the side suits alone is unreliable4 ,spades1 however1 may be doubled with but little strength in the trump suit4 ,be particularly conservative in doubling a 8no-trump0 make2 for but rarely does it pay to double with a hand containing general strength4 ,remember that while you are in the dark as to your partner's hand1 the dealer has the enormous advantage of seeing and combining his own hand and the dummy2 that he knows what suit to avoid1 and what suit to establish2 and that your doubling will place him in a still more advantageous position by enabling him to locate honours and make successful finesses4 ,be cautious1 also1 when you hold fair strength in three suits and are weak in the remaining one4 ,the maker is apt to hold a very long suit and you will not find it easy to discard1 and at the same time protect your hand4 ,usually it is not safe to double a 8no-trump0 make unless you hold a suit that you are reasonably sure is established4 ,it is a gamble to double with a six-card suit headed by ace1 king1 and queen with no other trick in the hand4 ,you depend on your partner to take one trick1 which he may not be able to do2 and1 should you find your long suit protected in the adversaries' hands1 you run the risk of being very badly beaten4 ,if the odd trick wins the game for the adversaries and does not win it for you1 such a double may be justifiable2 still you cannot hope to win more than #bd points by doubling1 and you risk losing three or four odd tricks with a possibility of a redouble4 ,while such a double will often succeed it can hardly be classed as sound4 ,as the younger hand1 it may be wise to double a 8no-trump0 make in order to prevent great loss or to save the game4 ,in other words1 it may pay to show your partner by a double that you have strength in a particular suit4 ,there are at present two methods used by ,bridge players to indicate this strength1 one known as the ,heart ,convention and the other as the ,weak ,suit ,convention4 ,,redoubling ,although the score may sometimes warrant a redouble without extraordinary strength1 a redouble practically avows the ability to take six1 and probably1 seven tricks4 ,in estimating your hand consider the possibility of finding all the remaining trumps in one hand1 and do not value honours in the side suits too highly1 for if he holds great trump strength the maker is probably short in the other suits4 ,a redouble at 8no-trump0 indicates protection in every suit4 ,the dealer should often redouble1 not so much on the strength of his hand1 but to the score2 knowing that should the adversaries win the odd trick the game is lost1 and that his redouble will equalise the situation and make it possible for the odd trick to win the game for either side4 ,,estimating ,,the ,,value ,,of ,a ,,hand ,in considering your probable tricks those in the trump suit are of course most certain4 ,on the right side of the maker three trumps with a single honour1 ace1 king1 or queen1 may be estimated as being worth but one trick4 ,do not count on ruffing with a single trump4 ,should you hold three trumps with two honours1 headed by the ace king1 the king queen1 or even the king jack1 you are reasonably sure of two tricks in the trump suit--as can also be said of four trumps with two high honours4 ,indeed in the last combination1 with the third best card an eight or better1 there are probably three trump tricks4 ,with four trumps including three1 or five trumps including two honours1 provided the suit is headed by the ace or king1 you can reasonably expect to secure three tricks in the trump suit4 ,aces and kings in the side suits are usually good for a trick each2 but allow for the length of the suit1 the shorter it is the less probability that your honours will be trumped4 ,it is not safe to count on making your queens2 they may be classed as doubtful tricks4 ,spades may be doubled with four tricks4 ,to double hearts1 diamonds1 or clubs you should be sure of five tricks4 ,,the ,,lead ,,when ,,partner ,,has ,,doubled ,a double by your partner indicates some strength in trumps as well as in the side suits4 ,it does not necessarily imply a desire to get the trumps out1 nor should you invariably lead trumps when your partner has doubled2 your play must be influenced by the general character of your own hand4 ,if you hold a short suit it is obviously a better lead than trumps4 ,you may be able to ruff with your small trumps4 ,it is also bad play to lead trumps up to the maker4 ,this would place your partner's high cards in a position to be easily captured by the dealer4 ,when dummy is the maker1 the trump lead from weakness through the strong hand gives your partner the advantage of position2 but it is safer play to win the first trick1 if possible1 and decide on your subsequent play after seeing the dummy hand4 ,avoid leading trumps to your partner if you hold the ace1 the king1 or the queen of trumps guarded2 your partner may have doubled on high suit cards with but little strength in trumps4 ,in leading trumps from weakness always lead the highest card1 so that your partner can discover the distribution of the suit1 and place the dealer's trumps4 ,as a doubled spade make does not of necessity show strength in trumps1 it is not as a rule the custom of good players to lead spades1 except from strength1 before seeing the dummy hand4 ,if you hold trump strength your partner has probably doubled on his suit cards1 and your trump lead will insure the safety of his high cards4 ,should you hold a strong suit hand1 your partner's double is presumably an indication of trump strength1 and the trump opening would be advisable4 ,with only fair strength in the side suits and weak trumps1 especially where you hold a short suit1 do not be tempted to lead the trump originally4 ,wait until you learn more of the position of the cards4 ,,the ,,heart ,,convention ,when you have the first lead and your partner has doubled a 8no-trump0 make1 you are expected to lead your highest heart4 ,under this system the younger hand does not double 8no-trumps0 unless he is willing that a heart should be led2 and although the doubling power of the younger hand is reduced1 it makes your lead1 unless you have the misfortune to hold no heart1 a practical certainty4 ,should you hold an established suit and the ace of hearts you must1 of course1 double to have the heart led4 ,when you hold an established suit of hearts1 or a long suit of hearts that can be established in one lead and a sure card of re-entry1 a double may save the game4 ,,the ,,weak ,,suit ,,convention ,in ,england and in some parts of this country1 if the younger hand doubles it is a signal for his partner to lead the highest card of his weakest suit2 trusting that this weak suit and the doubler's long one will prove identical4 ,as this convention justifies a double with any established suit1 it multiplies the opportunities to double2 but1 on the other hand1 since the leader may have to choose between two weak suits1 there is no certainty that he will make the desired lead2 he may instead strike the dealer's long suit with a disastrous result4 ,,the ,,non-,,dealer',s ,,play ,,against ,a ,,declared ,,trump ,remember that in playing against a trump declaration1 unless it be spades1 you are sure to find trump strength1 probably five or more1 with the maker4 ,if you are weak in the trump suit1 and your partner does not show strength by doubling1 your best defence is an endeavour to save the game by making high cards early in the hand4 ,in playing against a red declaration1 be on the defensive from the start4 ,the only time that you can afford to be aggressive is when it is evident that the dealer is trying to establish a 8cross-ruff10 or a 8ruff0 in the weak trump hand4 ,it is an advantage to win the first trick1 as this enables you to see the thirteen cards in dummy4 ,the scheme of play of a hand may be changed after the dummy is seen2 therefore1 it is not possible to state what should be done after the opening lead2 but1 as a general principle1 it is safe either to continue the suit led originally or to endeavour to help your partner's hand by leading through strength4 ,you should be careful at all times neither to establish a suit for the adversary1 nor to give the dealer an opportunity to discard his worthless cards4 ,when there is an established suit against you1 unless you can stop the dealer's lead of trumps1 make all possible tricks before you give up the lead4 ,if the dealer once obtains the lead1 he may exhaust the trumps1 and make the established suit4 ,as the dealer sees the dummy hand and his own1 and therefore knows the cards that are against him1 give your partner correct information regarding the cards you hold4 ,while this may be valuable to the dealer in placing the cards1 the knowledge will be of greater benefit to your partner and yourself4 ,,the ,,opening ,,lead ,when trumps are against you1 unless you lead your high cards early in the hand you may lose them4 ,the dealer may be able to exhaust trumps1 and make some one suit on which to discard his losing cards4 ,when your hand is strong in each suit1 there is not this danger2 there can be no established suit against you4 ,no doubt the best opening that can be made against a trump declaration is from a combination containing both ace and king4 ,the lead of the king from this combination gives you an opportunity to see the dummy and does not clear the suit for the adversary4 ,while the king lead should usually be followed by the ace1 in some cases1 where it is apparent that the dealer's weak hand can trump on the second round1 or that the lead may clear the suit for the dealer or dummy1 the suit should not be continued4 ,it is rarely wrong to lead from a sequence1 especially from one of three high cards4 ,if you hold no sequence of three1 perhaps those containing two honours in sequence1 such as king queen1 queen jack1 or even jack ten1 may be classed as good openings4 ,often when you hold no high card sequence1 the lead is a disadvantage2 experience shows that you make more tricks in a suit if it is led to you2 for that reason it is often advisable to refrain from opening tenace suits or suits with a single honour4 ,the following are given as examples of combinations from which it is not advisable to lead3 ,a ,q x x ,a ,j x x ,k ,j x x ,k x x x ,in opening a suit headed by the ace1 avoid the lead of a low card4 ,the dealer may win the first round and find means to discard his remaining losing cards in that suit4 ,no objection can be raised to the lead of an ace with four or more other cards in the suit1 but with less than five it is better play to avoid leading that suit4 ,if the lead comes up to you1 the ace may kill some high cards in the adversary's hand and promote the value of the cards held by your partner2 whereas if you lead the ace presumably only small cards will fall1 making high ones good for the dealer4 ,if your hand is hopelessly weak in trumps and in side suits1 even with but three cards in the suit1 an ace should be led in order to save a grand slam4 ,if you are forced to open a suit containing a single honour1 or a suit with two honours not in sequence1 not including suits headed by the ace1 the fourth best card should be led4 ,the following are given as examples of combinations from which the fourth best card should be led3 ,k ,j x x ,k #aj x x ,k x x x ,q x x x ,q #aj x x ,j x x x #aj x x x ,with a long weak suit it is better play to lead the fourth best card4 ,any irregular lead may suggest a short suit to your partner1 and loss may result from his incorrect interpretation of the lead4 ,,examples ,,of ,,opening ,,leads ,,the ,,underlined ,,card ,,indicates ,,the ,,lead4 7,hearts7 ,,trump ,,declared ,,by ,,dealer4 ---------------------------------------- ----------------- ,transcriber's ,note3 ,the underlines have been replaced with square brackets4 ,for example ,k4 ---------------------------------------- ----------------- ,holding the ,lead4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------- ,j #h #b ,k ,j #g #f ,a ,k ,q #e #c #g #h ,a ,q #f #e #d #b ,q #h #d #i #h ,j #aj #aj #h #d ,k ,j #i ,a #h #g #d #c #f #d ,a ,q ,j #aj #i #g #c #b #i #f #d #aj #d ,a #f ,a ,j #g #e #c #b #h #g #e #i #g ,a ,k #d ,a #h #f #d #c #g #f #c #f #e #c #h #f #e #b ,k ,j #e #c ,a ,k ,j #f #e #i #f #d #b ,a #aj #i #g #d #c #i #e #c ,a #f ,k #i #e #b ,a ,q #e #d #h #f #e #i #f #c ,a ,j #i #d #aj #e #c ---------------------------------------- ------------------- ,leading from a ,sequence4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------- #h #f ,a #e ,a ,j #e ,k ,q ,j #g #f #d #i #h #f #d #g ,a #h #e #c ,k ,q ,j #aj ,k #h #e #h #e #d #aj #f #e #c ,q ,j #aj ,k #aj #e ,k #f #c ,k ,q #h #e ,a #g #c ,a ,j #f ,k #f #d #h #f #d #c ,k ,q ,j ,q #g #e ,q ,j #aj #f ,a #h #e ,a ,q #g ,j #f #d #aj ,k ,q ,j #i #g #e ,q #g #c ---------------------------------------- ------------------- ,leading from ,long ,suits4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------- ,q ,j #g #d ,k #aj #h #d ,a #g ,j #i #e ,k #f ,q ,j #i #f #d #i #h #f #f #e #b #h #e ,a ,j #f ,k ,j #aj #h #e ,k #g #d ,j #aj ,q ,j #g #c ,a ,q #f #c ,a ,j #h ,a ,j #g #e #d #c #aj #h #g #d #b ,q #e ,j #h #e #c ,k #aj #g #e #c ,a #h #f #h #h #f #d #i #e #b #h #f #c ,q #i #f #d #aj #f ,k #aj #h #c #aj #g #f #b ,a ,j #e ,k #aj #g ,a ,j #h #aj #g #e #d ,q #i #b ,a ,j ,j #f #d ,q #aj #h #f #b #h #e #c ---------------------------------------- ------------------- ,,inferences ,,from ,,high ,,card ,,leads ,it is not easy to determine from the lead of a high card how many cards are held in the suit4 ,you can only assume the length from the number of cards you hold and the number in dummy4 ,the fall of the cards may give the information1 but you cannot rely altogether on the dealer's play2 it is his object to make it difficult for you to place the cards4 ,the lead of an ace denies the king4 ,if the king is neither in dummy nor in your own hand1 it should be placed with the dealer4 ,should your partner1 however1 lead an ace and follow with the king1 the lead indicates that he holds no other card of that suit1 and should enable you to locate the queen4 ,among the better players the lead of an ace also denies the queen1 since if the suit is led up to the ace1 queen1 tenace1 two tricks may be made4 ,this inference1 however1 should not be too rigidly drawn1 because great length in the suit might justify an opening from an ace-queen combination4 ,the lead of an ace followed by the queen indicates the jack4 ,the lead of an ace followed by the jack indicates the ten1 or no other card in the suit4 ,if it develops that your partner has led the ace from ace and two small cards1 it indicates either a very weak hand or a tenace in some other suit4 ,the lead of a king indicates the ace1 the queen1 or both4 ,should the king win the first trick1 you should infer that your partner holds the ace4 ,if the king is taken by the ace1 the queen is marked in your partner's hand4 ,if the king is followed by the ace1 it denies the queen4 ,a ,k ,q ,a ,k ,j ,the king should be led from ,a ,k x ,k ,q ,j ,k ,q x ,the lead of a queen denies the ace and the king1 consequently the lead places both of these high cards4 ,if a queen is led by your partner1 you should infer that the lead is from jack ten2 perhaps it would be better to say that the lead shows the jack4 ,if you find the jack is either on the table or in your own hand1 the lead was evidently from a short suit2 queen and one or a singleton4 ,q ,j #aj ,q ,j #i ,q ,j x ,the queen should be led from ,q ,j ,q x ,q ,the lead of a jack denies the ace1 the king1 and the queen2 consequently your partner holds no higher card of the suit2 against a declared trump1 it usually indicates a short suit4 ,there is some difference of opinion among ,bridge players as to this lead2 the jack is sometimes led from king queen jack1 from king jack ten1 and even from ace jack ten4 ,the lead of a jack as the top card does away with the confusion that is caused by numerous interior leads4 ,it simplifies the lead and facilitates the placing of higher cards4 ,j #aj #i ,j #aj ,the jack should be led from ,j x ,j ,the lead of the ten indicates the king jack and ten and denies both ace and queen4 ,if either the king or the jack is in your hand or in dummy1 the ten lead denies any higher card1 and is probably the top of a short suit4 ,k ,j #aj x #aj #i x ,the ten should be led from #aj #i #aj x #aj ,the lead of a nine denies all higher cards of the suit2 it is led only as a top card1 and usually indicates a short suit4 #i #h x ,the nine should be led from #i x #i ,,inferences ,,from ,,low ,,card ,,leads ,an application of the ,rule of ,eleven will materially assist you to draw correct inferences from the lead of a small card4 ,it will indicate whether the lead is from a short or a long suit4 ,if you see more high cards than the ,rule of ,eleven would allow1 you can mark the lead1 not as fourth best1 but as the top of a short suit4 ,if the lead indicates a long suit1 you can often determine the exact combination of cards from which it has been made4 ,the ,rule of ,eleven ,deduct the size of the card led from eleven1 and the difference will show how many cards higher than the one led are held outside the leader's hand4 ,the lead of an eight or a seven 7except at no-trumps7 is more apt to be from a short than from a long suit2 combinations in which these cards would be fourth best are seldom opened by good players4 ,it will be easier for your partner to read your lead1 if with long weak suits1 headed by jack1 ten1 or nine1 you lead the fourth best card4 ,these cards can be led to indicate a short suit4 ,you can determine the length of your partner's suit by noticing the fall of the low cards4 ,when it is evident that your partner has led the lowest card of his suit1 his lead indicates exactly four cards4 ,if your partner is leading from a long suit and plays down on the second round1 he holds more than four cards4 ,,examples ,,of ,,inference ,,from ,,opening ,,leads ,a is the leader1 ,y the dummy1 ,z the dealer4 #g #c x-------x ,y ,a ,a ,b #h #e #d ,z x-------x ,a's lead of the ace denies the king and probably the queen2 both of these cards should be placed in the dealer's hand4 #h #g #d x-------x ,y ,q ,a ,b ,a #i #c ,z x-------x ,third hand should play ace on queen2 king is in the dealer's hand4 ,a has probably led from queen jack ten4 #i #e #d x-------x ,y ,j ,a ,b ,k #f #c ,z x-------x ,b should play the three2 his partner's lead indicates the top card1 and also shows that both ace and queen are in the dealer's hand4 ,j #h #e x-------x ,y #aj ,a ,b ,a #f #d ,z x-------x ,a's lead of ten with jack on the table indicates the top of a short suit4 ,king and queen should be placed in the dealer's hand4 #h #g #d x-------x ,y #i ,a ,b ,a #aj #c ,z x-------x ,the lead indicates the top1 probably1 of a short suit4 ,king1 queen1 and jack are all marked in the dealer's hand4 ,,original ,,trump ,,openings ,if a trump has been declared by the dealer it is not1 as a rule1 good play to lead trumps up to his strong hand2 this lead would necessarily place any high trump cards that your partner may hold in a bad position4 ,if1 however1 you hold a sequence in trumps and strength in the side suits consisting of combinations from which you do not wish to lead1 a trump lead is admissible4 ,the following are given as examples of hands from which the trump should be led when the dealer is the maker4 ,in these cases hearts are trumps4 ---------------------------------------- ------------ ---------------------------------------- ------------ ,k ,q ,j ,a ,q x x ,k x ,k ,j x x ,k ,q ,k ,j x x ,a ,q x ,k x x x ,q ,j #aj ,a ,j x x ,a ,q x ,k x x ---------------------------------------- ------------ ,the underlined card indicates the lead4 ---------------------------------------- ----------------- ,transcriber's ,note3 ,the underlines have been replaced with square brackets4 ,for example ,k4 ---------------------------------------- ----------------- ,when dummy is the maker of the trump1 there are many hands from which the trump should be led as an initial opening4 ,if you hold tenace suits1 or suit containing single honours1 and the adversary or your partner leads to you1 you are in a better position to make your high cards1 hence a trump opening in order to throw the lead4 ,if1 however1 you hold a sequence in any one suit1 the trump lead is not necessary4 ,leading from a sequence is always good play1 and rarely results in loss4 ,the following hands are given as examples of original trump openings when dummy is the maker4 ---------------------------------------- ------------ ---------------------------------------- ------------ ,j #aj ,a ,q x ,k ,j x x ,a ,q x x #i x ,a ,j x x ,a x x x ,k x x x #g #c ,a ,q x ,k x x x ,k ,j x x #h #e ,a ,q x x x ,a ,j x ,k ,q x ---------------------------------------- ------------ ,the underlined card indicates the lead4 ---------------------------------------- ----------------- ,transcriber's ,note3 ,the underlines have been replaced with square brackets4 ,for example ,k4 ---------------------------------------- ----------------- ,,original ,,trump ,,openings ,,from ,,strength ,it is advisable to lead trumps from strength in comparatively few hands1 for the reason that the lead indicates to the dealer the position of the trump strength held against him4 ,if1 however1 you hold four or five trumps without an honour1 and combinations in the plain suits from which you do not wish to lead1 the trump may be led through the strong hand4 ,this is especially true of a four-trump hand1 which contains three cards of each of the other suits4 ,avoid opening the trump from strength when you hold a single honour1 or even two honours4 ,you will gain1 by waiting for the lead to come to you4 ,,the ,,trump ,,lead ,,against ,a ,,spade ,,make ,as a rule1 the aggressive spirit that should characterise the non-dealer's play of a spade hand is lacking4 ,while a spade is not necessarily made from weakness1 the declaration in itself shows sufficient weakness in the side suits to embolden the adversaries' play4 ,with a hand containing five trumps 7spades7 the initial opening should be the trump4 ,your partner must hold suit strength which your trump lead will protect4 ,if your five trumps contain a tenace and you can advantageously lead from another suit1 it may be advisable to wait for your partner to lead to your tenace1 particularly if by doubling you have indicated trump strength4 ,if you have been redoubled and your hand contains four trumps and strength in the side suits1 the trump lead requires more careful consideration4 ,unless your partner has doubled the spade declaration it is impossible for you to place the trump strength1 and you should be cautious about leading originally from a short trump suit4 ,,how ,,to ,,play ,,to ,,partner',s ,,trump ,,opening ,any trump opening from your partner is an indication of strength1 usually of strength in the side suits4 ,it does not necessarily follow that your partner wants the trumps out1 but it is an indication that he is anxious to have his suits led to4 ,if you win the first trick in the trump suit1 look to see if dummy offers you an advantageous lead4 ,if you hold fair strength in the side suits with no protected honour in trumps and no short suit1 there can be no objection to the return of the trump lead2 but if you hold a tenace over dummy's strength in trumps1 or a high card that is protected1 it would be a bad play to return the trump lead4 ,wait until your partner or the adversary leads up to you4 ,do not return the trump lead if you hold a short suit4 ,lead the short suit4 ,you may be given an opportunity to make one of your trumps4 ,,leading ,,trumps ,,to ,,prevent ,a ,,ruff ,,in ,,the ,,weak ,,trump ,,hand ,when the dealer seems backward about leading trumps1 the inference is that he is trying to establish a ruff in the weak trump hand1 and you should be on the alert to prevent this by leading trumps 7through the strength74 ,it may be necessary for you to lead the trump after your initial lead4 ,it may be advisable to stop leading a suit1 which would help to establish a ruff in the weak hand2 or it may be essential that you try to place your partner in the lead1 so that he can lead the trumps through the strong hand4 ,if you are weak in dummy's long suit1 it is always more or less dangerous to lead trumps4 ,when this is the case1 your lead might help the dealer to exhaust trumps and make this long suit4 ,,short ,,suit ,,openings ,in ,bridge the term short suit implies a singleton or a two-card suit1 although1 strictly speaking1 any suit of fewer than four cards is short4 ,with a very weak hand 7no high cards in any suit7 it is evident that the only possible way of making tricks is by a short lead1 which may enable you to ruff the suit on the second or third round4 ,with a hand that contains tenace suits or suits with a single honour1 it is often advisable to lead short2 this opening gives you a double advantage2 you may have an opportunity to ruff1 and you throw the lead with the purpose of having your honour suits led up to4 ,with most players the desire to make a small trump is very strong1 and often leads to thoroughly unsound openings4 ,it is always wrong to open a short suit when you hold an ace king suit4 ,why play in the dark1 when by leading the king of your ace king suit1 you are in a position to hold the lead until you have seen dummy and can judge as to the advisability of the weak lead8 ,a suit headed by king queen is also a safer opening than a short lead1 which may establish the suit for the dealer2 although1 if you hold an honour that will stop the adversaries' trump lead1 say an ace or a guarded king1 you are almost certain to be in the lead before the dealer has an opportunity to discard worthless cards on his established suit4 ,any short lead may establish a suit for the dealer or dummy2 in fact1 the chances are that it will4 ,if you are weak in trumps and have little or no strength in the side suits1 you have not much to lose by the short lead4 ,the dealer will establish and make his suit with or without help4 ,on the other hand1 if you are strong in trumps1 you may be able to make it most difficult for the dealer to exhaust the trumps and make a suit unless1 by your weak lead1 you establish it for him4 ,with strength in trumps the short opening is unsound1 particularly with four trumps is it apt to ruin your hand4 ,one force given your hand makes it easy for the dealer to exhaust your trumps and to make the suit that you1 by your short lead1 have established4 ,with four trumps open your long suit4 ,the maker probably holds five trumps1 and when one force is given to his hand1 you have an equal number4 ,even though your trumps are small the dealer must exhaust his own to draw them1 and a card of re-entry in your hand or that of your partner will probably enable you to make your suit4 ,at any rate1 you have made it difficult for the dealer to establish his suit1 or retrieve any subsequent error in his play4 ,with five trumps and any good suit the latter should be opened4 ,when the make has been passed1 should you hold no long suit1 choose preferably a short red suit4 ,in other words lead up to the dealer's supposed weakness4 ,with six trumps little or no objection can be raised to the short lead4 ,when the trump situation is known you may be forced to lead them to the maker1 so that you should early in the hand try to take as many trump tricks as possible4 ,at all times select the highest card of a short suit for the lead4 ,this is done to give requisite information to your partner4 ,unless he can see1 in his hand or dummy1 great strength in the suit1 the lead of a very low card is most difficult to read as short4 ,the following are given as examples of hands from which a short suit may be led4 ,the trump 7hearts7 declared by the dealer4 ,the card underlined indicates the lead4 ---------------------------------------- ----------------- ,transcriber's ,note3 ,the underlines have been replaced with square brackets4 ,for example ,k4 ---------------------------------------- ----------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------ ---------------------------------------- ------------ ,k #e #b ,a ,j #f #d #aj #i ,a ,q #e #c ,a #i #c #h #f #i #g #d #b ,q #h #f #d ,a ,q #h ,k ,j #f #c ,j #aj ,k #h #d #b ,a #i #c ,q ,k #h #f #d #b ,j #h #e #c ,q #e #b ,j #aj #d ,k #h #d ,k #e #d #b ,j #g #c ,a ,q #i #f ,k ,q ,k ,j #d #b #h #f #b #i ,j #h #f #d #b #aj #h #d #g #e ,q #f #d #c #i #h #aj #f #e #c #b ---------------------------------------- ------------ ,,leading ,,through ,,strength ,the fundamental idea of leading through strength is to help your partner to make his high cards by allowing him to play after the exposed hand4 8,leading through0 means to make a person play second hand to the trick4 ,you always lead through your left hand adversary4 ,should your partner hold ,k ,j x with ,a ,q x in dummy1 it is obvious that if you lead through the suit1 your partner may win two tricks1 whereas if he is forced to lead up to the strength1 one trick at least would be lost4 ,players will often say1 8,how can ,i know that my partner has any high cards in that suit80 ,perhaps you cannot be certain of the distribution of the high cards2 in leading through strength you hope that your partner holds the missing honours1 realising that if all the strength is with the dealer1 nothing is lost4 8,leading through strength0 is simply looking ahead and foreseeing what may happen4 ,in other words1 not placing your partner in a position whereby he may be forced to lead up to the strength in dummy4 ,,when ,,to ,,lead ,,through ,,strength ,after taking the first trick1 study the dummy carefully in order to see which suit may be led through advantageously4 ,if there are two suits to choose from1 select the suit in which you are short1 hoping it may afford you an opportunity to make a small trump4 ,the fall of the cards will often indicate that your partner can trump the second or third round of the suit you are leading4 ,before giving him the ruff1 consider that he will be compelled to lead1 and if there is no suit in dummy that he can lead to advantageously1 it is better for you to lead through the strength on the table than to force your partner to lead up to the strong hand4 ,of course1 if it is necessary to save the game by all means give your partner the ruff1 but if1 on the other hand1 you hold the ace or guarded king of trumps1 i4e4 a high card that will stop the adversary's trump lead1 it is preferable to lead through dummy's strength4 ,later you can stop the trump lead and give your partner the ruff4 ,,choice ,,of ,,suits ,,to ,,lead ,,through ,in leading through strength1 certain suits are preferable to others4 ,a guarded king in the dummy is an ideal suit to lead through when you hold the queen1 jack1 ten of the same suit4 ,by leading the queen1 if your partner holds the ace1 you can prevent dummy's king from making4 ,in leading through strength1 avoid a suit in which you yourself hold a protected honour4 ,for instance1 holding king1 jack1 small1 it would be bad play to lead through ace1 queen1 ten1 as this would give the dummy an opportunity to make three tricks in the suit4 ,the following may be classed as good combinations from which to lead through strength in dummy3 ,holding ,lead through ,j #aj #i #aj #i x ,a ,q x in ,dummy x x x x x x ,a ,j x or ,a x x in ,dummy #aj #i x ,k ,j x in ,dummy x x x ,q ,j #aj ,q ,j x ,q x ,k x x in ,dummy ,j #aj x #aj #i x x x x ,j #aj #i ,j #aj x ,q x x in ,dummy x x x ,in leading through any of these combinations1 the top card of a sequence should be led4 ,in fact1 with three cards or fewer in a suit1 it is almost an invariable rule to lead the highest card4 ,the following are combinations which should be led through only as a last resort3 ,holding ,avoid leading through ,a ,j x ,q x x ,a #aj x in ,dummy ,k ,j x ,k #aj x ,a ,q x ,a ,j x ,k x x ,a x x in ,dummy ,q ,j x ,q x x ,q x ,j x x x ,a #aj x ,k #aj x in ,dummy ,,suggestions ,,for ,,third ,,hand ,,play ,when you are trying to win the trick1 play high third in hand2 but if your cards1 or your cards combined with those in the dummy are in sequence1 play the lowest card of the sequence4 ,do not finesse against your partner2 help his hand at the sacrifice of your high card4 ,if1 however1 you hold ace1 jack1 small1--with king or queen in dummy1--the play of the jack is permissible2 your partner's lead practically shows one of these honours4 ,when you hold the ace and your partner leads a jack through a guarded king or queen in dummy1 it is often good play to pass the first trick4 ,by playing the ace you will probably establish two high cards for the dealer4 ,if your partner's lead clearly indicates a short suit1 with the ace marked in the dealer's hand1 do not sacrifice a king4 ,allow the dealer to win the trick cheaply1 if necessary1 but keep your king guarded4 ,by playing a low card you may deceive an unwary dealer1 and at any rate you will put the dealer to some trouble to catch your king4 ,at 8no-trump10 provided the dummy holds an honour1 you should finesse deeply in your partner's suit4 ,the application of the ,eleven ,rule will materially help you in finessing4 ,when there is a guarded queen in the dummy and you hold the king1 ten1 small1 or ace1 ten1 small1 to finesse is sound play4 ,if dummy holds a twice guarded king and you hold the ace1 jack1 small1 it often pays not to take the finesse1 for should you abandon the suit to wait until your partner can again lead through the king1 you may take out the only re-entry card in his hand4 ,unless your partner holds two re-entries1 you gain nothing by the finesse4 ,,inferences ,,from ,,third-,,hand ,,play ,it is very important for the leader1 especially in a 8no-trump0 hand1 to be in a position to determine whether his suit should be continued or abandoned4 ,careful notice of the card your partner plays to the first trick will often enable you to place the high cards in that suit1 and in this way suggest your subsequent play4 ,the following are given as illustrations of inferences to be drawn by the leader from third-hand play3 ,a and ,b are partners1 and the underlined card in each example indicates ,a's lead2 ,y's cards are exposed4 ---------------------------------------- ----------------- ,transcriber's ,note3 ,the underlines have been replaced with square brackets4 ,for example ,k4 ---------------------------------------- ----------------- #h #g x-------x ,y ,k #aj #f #e ,a ,b ,q ,z x-------x ,a ,b's play of queen denies the jack1 which should therefore be marked in the dealer's hand4 ,the small cards cannot be placed4 #f #c x-------x ,y ,a ,j #g #e ,a ,b #i ,z x-------x ,k ,b's play of the nine denies the eight and the queen4 ,both of these cards must be in the dealer's hand4 ,the ten should be placed with ,b4 ,the leader1 in order to catch the dealer's queen1 must await a return of the suit4 #g #c x-------x ,y ,q #i #f #e ,a ,b ,j ,z x-------x ,a ,the play of the jack denies the ten and the king2 both of these cards are marked in the dealer's hand4 ,should ,a continue this suit1 it would allow the dealer to make tricks with both ten and king4 ,the suit must be abandoned until the lead can come from ,b's hand4 ,j #h x-------x ,y ,k #i #g #f ,a ,b ,q ,z x-------x ,a ,b's play of the queen with the jack exposed on the table denies the ten1 which must be in the dealer's hand4 #aj #g #e x-------x ,y ,j #i #h #f ,a ,b ,k ,z x-------x ,a ,b's play of the king denies the queen4 ,to continue the suit might allow the dealer to make two tricks4 ,a should abandon the suit until ,b can return it through the dealer's hand4 ,j #g #b x-------x ,y #aj #i #f #d ,a ,b ,q ,z x-------x ,a ,it is impossible to tell whether the king is held by the dealer or by ,b4 ,the suit1 however1 may be continued with the ten4 ,if ,b holds the king this may shut out the jack4 ,if the dealer holds the king probably nothing will be lost4 #h #g #e x-------x ,y ,q ,j #aj #i ,a ,b ,a ,z x-------x ,b's play of the ace denies the king1 which should be placed with the dealer4 ,k #f #e x-------x ,y ,q #h #g #b ,a ,b ,a ,z x-------x ,it is customary holding the ace and jack with the king or queen in dummy to finesse the jack third in hand4 ,b's play of ace would1 therefore1 deny the jack1 which is marked with the dealer4 ,avoid continuing the suit4 ,k #f #d x-------x ,y ,q #g #e #c ,a ,b #aj ,z x-------x #h ,as the dealer does not take the ten1 the ace and jack are presumably in ,b's hand4 ,b's play of ten denies the nine1 which should be placed with the dealer4 #f #d #b x-------x ,y ,j #h #g #e ,a ,b ,a ,k ,z x-------x ,b plays ace to the first trick1 and returns the king2 this indicates no more cards in the suit1 and marks the queen in the dealer's hand4 ,,leading ,,up ,,to ,,dummy ,with dummy on your right1 you should invariably lead up to the weak suit4 ,this is especially important when you hold no high cards in the suit1 for in this case the strength lies between your partner and the dealer4 ,by leading through the dealer's hand you give your partner the advantage of position2 otherwise he may be forced to lead up to the dealer's strength4 ,in leading up to weakness1 the general rule of leading the highest card of a sequence should be followed4 ,it is often good play1 when dummy holds no honour in the suit1 to lead a card higher than dummy's best4 ,this permits your partner1 if the lead is not covered1 to pass the trick4 ,if dummy's weakness is in the trump suit1 your best play will often be to lead trumps through the dealer's strong hand1 rather than to lead up to the high cards in dummy4 ,if you hold a guarded king and dummy a guarded queen1 do not be tempted to lead up to this honour4 ,it would be obviously wrong to lead up to a king if you hold the ace4 ,you must wait until this suit is led by the adversary or your partner4 ,do not lead up to an ace in dummy if you hold the king4 ,you are reasonably sure to make a trick with this card if you wait until the suit is led by the dealer or your partner4 ,if you hold a sequence headed by the queen or jack1 little or no objection can be raised to your leading up to an ace or king1 and on each occasion the highest card of the sequence should be led4 ,should you lead a low card up to dummy's strong suit1 your lead would indicate a singleton and a desire to 8ruff40 ,,the ,,echo ,in ,whist the play to a lead of a high and then a lower card is a signal for a lead of trumps1 and is necessarily an indication of strength in trumps4 ,in ,bridge this convention is used to show control of the third round of the suit led4 ,some players use this echo or signal to show that they can trump the third round of the suit1 while with others it implies control of the third round either with the high card or by a 8ruff40 ,this signal should not be used except on your partner's lead of king1 as otherwise it would give information to the dealer4 ,to use it on the adversary's lead would help the dealer to make successful finesses1 and to mark the distribution of the suits4 ,be careful when you use this signal not to echo with an honour4 ,if you hold ,q x1 ,j x1 #aj x1 do not play the honour to the first trick2 not only is your partner apt to think you have no more of the suit1 but these honours are too valuable to throw away4 ,,forcing ,to force is to make a player trump4 ,this will1 of course1 reduce his trump strength and weaken his hand4 ,it is as a rule good play to force the adversary's strong trump hand4 ,it will often prevent his exhausting the trumps1 and hinder his bringing in an established suit4 ,the beginner hesitates to force the strong trump hand4 ,he feels that he is wasting a high card and allowing the adversary to make a small trump1 not realising that no card of this suit can make1 unless the trumps are exhausted4 ,if no force be given to the strong hand1 it is1 ordinarily1 an easy matter for the dealer to exhaust trumps and make a suit2 unless there is unusual length in trumps1 judicious forcing will do more than anything else to break down a strong trump hand4 ,do not lead a suit with the intention of forcing the strong hand unless you hold the commanding card or can mark this card with your partner2 you may give the dealer an opportunity to win the trick and to discard a worthless card4 ,you should hesitate to force when by doing so you establish the remaining cards of the suit for your opponent4 ,you should not attempt to force the strong hand when there is an established suit against you1 particularly when it can be inferred that the dealer has all the high cards in the trump suit4 ,at this time1 make what you can in the remaining suit before you give up the lead4 ,it is wrong to force the weak hand4 ,you lose one of your high cards1 and the maker's trumps are still intact4 ,do not continue a suit when it is shown that the weak hand can 8ruff40 ,in playing against the make1 if you infer that your partner is weak in trumps and also short in a side suit1 it is usually advisable to allow him to make small trumps by forcing him4 ,this should always be done when a short suit has been led by your partner4 ,his lead practically asks for the 8ruff40 ,if1 however1 your partner has doubled1 be more careful about forcing him4 ,by reducing his trump strength you may severely injure his hand4 ,it is bad play to lead a suit that both the dealer and the dummy can trump4 ,it allows the dealer to trump in one hand and to discard a worthless card in the other4 ,,returning ,,partner',s ,,lead ,ordinarily it is not possible to establish a suit against the dealer's strong trump hand1 and this does away with the usual argument in favour of returning your partner's original lead4 ,on the contrary1 it is probably the last thing that should be done4 ,your play is to make any high cards you may hold1 and then to search for a weak suit in the dummy hand4 ,if you lead up to this weakness1 the dealer cannot place the strength in the suit1 and your partner is in a very good position to win a trick cheaply4 ,after making your high cards1 should there be no weak suit in dummy to lead up to1 return your partner's lead4 ,,second-,,hand ,,play ,when opposed to the dealer the question of correct second-hand play is relative to your position at the table4 ,that is whether you play before the dummy or before the dealer4 ,in other words1 whether the dummy is at your left or whether the dealer is at your left4 ,if you will try to infer why the dealer is leading that suit1 it will assist you to decide on the correct second-hand play4 ,it is1 of course1 reasonable to suppose that he has some strength in the suit4 ,what this strength may be you must judge from the cards that you hold and those that you see on the table4 ,,when ,,you ,,play ,,before ,,the ,,dummy ,it is evident that when dummy is weak the second-hand play is greatly simplified4 ,you either play higher than dummy's best1 or pass the trick to your partner4 ,should dummy hold strength or a high card in the suit1 it is usually better to play higher than any card dummy holds4 ,for instance1 if you hold ,k x x1 with the queen and others on the table1 your second-hand play would be the king2 otherwise the queen in dummy may win the trick4 ,in this position1 however1 there are times when a low card should be played4 ,for instance1 dummy holds ,k with others1 and you hold ,a ,j x2 the second-hand play is low2 for should the adversary take the trick with the king and return the same suit you win two tricks instead of one4 ,if you hold ace and one or two small cards with king and jack in dummy1 the second-hand play should be a low card4 ,should the dealer finesse the jack1 your partner may win the trick4 ,should dummy hold over you in a position to overtake any card you may play1 unless you hold two honours in sequence1 always play your lowest card4 ,for instance1 when you hold ,k ,j x1 and dummy holds ,a ,q x1 it is useless to play any card but the lowest4 ,dummy is sure to win two tricks in the suit4 ,if you hold ,k ,q x with ,a ,j x in dummy1 your two honours are in sequence and the lower honour should be played4 ,should you hold ,a ,q x with ,k ,j x in dummy1 the ace is the best second-hand play4 ,if a low card be played1 the dealer1 by finessing the jack1 can place the ace and the queen in your hand1 and of course he will not continue the suit2 while if the ace is played1 the queen1 not being so clearly marked1 may win the third round4 ,usually cover an honour with an honour even though you know that your high card will be lost4 ,do so whenever you hold a fourchette2 whenever you hold the ten of the same suit1 which you may eventually make good2 or whenever1 by covering1 you can reasonably hope to make a card good in partner's hand4 ,it is not1 however1 advisable to cover a queen led holding ,k x x x unless one of the small cards be a nine or better2 the adversary will find it difficult to catch a king that is three times protected4 ,on the other hand1 a king that is once or even twice guarded can be easily captured1 and for that reason1 and with the object of promoting a card in your partner's hand1 it is usually good play to cover the lead of a jack or queen4 ,do not give the dealer an indication of the cards that you hold by hesitating in your play4 ,decide on and play a card quickly4 ,if there is a doubt as to your play1 play your lowest1 remembering that the dealer must guess the position of missing honours4 ,,when ,,you ,,play ,,before ,,the ,,dealer ,when the dummy is weak and you play before the dealer1 it is with the assurance that the missing strength in the suit is over you4 ,this strength may be held by the dealer or by your partner4 ,as he is leading the suit1 the chances are that the balance of strength is with the dealer2 therefore1 unless you know that you can win the trick1 do not play a high card4 ,with ace and others in a suit1 if you do not play the ace second in hand1 the dealer may win the trick and discard his worthless cards in that suit4 ,the second-hand play of an ace is particularly necessary later in the hand1 and when the trumps are against you4 ,when you play before the dealer follow the same general rules as to covering an honour1 and as to playing the lower of two honours in sequence4 ,if dummy holds an ace and others of a suit1 and you hold ,k ,j x play the king second hand4 ,with small cards of a suit in dummy and ace queen and others in your own hand1 the ace should be played second in hand4 ,,inferences ,there is no subject in ,whist or ,bridge so interesting as that of inferences4 ,each card that is played carries with it some information that will often render valuable aid to the play of the hand4 ,to be able to read the cards correctly1 and to draw the proper inferences1 requires not only experience1 but a certain amount of inherent card genius4 ,the beginner marvels at the amount of information obtained by the expert1 wondering how it can possibly be secured4 ,to the average person who sits down to watch a game of ,bridge there is nothing more demoralising than to see how readily the good player finds out the location of most of the high cards1 and1 in many cases1 even the distribution of the various suits4 ,strange as it may seem1 writers on ,bridge and ,whist have1 as a rule1 devoted little space to this almost inexhaustible subject4 ,a good-sized book could be written entirely on inferences2 and let no one be discouraged at his lack of skill in this direction1 for1 even among the good players1 errors are very common4 ,the best ,bridge players1 however1 are undoubtedly those who can draw inferences quickly and correctly4 ,,the ,,value ,,of ,,information ,when playing against the dealer1 give your partner all possible information4 ,any deception or play of false cards1 any irregular lead that is not conventional1 will often react to the benefit of the dealer4 ,information may be given by leading correctly1 by taking a trick as cheaply as possible1 by discarding properly1 by correct second-hand play1 and by returning or not returning your partner's lead4 ,at times the information that you give your partner may benefit the dealer by enabling him to mark the distribution of a suit1 but more often is it of greater value to your partner4 ,the dealer knows from the start the exact cards that are held against him2 while your partner needs all the information you can give to combine with you in defending the dealer's attack4 ,there are players who claim that you should not lead the fourth best card against a trump declaration1 asserting that the information it gives may benefit the dealer1 and that1 should a card lower than the one led be played1 your partner may think it a short lead4 ,these players make the distinction of leading their lowest card against a declared trump1 and the fourth best only against a 8no-trump0 declaration4 ,this may appeal to those who neither count cards nor apply the useful ,eleven ,rule1 but it does not satisfy the clever player1 who wishes to count his partner's suit1 and to determine the exact combination of cards it contains4 ,if you deprive your partner of the information to which he is entitled1 you rob ,bridge of much of its intellectual pleasure4 ,how can he know when the weak hand can 8ruff0 your suit8 ,how can he tell whether a lead will force the strong hand or give it a discard8 ,how can he count your hand or the dealer's8 ,how can he make correct end plays without knowing the position of the cards8 ,without this help to partnership play you are in no position to combat the dealer4 ,it is not difficult to win tricks from adversaries who neither give1 nor make use of information4 ,,how ,,to ,,draw ,,inferences ,bridge is in this respect a much easier game than ,whist4 ,in ,bridge the declaration and the exposed dummy hand1 both absent in ,whist1 lend enormous assistance in locating the cards4 ,the beginner invariably becomes interested in his own cards1 or those of the dummy1 and plays without paying any particular attention to the card that is led or to the one that wins the first trick2 in other words he knows nothing about the location of the cards in that particular suit1 and his disregard of the fall of the cards continues throughout the entire hand4 ,a notice which nothing escapes1 the ability to count cards1 and absolute confidence in your partner's play1 is the sine qua non of correct inferences4 ,notice particularly the card that your partner leads2 if it be a high card1 understand what it indicates2 and1 if it be a low card1 ascertain whether it is led from a long or a short suit4 ,watch the cards as they fall1 the adversaries' as well as your partner's1 with unceasing attention1 and make a mental interpretation of each play1 with due allowance for the dealer's false cards4 ,don't jump at a conclusion which masses the remaining cards of a suit1 but count each suit accurately1 with a certainty of the particular cards that must be held by the dealer and your partner4 ,much of the intellectual enjoyment of ,bridge is derived from playing your hand in conjunction with your partner's4 ,credit your partner with playing for the common interest of the hands and place absolute confidence in the information he gives you4 ,a trust in your partner's ,bridge ability will overcome many an obstacle in the way of drawing inferences4 ,,inferences ,,regarding ,,the ,,make ,in many hands the declaration and the cards in dummy will show you the dealer's probable strength2 and will also suggest the number of trumps held by your partner4 ,for instance1 should you hold three trumps with three in the dummy1 you cannot expect your partner to hold more than two trumps1 allowing for at least five in the dealer's hand4 ,should you hold four trumps1 with three on the table1 your partner cannot have more than one2 he may have none4 ,although at times you can place high cards in the trump suit1 it is difficult to locate honours in a 8no-trump0 hand4 ,however1 keeping the general rules for the make in view1 you can form some idea of the adversary's strength4 ,when the dealer has passed the make you can often infer from his subsequent play the absence of certain cards4 ,for instance1 should the dealer1 having passed the make1 play two aces1 he probably does not hold much strength in the other two suits4 ,,general ,,inferences ,when your partner makes what appears to be an unusual play1 do not condemn it1 but ask yourself why the play was made4 ,for instance1 ,why does your partner not lead through the strength in dummy8 ,it may be that he has an honour in that suit1 and is waiting for the adversary to lead4 ,why does your partner lead up to dummy's strong suit1 instead of to the weak one8 ,he is probably leading a singleton1 or he may be very long in that suit and hopes that you will trump4 ,why does the dealer not lead trumps8 ,he may be trying to establish a 8ruff0 in the weak hand2 he may be trying to arrange the lead so that his trumps can be led advantageously from the weak hand2 or it may be because the balance of trump strength is against him4 ,why does your partner abandon his long suit against a 8no-trump0 make8 ,it is because his card of re-entry has been taken out1 because the suit is hopelessly against him1 or because he is waiting for you to lead through the dealer's hand4 ,why does your partner refuse to return your lead in a 8no-trump0 hand8 ,it is either because he has no more of your suit1 or because he considers that his suit is stronger4 ,why does your partner immediately return your lead against a declared trump1 instead of showing his own suit1 or leading up to dummy's weakness8 ,he is evidently anxious to trump the third round of your suit4 ,with a 8no-trump0 hand1 why does the dealer part with the ace of his adversaries' suit on the first round8 ,it is because he has that suit protected1 because he can see enough tricks to win the game1 or because he is afraid that some other suit may be made against him4 ,after you have led up to the weak suit in dummy1 and your partner has taken the trick cheaply1 why is it that he does not return that suit8 ,he is evidently waiting for you to lead through the dealer's hand4 ,if1 against a 8no-trump0 declaration1 you are in doubt as to the location of the winning card in your own suit1 notice the card that your partner plays in returning your lead1 and remember that he will return his highest card4 ,this will enable you to tell what higher cards are in dealer's hand4 ,if you lead a high card1 against a 8no-trump0 make1 notice the card that your partner plays to the trick4 ,if he has four or more of that suit1 he will not play his lowest4 ,if the dealer takes out the commanding trump1 he is either trying to make you lead up to high cards in his hand1 or some long suit is established against you4 ,if it is for the latter reason1 be cautious about forcing him4 ,make what you can in the remaining suit4 ,it may be dangerous to lose the lead4 ,if the dealer continues to lead trumps after the trumps in the other hands are exhausted1 you should be careful not to give information that will be of use to the dealer in locating successful finesses4 ,,the ,,non-,,dealer',s ,,play ,,of ,a 8,,no-,,trump0 ,,hand ,usually lead from your longest suit1 against a 8no-trump0 declaration1 trusting that it will prove to be the weak spot in the maker's hand1 or that you may be able to take out any high cards held against you and eventually establish the suit4 ,to make an established suit1 it may be necessary to have a card of re-entry4 ,therefore1 be careful not to lead aces and kings in order to see dummy4 ,these cards should be reserved as re-entry cards1 and will no doubt be found most useful later in the hand4 ,as leader infer from the fall of the cards1 relying on your partner's correct third-hand play1 the position of the remaining cards of your long suit4 ,correct inferences will assist you to decide whether to continue or to abandon the suit4 ,if you find the cards so placed that an advantageous lead of the suit must come from your partner1 plan carefully how best to put him in the lead4 ,if you know that the adversary has two high cards of your long suit1 especially when your card of re-entry has been taken out1 abandon your suit1 and endeavour to help your partner by leading the suit which you infer must be his4 ,this may be your only chance to save the game4 ,if the dummy has a long suit1 and no card of re-entry1 do not be in a hurry to part with the commanding card of that suit4 ,wait until the suit is exhausted in the dealer's hand1 so that he cannot lead it to dummy4 ,if1 however1 dummy has a sure card of re-entry there is little reason for holding up your high card4 ,it is better play to take the first trick and hope that your partner holds a card that will stop the suit4 ,when a high card of dummy's long suit is marked in your partner's hand1 it is well to take out dummy's re-entry card before the suit is established4 ,notice carefully your partner's discards in order to determine his strong suit1 as well as to be able to infer what high cards he is endeavouring to protect4 ,this will help you to discard correctly4 ,avoid playing a selfish game1 and do not feel indignant if your partner1 instead of returning your lead1 attempts to play for his own suit4 ,his hand may fully justify the change of lead4 ,by changing the lead he shows not only a good suit1 but also a card of re-entry4 ,,the ,,original ,,lead ,the long suit is the best opening lead against a 8no-trump0 declaration4 ,while the declaration is1 in itself1 an indication of general strength1 in the majority of makes by the dealer one suit is left to the dummy to protect1 and your long suit may be the weak spot in the dealer's hand4 ,the leads against a 8no-trump0 declaration differ from those that are in use against a trump declaration1 for the reason that high cards cannot be ruffed4 ,with great length or considerable strength in your long suit a high card should be led1 but unless you can reasonably expect to catch all of the remaining cards1 your partner should be given an opportunity to win the first trick in the suit4 ,if you hold no card of re-entry1 except perhaps a high card in your own long suit1 you should be careful not to take out of your partner's hand the only card that he may have to return your lead1 for if you have no card of re-entry1 and your partner has none of your suit to return1 your suit1 even though established1 is useless4 ,as unblocking is a very important feature of the play against a 8no-trump0 declaration1 it is necessary that you show your partner from what combination of cards you are leading4 ,the failure to unblock is largely due to a lack of confidence in partner's lead4 ,those who are not familiar with the correct leads at 8no-trump0 would do well to remember that the lead of a high card indicates three honours or seven cards in the suit4 ,frequently in opening a hand you will have two suits of equal length to choose from4 ,it is then advisable to keep the suit headed by the higher card1 for re-entry4 ,for instance1 holding two suits1 one headed by an ace and the other by the jack or queen1 open the weaker of the two1 saving the ace as re-entry4 ,this principle is sound2 in practice it may sometimes be found that your partner is strong in the suit you do not open4 ,nevertheless1 this lead from the weaker of two suits1 if consistently followed1 will gain in the long run4 ,if you hold a red and a black suit1 of equal length1 especially if the 8no-trump0 declaration has been made by the dummy1 give the preference to the red suit1 inferring that the dealer is weak in red cards4 ,when you are opening from a long weak suit1 and especially when you hold no re-entry card1 endeavour to inform your partner that your long suit is weak4 ,don't encourage your partner to return your lead unless there is a fair chance to establish and make your suit4 ,from each of the following combinations it is best to lead the highest card3 #aj #i #g #f #i #h #f #d #h #g #e #c ,when the top cards are not in sequence the lead of the highest may lose a trick1 and it is1 therefore1 safer to lead the second best4 ,as with #aj #h #g #e #b #i #g #f #d #c ,the underlined card should be led4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------- ,transcriber's ,note3 ,the underlines have been replaced with square brackets4 ,for example ,k4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------- ,if1 however1 you hold a long weak suit1 and1 say1 two or more possible re-entry cards1 do not hesitate to encourage a return of the lead by opening a low card4 ,,the ,,original ,,lead ,,at 8,,no-,,trump0 ---------------------------------------- ----------------------- ,,lead ,,holding ---------------------------------------- ----------------------- ,ace1 ,queen1 ,jack1 and others with a re-entry card4 ,ace ,ace1 with #g or more others4 ,ace1 ,queen1 with #e others4 ,ace1 ,jack1 with #e others4 ---------------------------------------- ----------------------- ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen and others4 ,ace1 ,king1 ,jack and others4 ,ace1 ,king1 ten1 and #c others1 with a re-entry ,king card4 ,ace1 ,king and #e or more others4 ,king1 ,queen1 ,jack and others4 ,king1 ,queen1 ten and others4 ,king1 ,queen and #e others4 ---------------------------------------- ----------------------- ,queen1 ,jack1 ten and others4 ,queen ,queen1 ,jack1 nine and others4 ,ace1 ,queen1 ,jack and others4 ,no card of re-entry ---------------------------------------- ----------------------- ,jack ,jack1 ten1 nine and others4 ---------------------------------------- ----------------------- ,ten ,king1 ,jack1 ten and others4 ---------------------------------------- ----------------------- #dth ,best ,from other combinations4 ---------------------------------------- ----------------------- ,,opening ,a ,,short ,,suit ,,against ,a 8,,no-,,trump0 ,,declaration ,if1 as leader1 your long suit is worthless1 and your hand is generally weak1 there is a chance that your short suit may prove to be your partner's long one1 and that the lead may help him to establish his suit4 ,while the odds are two to one against the success of a short lead1 in this case it may gain and certainly cannot lose much4 ,if1 however1 you hold five or six cards in your suit1 open it2 there is always a chance that your partner may hold sufficient length in the same suit to help you establish and bring it in4 ,if your long suit contains but four cards headed by one honour1 king1 queen1 or jack1 with no other re-entry card in the hand1 and you hold a good supporting short lead1 like jack ten or nine 7particularly if the make has been passed1 and your short suit is a red one7 the short opening admits of no criticism4 ,if you hold a three or four card suit headed by ace1 king1 and queen1 no matter the length in other suits1 the opening lead should be from the ace king queen combination4 ,with three cards of re-entry you can certainly afford to lead one of them to determine whether conditions justify the long suit lead4 ,the dummy hand may discourage the lead of your long suit and make it advisable to try for your partner's suit instead4 ,,unblocking ,to be able to use proper judgment in ridding yourself of cards that you fear may block your partner's suit1 you should thoroughly understand the leads1 and above all things1 you should have perfect confidence that your partner has made the correct one4 ,remember that a high card led against a 8no-trump0 declaration indicates great strength or great length1 and that you can rarely lose more than one trick by throwing your own high card on the one led by your partner2 whereas a failure to unblock will often occasion the loss of several cards in your partner's hand4 ,if you hold four cards in the suit that your partner leads 7provided of course the lead is high7 save the lowest card1 playing the third best to the first trick1 and then play up4 ,with five cards1 play the fourth best to your partner's high card lead1 and then play up or down as the situation demands4 ,with length in the suit that your partner leads1 especially as an original opening1 it is often advisable to indicate your strength by playing first a high and then a lower card4 ,this echo or signal encourages your partner to continue the suit4 ,with three cards in your partner's suit two of which are honours1 the lower of the honours should be played to the first trick4 ,by playing the lowest card of all you will invariably block the suit4 ,with three cards including but one honour1 the middle card should be played to a high card lead1 and the honour should be thrown or played to the second lead4 ,be careful to return the highest card of your partner's suit1 as this will minimise loss from blocking and allow your partner to continue the suit without interruption4 ,the following are given as examples of unblocking3 --------------------------------------- ,,holding ,,on ,,partner',s ,,play ,,lead ,,of --------------------------------------- ,j #i #h #g #b ,k #g ,j #h #e #c ,k #e ,k ,q #g ,a ,q ,q ,j #h ,k ,j ,k ,q #e ,j ,q ,q #h #c ,k and ,a ,q on ,a --------------------------------------- ,,returning ,,partner',s ,,lead ,to return partner's lead1 or to play for your own long suit8 ,at times you will find this a most difficult question to decide4 ,it can be stated that ordinarily it is better play to return your partner's original lead1 for rarely are two suits made against a 8no-trump0 declaration4 ,in fact1 it is hard enough to bring in one suit4444 ,it will assist you to settle this difficulty if you notice carefully the card led by your partner1 and infer from it the length of his suit4 ,you can often tell how many cards of that suit are in the dealer's hand4 ,if1 for instance1 your partner's lead indicates four cards and there are three cards of that suit in dummy and two cards in your own hand1 it is evident that the dealer must hold four1 and the chances are1 if the lead is returned1 he will eventually be left with the master card4 ,as it is1 of course1 your purpose to avoid making cards good for the adversary1 should you hold a good suit under these circumstances and a sure re-entry card1 abandon your partner's lead by all means and play for your own hand4 ,when dummy holds four cards in your partner's suit1 hesitate to return the lead1 if by so doing you may establish the suit for your opponent2 but when dummy is weak in the suit1 lead at the first opportunity1 through the dealer's hand4 ,sometimes1 if your own long suit is headed by ace and king1 it is well to lead the king before returning your partner's lead4 ,this should always be done if the queen is on the table1 to make sure that your suit will eventually be led through dummy's queen4 ,if you hold ace queen or ace queen jack over the king in dummy1 you would naturally prefer that your partner lead the suit2 but with a hand containing a sure re-entry card in another suit1 particularly when you hold the commanding card of the adversaries' suit1 do not wait for your partner to lead2 establish the suit yourself4 ,if1 with no re-entry card1 you intend playing for your own long suit1 do not draw all the cards of your suit from your partner's hand4 ,if your partner has a card of your suit as well as a card of re-entry1 your suit will make2 otherwise it is useless4 ,with four cards or fewer of your partner's suit1 the highest card should always be returned4 ,this is done in order that the suit may not be blocked1 and also to show your partner what high cards are held by the dealer4 ,when it is evident that you and your partner hold an entire suit with the same number of cards in each hand1 it is well to arrange the lead on the last round of the suit according to whether you would prefer to lead up to weakness or to have your partner lead through dummy's strength4 ,with five cards of your partner's suit1 especially if his lead indicates but four1 it is very difficult to decide how the suit should be returned4 ,if a low card is returned1 it may lead your partner to believe that all the high cards are in the dealer's hand1 and induce him to discontinue the suit4 ,on the other hand1 the return of a high card may block the suit so that you will be left with a card which may never make4 ,no rule can be given for this situation4 ,it must be left to the judgment of the player4 ,,holding ,,up ,,by ,,the ,,non-,,dealers ,holding up is a strategy resorted to at 8no-trump40 ,the idea is to retain a high card until one hand is exhausted and cannot lead the suit to the opposite hand4 ,holding up does not often gain when the hand with the long suit contains an entry card except at such times as the dealer does not or cannot overtake2 usually it is better play to take the trick and trust that your partner can eventually stop the suit4 ,do not hold up a high card if you can block the suit later1 or if there is a possibility that your partner holds an honour in the suit4 ,the following are examples of holding up3 7,the underlined card indicates the lead47 ---------------------------------------- ---------------- ,transcriber's ,note3 ,the underlines have been replaced with square brackets4 ,for example ,k4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------- ,k ,j #aj #i #h #g ------- ,y ,a ,b ,a #f #e ,z ------- ,q ,in this case1 dummy holds no entry card4 ,the ace should not be played by ,b until the dealer has no card of the suit4 ,a ,j #aj #i #g #e ------- ,y #d ,a ,b ,k #f #c ,z ------- ,q ,if dummy holds no entry card1 ,b should not take the first trick4 ,q ,j x-------x ,y ,a ,b ,a #h #e ,z x-------x ,b should pass both the queen and the knave4 ,by passing the second trick1 if the dealer fails to overtake1 or if the dealer does not hold two re-entry cards1 the suit cannot be made4 ,a ,k ,j #i #h #g #f x-------x ,y #b ,a ,b ,a #e #d ,z x-------x ,q ,y has an entry card4 ,b should refuse to win the trick1 trusting that ,z has no other card to lead4 ,a #aj #g x-------x ,y ,k #f #c ,a ,b ,z x-------x ,q ,a should refuse to cover the honour4 ,if he waits until the third round1 the suit is blocked4 ,z may have no re-entry card4 ,q ,j x-------x ,y ,a ,b ,k #f #d ,z x-------x ,in this case1 the honour should be covered4 ,if ,z holds the ace1 the suit is blocked4 ,a ,j #h #f #d x-------x ,y ,q #e ,a ,b ,z x-------x #aj ,a should cover the ten led4 ,it may establish the king and nine in ,b's hands4 ,if ,y has no card of re-entry ,b can then hold up4 ,k x-------x ,y ,a ,b ,a #g #e ,z x-------x ,as ,y has no other card to lead1 ,b should refuse to part with the ace4 ,z cannot make the suit without two re-entry cards4 ,,taking ,,out ,,re-,,entry ,,cards ,if you hold the commanding card of the adversary's suit1 endeavour to take out your opponent's re-entry before the suit is cleared4 ,it is equally important that you take out this re-entry card if you know that your partner has the command of the adversary's suit4 ,in extreme cases do not hesitate to sacrifice a king or queen in order to accomplish this purpose4 ,when the dealer attempts to make a card of re-entry for an established suit1 hold up a higher card in order to frustrate his scheme of play4 ,,the ,,discard ,this part of the game merits much more consideration than a cursory knowledge of ,bridge would suggest4 ,the ordinary ,bridge player is confused by the many difficulties attendant on discarding1 and his cards are apt to be injudiciously thrown away4 ,it would greatly simplify the discard if you were always to throw away your lowest card or to follow some other hard-and-fast rule2 but1 unfortunately1 the discard is so affected by the particular situation and by the previous play as to preclude the possibility of establishing such a rule4 ,when you advise the beginner to throw away a high card instead of a two spot1 the situation appears to him hopeless2 he fails to realise that at times high cards have little value1 and1 to obtain the lead1 honours and even smaller cards must be properly protected4 ,when opposed to the dealer1 it should be your aim both to protect your hand and to give your partner information4 ,as the eldest hand1 your opening lead indicates strength or weakness2 any subsequent discard is simply the card that you can best spare1 and is not intended to convey any definite information4 ,as the original leader1 it is important that you know your partner's suit1 and this information he should convey to you by a recognised system of discarding decided on before beginning the game4 ,thus the discard from the strength or from weakness refers only to the first card thrown away by the younger hand4 ,there are three methods of discarding used by ,bridge players1 each having the same object--to protect the hand and to give information4 #ast4 ,strength both with a trump and at 8no-trump40 #b;d4 ,strength with a trump and weakness at 8no-trump40 #c;d4 ,weakness both with a trump and at 8no-trump40 ,some merit may be claimed for each2 but there is a wide difference of opinion regarding the relative values of these discards4 ,in ,whist1 as well as in ,bridge1 there has always been more or less discussion on this point4 ,it can1 however1 be stated that the foremost authorities on ,whist have uniformly agreed that with strength declared against you1 the best discard is from your strong suit4 ,,the ,,discard ,,against ,a ,,declared ,,trump ,the great majority of ,bridge players use the strength discard against a trump declaration1 and there is little doubt that this is sound4 ,it is imperative that you protect honours in the weaker suits1 for rarely will your long suit be brought in against the dealer4 ,the claim made by those who use the weak discard against a trump make is that it permits them to throw away a short suit1 and thus eventually to establish a 8ruff40 ,when a player is discarding from strength1 this 8ruff0 can be obtained with equal facility by the proper use of the reverse discard4 ,without a doubt the weak discard should be used on a spade declaration that has been doubled either by you or your partner4 ,in this case1 trump strength is probably with you1 not against you4 ,the same argument cannot be used1 however1 on a doubled heart1 diamond1 or club1 whereas spades may have been declared from weakness1 the other declarations indicate trump strength4 ,,the ,,discard ,,at 8,,no-,,trump0 ,the writer has placed himself on record as being in favour of the strength discard1 and since doing so has seen nothing that would tend to change his views on this subject4 ,a theory of good play may be so unfortunately worded as to convey a mistaken impression1 and it is amusing to hear the various methods of discarding discussed by players of little experience2 not long since1 a hand was published to illustrate the loss of one trick by discarding strength1 when an ace is first lost by bad play1 and the discard so palpably wrong as to insult the partner's intelligence4 ,to those who have not taken the time to analyse hands thoroughly1 the discard of a card that may possibly make1 naturally seems the waste of a trick2 but consider how seldom a suit1 not led originally1 is brought in against a 8no-trump0 make2 remember that you do not expect to win on the adversary's make1 but only hope to minimise your loss1 and that often in trying to save all the cards of your long suit1 honours in the weaker suits are unguarded which1 if properly protected1 would have won tricks4 ,an objection that is raised to discarding from weakness at 8no-trumps0 is that one discard does not positively show your strong suit4 ,in many hands1 to be sure1 your partner can obtain the information from the cards in dummy1 but at times1 when one suit has been led and another discarded1 your partner is left in doubt as to the suit to lead1 and a wrong guess may result in serious loss4 ,again1 the discard from weakness may betray your partner's hand1 by giving information that will enable the dealer to finesse successfully4 ,the dealer is more likely to have strength in your weak1 than in your strong suit4 ,the discard from weakness is of no material help to your partner in discarding1 as you may hold a high honour in your weak suit1 while with the strength discard1 your partner1 when he is forced to protect his hand1 does not fear to unguard honours in your suit4 ,if you were to play a hundred deals of 8no-trump0 hands1 making the first discard from the weak suit1 and then replay the hands making the first discard from strength1 the result would be overwhelmingly in favour of the strength discard4 ,it is impossible to make the first discard from weakness uniformly without unguarding honours in the adversaries' suits1 and only the novice attempts to do so4 ,to say that one should always make the discard from weakness or from strength is wrong both in theory and in practise4 ,no hard-and-fast rule can be followed without loss4 ,with confidence that an intelligent partner will read your discards1 you can allow common sense and reason to dictate the occasions to deviate from the rule4 ,you should aim first1 to protect your hand2 second1 to give your partner information2 and1 third1 to keep your long suit4 ,in the majority of hands1 it is immaterial whether you discard from strength or from weakness1 but in those which show a difference1 the strength discard does not in any hand lose more than one trick1 while the loss occasioned by the discard from weakness varies from one to four tricks in a hand4 ,if you use the strength discard and find it advisable in any particular hand to throw away your weak suit1 you can always do so by using the reverse discard4 ,this is also true when the weak discard is used1 but1 unfortunately1 in the latter case1 two cards from your strong suit must be thrown away4 ,no matter what system of discarding you may use1 occasionally a trick will be lost1 but after an analysis of over ten thousand deals the writer is of the firm opinion that the discard from strength at 8no-trump0 will lose less than the discard from weakness4 ,,hints ,,on ,,discarding ,if three suits have been led or shown1 do not attempt to discard from strength4 ,you question your partner's intelligence4 ,if your only four-card suit contains but one honour1 do not indicate strength unless you are particularly desirous of having that suit led to you4 ,when you have no suit that you are anxious to show1 discard from the suit led originally by your partner1 or even1 when it is obviously established1 from the adversary's suit4 ,this implies that you have no strength to indicate1 but you are protecting your hand4 ,it is bad policy to discard all the cards of one suit1 as it betrays any strength your partner may hold4 ,as the younger hand1 infer from your partner's discards what suit he is guarding4 ,when the dealer can lead through a king in your hand1 try to keep it twice guarded4 ,it would be unwise to discard from an established suit if you hold a sure re-entry card2 as all you require is the lead1 the best discard is from the suit containing the re-entry card4 ,if you hold a tenace or strength in a suit over the dummy hand1 it may be a better discard than your longest suit4 ,when your partner has shown a four or five-card suit1 don't look to him for much further strength4 ,protect all four-card suits even if they are but to the nine or ten1 and remember a jack or ten twice guarded will often block the dealer's suit4 ,watch the dealer's discards and protect the suit that he is saving4 ,,the ,,reverse ,,discard ,in discarding1 the play of a high and then a lower card reverses the original meaning of the discard4 ,if you adopt the strength discard1 and wish to throw away your weak suit at 8no-trump0 do so by discarding first a high and then a lower card4 ,if you use the weak discard and wish to protect your weak suits1 discard first a high and then a lower card from your strong suit4 ,the reverse discard may be used when it is shown that two discards can be made4 ,,discarding ,,by ,,the ,,dealer ,the discard offers fewer difficulties to the dealer whose two hands reveal the suit that should be protected1 and show the cards that can be conveniently spared4 ,in a 8no-trump0 hand it is especially necessary to guard all weak suits2 not forgetting that a four-card suit to the ten will often block the opponent's lead4 ,the second suit that they will open is often shown by the adversary's discards2 and this1 too1 will aid you to prepare a proper defence4 ,when you hold trump strength discard losing cards from one hand on winning ones in the other4 ,at times it may be necessary to discard high cards to unblock a suit and to protect honours in another suit4 ,in discarding endeavour to conceal both your weakness and your strength2 you may often mislead your opponents and tempt them to lead to your strong suit4 ,,the ,,dealer',s ,,play ,the dealer's play of the twenty-six cards is undoubtedly the most interesting that ,bridge offers2 the skilful management and keen perception required to combine the two hands against adversaries ready to take advantage of the slightest error1 make this part of the game correspondingly difficult4 ,with no partner to mislead1 the dealer can use strategy to deceive the opponents1 while he gains the same information from each adversary's play as if he were the partner of both4 ,his opportunities to draw inferences are almost innumerable1 and give him occasional openings to prepare clever pitfalls for the unwary adversary4 ,the opening lead--,is it from a long suit or a short suit8 ,what honours are held by the original leader8 ,what cards are placed by the third hand play8 ,these are all questions that must be premised by a thorough knowledge of the correct leads and third hand play4 ,in addition1 the dealer must be familiar with the most advantageous play of the various combinations or cards1 must locate honours by his adversaries' discards and arrange the lead accordingly2 must know how to unblock as well as how and where to make entry cards4 ,a knowledge of trump management--to know when to lead and when not to lead trumps--is no small part of the dealer's requirements4 ,a hand that is well and quietly played merits commendation1 which partner and opponents seldom hesitate to bestow4 ,,combining ,,the ,,hands ,,of ,,dealer ,,and ,,dummy ,as dealer1 whether you are playing a trump or a 8no-trump0 declaration1 take a mental stock of the cards you hold early in the hand1 and decide from which hand each combination should be led4 ,although at times it may be impossible to arrange the lead1 it may be stated here that the advantages that accrue from the correct play of most combinations of cards1 are obtained by invariably leading a suit from the weak to the strong hand2 in most cases the high card from the weak4 ,the four most important combinations and those that are held most frequently are3 ,a ,q ,j ,a ,k ,j ,a ,j #aj ,k ,j #aj ,,ace1 ,,queen1 ,,jack ,,combination ,perhaps with no one of these combinations can you so often gain tricks as by the correct play of ace queen jack4 ,these cards may be held in four different ways4 ------------------------------------- ,in ,one ,hand4 ,in the ,other4 ------------------------------------- ,a ,q ,j x x x ,a ,q x ,j x x ,a ,j x ,q x x ,a x x ,q ,j x ------------------------------------- ,with this combination either in a trump or in a 8no-trump0 hand endeavour to catch the adversary's king by leading the highest card from your weak hand toward the ace2 if the king is not played second in hand you can lose nothing by taking the finesse2 for when it is guarded in the fourth hand the king will win no matter how the cards are played4 ,the advantage of leading the high card is that1 if you retain the lead1 you can again lead from the weak hand4 ,better results will1 of course1 be obtained if you hold ace queen jack ten1 or even ace queen jack nine in the two hands2 otherwise the adversary1 by covering the honour led1 may eventually establish a ten or nine against you4 ,if you hold ace1 queen1 and two or three small cards in one hand and jack and small cards in the other1 the best play of the combination is to lead a low card up to the ace queen2 if the finesse is successful1 the lead of the ace may capture a once-guarded king without establishing a ten or nine for the adversaries4 ,but if pitted against weak players1 on account of their well-known dislike of sacrificing a high card1 the lead of the jack toward the ace queen is advisable4 ,the number of cards in the suit will often influence you in taking or not taking the finesse4 ,with eight cards or fewer in the two hands1 the finesse is practically obligatory4 ,with nine cards in the two hands1 the finesse should usually be taken4 ,with ten cards in the two hands1 it is largely a matter of luck4 ,with ace queen and jack in one hand and small cards in the other there is a slight percentage in favour of the finesse4 ,otherwise try to gain information by leading the highest card toward the ace1 and if it is not covered1 play the ace on the chance of finding the king alone4 ,if you do not hold the jack it is a losing play to lead a queen toward the ace4 ,this is a common mistake and should be carefully avoided4 ,with ace1 queen1 ten and nine in the two hands1 it cannot be considered altogether bad play to lead the queen toward the ace2 but if this is done it may be necessary to take a finesse on the second round4 ,the adversaries' discards1 however1 will often show you how this combination should be played4 ,,ace1 ,,king1 ,,jack ,,combination ,this combination can be held in four different ways3 ---------------------------------- ,in ,one ,hand4 ,in the ,other4 ---------------------------------- ,a ,k ,j x x x ,a ,k x ,j x x ,a ,j x ,k x x ,k ,j x ,a x x ---------------------------------- ,with the first arrangement of this combination the lead should come from the weak hand and the jack should be played4 ,in the second the jack may be led from the weak hand toward the ace king2 although unless you also hold the ten1 little can be gained by this play1 for if the adversary covers the jack with the queen1 as he should1 the ten will be established against you4 ,in the two remaining cases a low card should be led up to the jack4 ,with each of these combinations1 unless you hold nine cards or more in the combined hands1 the finesse should be taken4 ,with ace jack in one hand and the king in the other1 or with king jack in one hand and ace in the other1 unless you also hold the ten of the suit1 do not lead the jack toward the ace2 for if the adversary covers the jack with the queen1 the ten is established against you4 ,if you hold nine cards in the two hands it is not sound play to finesse2 with but four cards against you the queen will probably fall in two rounds of the suit4 ,,ace1 ,,jack1 ,,ten ,,combination ,these cards may be held in four different ways3 ------------------------------------ ,in ,one ,hand4 ,in the ,other4 ------------------------------------ ,a ,j #aj x x x ,a ,j x #aj x x ,a #aj x ,j x x ,a x x ,j #aj x ------------------------------------ ,as there are two high cards against this combination1 you must take a double finesse4 ,the play is similar to that given for the previous combinations4 ,lead the high card from the weak hand1 and1 unless it is covered1 pass the trick2 then wait until the suit can again be led from the weak hand1 and take a second finesse4 ,,king1 ,,jack1 ,,ten ,,combination ,there are three ways in which these cards may be held3 ----------------------------------- ,in ,one ,hand4 ,in the ,other4 ----------------------------------- ,k ,j #aj x x x ,k ,j x #aj x x ,k x x ,j #aj x ----------------------------------- ,in each of these cases the play is practically the same2 lead the highest card from the weak hand and finesse4 ,if by the finesse you succeed in forcing the ace1 wait until the suit can be led through the queen4 ,if you hold this combination with nine or more cards of the suit1 it is often difficult to determine whether a finesse should or should not be taken2 if you play the king and it wins the first trick1 you may drop both ace and queen on the next lead4 ,,miscellaneous ,,combinations ,if you hold a sequence of three high cards in the combined hands1 while1 of course1 it is better form to lead from the weak hand1 it makes but little difference from which hand the suit is led4 ,therefore1 if you cannot conveniently place the lead1 do not hesitate to lead from the strong hand4 ,should you1 however1 hold a sequence of two high cards in one hand with small cards in the other1 for instance3 ------------------------------------- ,in ,one ,hand4 ,in the ,other4 ------------------------------------- ,k ,q x x x x ,q ,j x x x x ------------------------------------- it is always advisable to lead from the weak hand4 ,should the queen win in the first combination1 wait until you can again lead the suit from the weak hand4 ,,combinations ,,to ,,be ,,avoided4 ----------------------------------- ,in ,one ,hand4 ,in the ,other4 ----------------------------------- ,q x x ,a x x ,j x x ,a x x ,q x x ,k x x ,j x x ,k x x ,j x x ,q x x ,k x x x x x ----------------------------------- ,a suit containing a single honour or one with a single honour in each hand should be avoided4 ,there is a difference of one or two tricks in each of these combinations dependent on whether you or the adversaries open the suit4 ,when it is an advantage to have a suit led by the opponents1 endeavour1 by throwing the lead1 to force your adversaries to lead the suit to you4 ,,arranging ,,the ,,lead ,assuming that you understand how to play the various combinations of cards1 it becomes necessary1 as soon as the opening lead has been made1 to plan a well-defined scheme of play4 ,do not hesitate to pause a few moments to study thoroughly the two hands1 so that you can play quickly and intelligently4 ,be assured that when you play a hand with a vague1 uncertain feeling1 you are playing it badly4 ,many a hand is ruined by careless and hasty play to the first trick4 ,in a 8no-trump hand0 this first trick is often of great importance4 ,before you touch a card in the dummy decide for which suit you wish to play1 from which hand it should be led1 and in which hand you need an entry card4 ,in mapping out your play of a trump hand1 try first to infer whether the lead is from a long or a short suit2 then decide whether or not you should lead trumps1 and if so1 from which hand you should lead them2 and looking ahead still further1 place an advantageous lead for your long suit4 ,,finessing ,it has already been stated that with certain combinations in the two hands1 you should finesse1 and that you can do so1 unless you hold great length in the suit with but small chance of loss4 ,when a finesse goes against you1 it is due to an unfortunate distribution of the cards and not1 as one is apt to feel1 to your own bad play4 ,however1 the subject of finessing1 in common with all other parts of ,bridge1 requires a knowledge of the particular situation1 and there are many occasions when it is unwise to finesse4 ,it would be bad play to finesse deeply in trumps when it is evident that your adversaries can 8ruff0 a suit1 or that a 8cross-ruff0 is imminent4 ,it may be important that you have two1 or even three rounds of trumps4 ,the finesse may gain one trick1 whereas if it goes against you1 and the adversaries 8ruff0 your good cards1 you may lose several tricks4 ,in a 8no-trumper10 if your opponent has an established suit1 be careful not to take a finesse1 which1 if it loses1 will afford the adversary an opportunity to make his established suit4 ,it is much better play to finesse against this player1 especially if you know that the other adversary has no card of his partner's suit4 ,as dealer1 you should be careful about taking a finesse1 which1 if it loses1 will block your suit1 and allow your adversary to take out your card of re-entry4 ,if you hold a guarded honour in the suit originally led by the adversary1 do not take a finesse1 which1 if it loses1 will allow your right-hand adversary to lead through this honour4 ,the entire suit may be made against you4 ,if you hold the king of a suit once or twice guarded in one hand1 and only small cards of that suit in the other1 do not take a finesse1 which may allow the adversary to lead through this king4 ,if you have a strong hand and a weak dummy you would1 of course1 prefer that the lead come up to you4 ,therefore1 take your finesse1 so that if it loses1 you will have1 at least1 this advantage4 ,with ace1 king1 and jack in one suit1 and especially if these cards are all in one hand1 it is often good play to take one round of the suit before attempting a finesse4 ,the fall of the cards may help you to locate the queen4 ,when you hold eight cards to the ace1 king1 and jack in the two hands1 the adversary's queen is frequently unguarded4 ,finessing then becomes a question of the score and of the possible loss that an unsuccessful finesse would entail4 ,you should risk the loss of a trick in order to win the game1 provided the loss of a trick does not lose the game4 ,if the game cannot be won1 and it is merely a question of winning or not winning the odd trick1 do not finesse4 ,that one trick may prevent the adversaries from winning the game on the next deal4 ,,the ,,finesse ,,obligatory ,this is an arbitrary finesse1 which is often forced upon you1 when1 unless the cards of a suit are in a certain position1 there is no possibility of winning4 ,perhaps the best way of defining the finesse obligatory is to give an example showing the position as it most frequently occurs3 ,k #g #c x-------x ,y ,a ,b ,z x-------x ,q #i #h #f #e 8,z0 is the dealer1 and leads a low card to the king in dummy1 which wins the first trick4 ,the suit is returned1 the ace being marked with 8,a40 ,if 8,a0 holds both ace and knave1 no matter how the dealer plays1 8,a0 must win two tricks4 ,unless the knave is in 8,b's0 hand1 and 8,a0 holds the singleton ace1 the adversary must win two tricks4 ,the dealer should1 therefore1 play his lowest card1 not the queen4 ,,watching ,,the ,,discards ,,in ,,order ,,to ,,locate ,,finesses ,the amount of information to be gained from the adversary's discards is apt to be underestimated4 ,careful notice of the discards1 particularly in a 8no-trump0 hand1 will often help you to locate honours and to determine where a finesse should be taken2 moreover1 it will simplify the end play1 show you chances to throw the lead1 and give you opportunities to force the opponents to lead up to your hand4 ,if the king of your long suit is against you and on the wrong side1 it will probably make1 but this is not true of the queen4 ,if you hold in the two hands ace king1 jack or ace king jack1 ten of a suit1 unless you can place the queen1 you are compelled to guess where to take the finesse4 ,if1 however1 you can advantageously lead another suit try to force the adversaries to discard1 one will undoubtedly protect the queen of your suit1 and the other1 not knowing perhaps that you are trying to gain information1 will probably discard from his weak suit2 the discard thus enabling you to finesse successfully4 ,this information can often be similarly obtained in a trump hand by leading an extra round of trumps4 ,if1 however1 you are forced to lead the suit without any knowledge of the situation1 lead a card which will tempt your adversary to cover2 for instance1 holding ace x x in dummy with king jack ten in your own hand1 lead the jack4 ,if the jack is not covered1 it is often good play to take the first trick with the ace1 and1 on returning the lead1 to play the ten4 ,as the jack was not covered you infer that the queen is held by the other adversary4 ,if you have no finesse in your suit1 it often pays to give the adversaries a chance to make a finesse possible for you4 ,for instance1 with ,a x x in dummy and ,k #aj #i in your own hand1 unless both queen and jack are unguarded1 or unless you can tempt them to play badly1 the adversaries must make one trick in the suit4 ,the play is to lead the ten1 for if it is covered1 either with jack or queen1 you have the advantage of a finesse on your return of the suit4 ,,second ,,hand ,,plays ,showing the play of the different combinations between dealer and dummy4 ,in each case a small card is led and the second hand is the hand that is led through3 ---------------------------------------- ------------- #b;d ,hand4 #dth ,hand4 ,play4 ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,a ,k x ,j x x ,k1 or ,low ,a ,k x #aj x x ,k 7,t7 ,low 7,,nt7 ,a ,q x ,j x x ,low ,a ,q x #aj x x ,low ,a ,q x x x x ,queen 7,t7 ,low 7,,nt7 ,a ,j x ,q x x ,low ,a #aj x ,j x x ,low ,a x x ,q x x ,low ,k ,q x x x x ,queen ,k ,j x x x x ,low ,k ,j x x x ,jack 7,t7 ,king 7,,nt7 ,k ,j ,a x x ,jack ,k ,j x #aj x x ,low ,k #aj x ,j x x ,low ,k x x ,q x ,low ,k x x x ,low 7,t7 ,king 7,,nt7 ,k x ,j x x ,low ,k x ,q x x ,low 7,t7 ,king 7,,nt7 ,k x ,q #aj x ,low ,k x ,a #aj x ,low ,k x ,a ,j x ,low ,q ,j x x x x ,jack ,q ,j x ,a x x ,jack ,q #aj x ,a x x ,low ,q x x ,k x x ,low ,q x x x x x ,low ,q x ,a x x ,queen ,q x ,a #aj x ,low ,q x ,a ,j x ,low ,q x ,k x x ,low 7,t7 ,queen 7,,nt7 ---------------------------------------- ------------- 7,t7 with a declared trump4 7,,nt7 at no trump4 ---------------------------------------- ------------- #b;d ,hand4 #dth ,hand4 ,play4 ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,a ,k x ,j x x ,k1 or ,low ,q x ,j x x ,low ,q x x x x ,queen ,j #aj x ,a ,k x ,ten ,j #aj x ,a x x ,ten ,j x ,a ,k x ,jack ,j x ,a ,q x ,low #aj x ,a ,k x ,ten #aj x ,a ,q x ,ten #aj x ,a ,j x ,low ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,,management ,,of ,,trumps ,,by ,,the ,,dealer ,the surest test of a player's skill is the ability he displays in handling trumps4 ,habits that are wrong in theory are frequently formed1 and errors in judgment are common in the trump management4 ,the difficulties are as numerous as the combinations are varied4 ,only general rules can be given1 and the constantly changing situations must be met by the skill and originality of the player4 ,,when ,,to ,,lead ,,trumps ,one of the first points for the dealer's consideration is the advisability of the trump lead4 ,as he usually holds the balance of trump strength in the combined hands1 generally speaking the dealer should lead trumps4 ,a common excuse for avoiding the trump lead is that the hands contain no long suit2 if this is true1 why not try to establish your trump suit8 ,if you hold five trumps in one hand1 the chances are that three rounds will leave you with two long trumps and the adversaries powerless to 8ruff0 any high card you may hold2 by refusing to lead trumps you may enable the opponents to 8overruff0 your strong hand and make their trumps separately4 ,it may be to your advantage to have the other suits led by the adversaries and your trump lead will often force them to do this4 ,at times you will have the choice of two ways of playing the hand4 ,one1 to trump losing cards in your weak hand2 the other to exhaust trumps and discard your losing cards on the commanding cards of a long suit4 ,if your trumps are strong and your long suit established1 the trump lead is preferable4 ,with an established suit and high trumps against you1 postpone the trump lead until you have allowed your weak hand to 8ruff0 the losing cards4 ,however1 with five trumps in the strong and four in the weak hand1 as you will probably exhaust trumps in two rounds1 it is safer to lead the trumps first4 ,you can then 8ruff0 in your weak hand without danger of being 8overruffed40 ,if you hold seven or more trumps in the combined hands1 do not make the fact that your strong hand has been forced an excuse for not leading trumps4 ,if you are protected in the adversaries' suit and can lead the trumps advantageously from the weak to the strong hand1 always lead them4 ,to lead trumps with this number is the rule1 not the exception1 but occasionally when they cannot be led from the weak hand it is better to make as many trumps as possible by 8ruffing40 ,,when ,,not ,,to ,,lead ,,trumps ,perhaps the simplest rule that can be given is1 do not lead trumps when there is a short side suit in the weak trump hand4 ,you will obviously gain by trumping losing cards in the weak hand4 ,as it often requires two rounds to exhaust the short suit in the weak hand1 try not to show your intention too clearly1 or the adversaries will circumvent your scheme of 8ruffing0 by a trump lead4 ,remember1 also1 that you cannot obtain the 8ruff0 unless you hold1 or can make1 an entry card in your strong hand4 ,when your combined hands contain fewer than seven trumps1 the balance of strength is with the adversaries1 and1 in this case1 unless your trumps or side suits are exceptionally strong1 avoid the trump lead4 ,with but six trumps and an established suit against you1 it would be dangerous to lead trumps4 ,one adversary must hold at least four trumps1 and it may be that all the remaining trumps are in one hand4 ,the trump lead would only help the adversaries to make their suit4 ,when the commanding trump is against you1 endeavour to discard your losing suit cards from one hand on winning ones in the other before you give up the lead4 ,,unblocking ,,the ,,trump ,,suit ,as dealer1 be careful to lead your trumps in such a manner that you will not find it impossible to continue the lead4 ,the simplest method of unblocking the trump suit is to lead or play the high trumps from the shorter hand4 ,occasionally to avoid blocking the suit1 it will be necessary to 8ruff0 with a high instead of a lower trump4 ,for instance1 with ace and ten of trumps in dummy and king1 queen1 jack1 nine and eight in your own hand1 if you 8ruff0 with dummy's ten1 you will block the trump suit2 even a temporary discontinuance of the trump lead may result in loss4 ,when you lead the queen toward the ace1 holding the ace1 jack1 ten1 nine1 seven in one hand and queen1 eight1 four in the other1 you must provide for the possible necessity for leading three times through the king by playing the nine of trumps on the queen lead4 ,a careless play of the seven may make it impossible to capture the adversary's king4 ,,not ,,forcing ,,your ,,strong ,,trump ,,hand ,the greatest weakness and the most expensive fault in the beginner's game is his predilection for trumping in the strong trump hand4 ,when trumps are hopelessly against you1 it may be necessary to make what you can by ruffing1 but with the advantage of the make1 you are seldom compelled to play a defensive game4 ,when you needlessly force your strong hand to trump1 you reduce your power to exhaust the adversaries' trumps1 to establish your suit1 and to be left with the last trump--which is1 par excellence1 the dealer's game4 ,to trump in the weak hand is always advisable1 nor can any objection be raised to a 8cross-ruff10 but force your strong hand only as a last resource4 ,if you hold the losing one of two remaining trumps1 try to force the winning trump from the adversary's hand2 to force your own hand instead will materially prejudice your chance of making a suit4 ,,leading ,,trumps ,,to ,,prevent ,a ,,ruff ,when it is apparent that one adversary can 8ruff0 a suit1 or when a 8cross-ruff0 is imminent1 it is important that you guard against such a contingency by at least two rounds of trumps4 ,of course1 if you hold the commanding trump1 this presents no difficulties2 but1 when the winning trump is with the adversary1 you should try to tempt him to hold it up second in hand by refraining from a high card lead4 ,for instance1 with queen and seven of trumps in one hand and king jack ten nine eight in the other1 lead the seven instead of the queen4 ,if your trumps are in sequence you can often obtain two rounds by leading the lowest of your sequence rather than the highest card4 ,,when ,,to ,,draw ,,the ,,remaining ,,trumps ,when you are left with but one remaining trump1 and that the commanding one1 usually lead it to draw the losing trumps4 ,when there are but two other remaining trumps1 trust that your trump lead will find them divided4 ,if you have reason to know that both are in one hand1 one must of course make2 but lead the commanding trump1 so that but one can make4 ,with the best trump in your hand and one against you1 it is only in critical situations that you should refrain from drawing the losing trump4 ,for instance1 when the adversaries hold an established suit and the commanding card of your suit1 it is a better play to clear your suit and then refuse a force until the adversary who holds the remaining trump cannot lead his partner's suit4 ,take care1 however1 to accept the force at the right time1 for a delay in trumping may allow the adversary to discard a losing card of your suit4 ,,discontinuing ,,the ,,lead ,,of ,,trumps ,there are many positions difficult to define when it is advisable to discontinue the trump lead4 ,an obvious case is when the commanding trump is against you and the lead would entail your loss of two trumps for one card1 which the adversary must make in any case4 ,the best play is to force the adversary to 8ruff0 with the high trump1 for then your trumps may make separately4 ,when you hold but two trumps with two against you1 be careful about taking the third round of trumps when your adversaries hold an established suit2 if the trumps are divided no doubt the lead will save a trick2 but you risk finding both trumps in one hand1 in which case the adversary will draw or force your remaining trump and make his suit4 ,the trump lead cannot win more than one trick and it may lose several4 ,with three remaining trumps1 if your suit is established1 the third round should always be taken4 ,should you find after one or two rounds that the trumps are banked in one hand against you1 it is1 as a rule1 better to force the opponent's hand than to continue the trump lead4 ,this gives you the long trump1 which is no inconsiderable advantage4 ,the adversaries' high trumps are sometimes placed after one round1 so that it may be advisable to discontinue the trump lead temporarily until you can lead to better advantage from the weaker hand4 ,when you hold the commanding card of each side suit and do not wish the lead of your long suit to be interrupted1 it is good play to lead the losing trump4 ,if1 however1 you are not in a position to win any card the adversary may lead1 it is better play to force the commanding trump4 ,,when ,,to ,,trump ,if the adversary attempts to force your strong hand1 it is usually advisable to accept the force4 ,only in rare cases does it pay to allow the opponent to continue the lead of his established suit4 ,at times you can afford to give the adversary one trick1 knowing that1 on the next lead1 your weak hand can take the 8ruff40 ,with two trumps against you it is often good play to discard rather than to 8ruff0 with the commanding trump4 ,but to gain by your play1 you should hold a certain entry card in the suit that the adversary must lead4 ,with one trump against you1 do not use your one remaining trump until the leader's partner is exhausted in the leader's suit4 ,if the adversary leads a suit which you can trump in either hand1 the 8ruff0 should invariably be taken in the weak hand1 and a discard made in the strong one4 ,you are sometimes in a position to know that if you trump1 your adversary will overtrump4 ,when the best card is led1 it is usually good play to trump immediately and if possible with a card which will not unguard an honour in your own hand1 but will force a high card from the opponent4 ,if a suit is led1 of which you hold the commanding card in the opposite hand1 your best defence is to take a discard1 which will prevent the adversary from making a high card later in the hand4 ,if you can make no advantageous discard1 your best play is to trump1 especially if the trumps in your combined hands are in sequence1 for1 if the adversary wins the trick1 his high trump will probably make in any case4 ,,overtrumping ,it is only the experienced player who can resist the temptation to overtrump4 ,the beginner jumps at every trick without realising that he can often gain by waiting4 ,overtrump when your hand is weak and your trumps low2 but1 if overtrumping takes out your only high card in the trump suit1 especially if it is the commanding trump1 it is nearly always better to discard4 ,your winning trump is bound to make1 and it is better play to throw away a suit that you can ruff later with one of your small trumps4 ,frequently by overtrumping you make it easy for the adversary to draw your remaining trumps1 which1 had you not weakened your hand1 he would be powerless to do4 ,for instance1 where you hold the best and the fourth best trump1 with the second and third best in your adversary's hand1 should you overtrump1 your adversary will1 of course1 be in a position to catch your smaller trump1 while by refusing the trick you retain the extra trump and are enabled to draw the adversary's last trump4 ,,re-,,entry ,,cards ,it is of little use to establish a suit unless it is possible to get the lead in the hand that contains it2 therefore1 the reservation of a re-entry card in the hand that has the long suit is of great importance4 ,a preferable re-entry is1 of course1 the last trump or trumps4 ,arranging the trump lead so that the last round will be taken in the desired hand is often a necessary precaution4 ,after the adversaries' trumps are exhausted1 you may be compelled to place the lead in the opposite hand by an extra round of trumps1 and often it is necessary to trump with a high card1 saving the low trump to lead to the opposite hand4 ,it not infrequently happens that in order to get the lead in the opposite hand1 you are forced to trump your own commanding card4 ,,forcing ,,discards ,should you find as dealer that you have a losing card and a number of winning trumps1 always lead the trumps to give the adversaries a chance to make an error in discarding4 ,if the adversary holds the ace1 dummy the king1 and you a singleton of a suit1 your hand otherwise consisting of long trumps and established cards1 by first leading the singleton you may tempt the second hand adversary to hold up the ace2 while if you lead the established cards1 the adversaries can count your hand and will make no such mistake4 ,whenever you hold but six or seven cards of a suit in the combined hands1 endeavour to make your adversaries discard before you indicate any strength4 ,you will find that many times the discards will necessarily benefit your hand4 ,with two or three remaining trumps in your hand1 you should lead at least two rounds of trumps before opening the suit of which you have but six cards4 ,an example of the situation is given below3 ,k #h #f #f #e #d x-------x ,y ,z x-------x ,a ,q #e #c #i #g ,in this case hearts are trumps4 ,the dealer is left with the two remaining trumps1 and holds in his combined hands but six clubs4 ,should the clubs be led before the trump suit1 the adversaries would be left with the commanding club4 ,the dealer should play his two trumps to force discards from his opponents' hands before he opens the club suit4 ,with four or five long trumps1 when but one other suit has been opened1 you will almost invariably gain tricks by forcing the adversaries to discard4 ,any error they may make in selecting the suit to protect may enable you to take tricks with cards that would otherwise be valueless4 ,,throwing ,,the ,,lead ,the disadvantage of the lead is at times most apparent1 and you can often gain by forcing your adversary to lead a suit which you cannot well afford to open4 ,when there are tricks that the adversaries must win1 try to make this necessity a benefit to your hand4 ,occasions for throwing the lead arise most frequently in the end play2 there are the nice situations where you gain the advantage of position by leading a losing trump or suit card4 ,however1 situations where it is advisable to throw the lead are so frequent and varied in occurrence throughout the entire play that the subject can only be treated in a general way4 ,perhaps covered by one suggestion2 when you cannot lead a suit advantageously1 try to force the adversary to lead it to you4 ,,the ,,dealer',s ,,play ,,of ,a 8,,no-,,trump0 ,,declaration ,as soon as the hand has been opened1 make a comprehensive examination to determine the possibilities of your combined hands4 ,are you strong enough to win the game8 ,can you win the odd trick8 ,shall you be able to save the game8 ,with no other possibility in the hand1 make a determined effort to save the game4 ,if you are weak in one suit and hold the command of the suit that is opened1 your danger may lie in allowing the adversaries to retain the lead4 ,when you hold an established suit1 you cannot but gain by forcing the opponents to discard2 they may unguard honours in their weaker suits or give you information that will locate high cards4 ,do not forget that your strength is in your long suit1 and that you are often dependent on your other high cards to establish this suit4 ,to the mind of the novice1 the loss of the lead is a calamity1 and he will often lead all his high cards1 leaving the command of his own suit1 as well as of the others1 with the adversaries4 ,remember that it requires no skill to make aces and kings1 and that your goal in a 8no-trump0 hand must be the establishment of the small cards of your long suit4 ,with fair possibilities in the hand1 ascertain before you play a card from dummy1 first3 which is your longest suit2 second1 how can it be most advantageously led2 and1 third1 in which hand there is the greater need of an entry card4 ,,choice ,,of ,,suits ,there is no rule so necessary to good play as that of retaining the control of the shorter suits and playing to establish the longest suit in the combined hands4 ,do not let the fact that your long suit contains but a few high cards discourage you--the lead can entail but small loss as the commanding cards would probably make in any case4 ,when1 as frequently happens1 your combined hands contain two suits of equal length1 make a careful selection of the suit to be played for4 ,when the ace of one suit and the king or the queen of the other are against you1 play for the suit of which the adversary holds the ace4 ,the ace must win1 while the fuller information that comes later in the hand may enable you to catch the king or queen by a finesse4 ,then you can better afford to discard from a suit headed by the ace than from a suit in which an honour must be protected4 ,moreover1 you deprive the adversary of a sure re-entry card4 ,with two suits of equal length1 be careful not to play for one in a hand that contains no re-entry card4 ,when you hold two suits of equal length1 it is usually wise to play for the suit that is exposed on the table and conceal the strength in your own hand4 ,in other words1 don't give the adversaries unnecessary information4 ,in choosing between two suits select the one that will gain you the greater number of tricks4 ,for instance1 when you hold two eight-card suits1 one divided five and three and the other four and four1 there are clearly more tricks to be made in the former4 ,be cautious about playing for a suit of no more than seven cards1 for you will often find the remaining cards most unequally divided4 ,when you hold but six cards in the combined hands the balance of strength is with the adversaries1 one of whom must hold at least four cards4 ,try to force your opponents to discard before you indicate strength in six- or seven-card suits4 ,with two entire suits against you1 you cannot afford to lose the lead4 ,make what tricks you need to save the game and pin your hope on successful finesses4 ,with but one suit against you1 do not fear to establish your long suit4 ,it is not so dangerous to give up the lead when you hold a protection in the suit led originally4 ,the adversary1 not knowing your weakness1 will probably return the original lead4 ,,keeping ,,the ,,commanding ,,card ,,of ,,the ,,adversaries' ,,suit ,as a general rule1 do not part with the command of the adversaries' suit until one adversary is exhausted in the suit1 and therefore unable to return his partner's lead2 unless the original leader has a sure card of entry you may be able to prevent this player from getting into the lead4 ,usually do not refuse to take a trick with a king or queen when the higher card or cards have not been played4 ,the adversaries may lead through and capture a single guarded honour4 ,if you find that there is another entire suit against you1 it pays to take the first lead and make what tricks you can in the two remaining suits4 ,even in some rare cases1 the play of a well-guarded king in dummy is the one chance to make or save the game4 ,sometimes the cards of your long suit will be so unfortunately placed that the continued lead would establish it for the adversaries4 ,in this situation1 keep the command of that suit1 and make a bid for better luck in establishing another4 ,unless there is no possibility of losing the game1 do not hesitate to take the first lead whenever you are assured of a sufficient number of tricks to win the game4 ,often by taking the first trick you promote the value of another card in your own hand or in dummy4 ,in other words1 you temporarily give up the control1 with the knowledge that you will eventually hold the master card of the opponents' suit4 ,j #h #b #aj #h #f #d x-------x x-------x ,y ,y ,a ,b ,a ,b ,z ,z x-------x x-------x ,a #c ,a #e #aj #i #b x-------x ,y ,a ,b ,z x-------x ,a ,j ,in these cases1 by taking an honour led or played1 the dealer can eventually stop the adversaries' suit4 ,at times1 if you take the first trick1 the suit will be protected1 provided it is not led by your right-hand adversary4 #d #c #g #f x-------x x-------x ,y ,y ,a ,b ,a ,b ,z ,z x-------x x-------x ,a #aj #h #b ,a ,j #e ,in these two cases1 if an honour is led1 the first trick should be passed4 ,if a low card is led and an honour played1 the first trick should be taken4 ,otherwise the opponent may immediately lead through your hand4 ,holding the king1 queen1 and a small card of the adversaries' suit1 you are assured of at least one trick1 with the possibility of two1 but remember1 if you take the first trick1 your hand may be led through2 it is often safer to win the third round than the first4 ,q #h #f #d x-------x x-------x ,y ,y ,a ,b ,a ,b ,z ,z x-------x x-------x ,k #e #b ,k ,q #c #e #b x-------x ,y #f ,a ,b ,q ,z x-------x ,k ,j #c ,should you win the first trick in any one of these cases1 endeavour to prevent your right-hand adversary from obtaining the lead4 ,when the adversaries can take two tricks in your long suit1 it is better to win the first and third than the first and second tricks in their suit4 ,j #f #c x-------x ,y ,a ,b ,z x-------x ,a ,q ,in this case a low card is led1 and you can win the first trick with the queen4 ,by doing this you are forced to take the first and second rounds4 ,if you take the first trick with the ace1 your queen will be sacrificed to the king1 but your jack controls the third round4 ,unless there is another suit against you1 it is safer to win the second and third tricks of the adversaries' suit than the first and third4 ,k #g #b x-------x ,y ,a ,b ,z x-------x ,a #d ,should you wait to win the second trick with the ace1 there is a chance that your right-hand adversary will be exhausted in the suit1 and unless the original leader has two cards of re-entry his suit cannot be made4 ,,re-,,entry ,,cards ,clear your long suit before you take out your card of re-entry is a simple rule that is often violated4 ,when you have made the 8no-trump0 declaration1 any possible re-entry in the dummy hand should be used to bring in a suit or to lead a suit advantageously from the weak hand4 ,in fact1 much of the success of a 8no-trump0 hand depends on the dealers' skill in saving and making re-entries in the weaker hand4 ,a re-entry may be an ace or a three4 ,it may be the master card of your long suit or a guarded honour in the adversaries' suit4 ,when you can win the original lead in either hand1 consider well the question of re-entries before you touch one of dummy's cards4 ,save all possible re-entry cards1 remembering that often in order to gain any material advantage from a finesse you must be in a position to lead twice from the weak hand4 ,for instance1 holding any one of the following combinations3 ,q ,j ,k ,j ,k ,q x-------x x-------x x-------x ,y ,y ,y ,a ,b ,a ,b ,a ,b ,z ,z ,z x-------x x-------x x-------x ,a ,k #e ,a ,q ,a #d ,in order to make an entry card in the suit led originally1 it may occasionally be necessary to overtake a card played by the dummy4 ,when your long suit is blocked1 try to establish an entry card before you make the situation clear to the opponents4 ,otherwise they will not allow you to enter and make your suit4 ,if you hold four cards of a suit in each hand1 it may be possible to obtain the lead twice in one hand4 ,for instance1 holding ,k #g #e #c x-------x ,y ,a ,b ,z x-------x ,a ,q #h #b ,if you lead the deuce and play the king1 you have deprived dummy of the only entry card in the suit4 ,if1 however1 you lead the eight1 dummy's seven will probably be the master card on the fourth round4 ,such a re-entry is often of great assistance in opening the next suit4 ,when you hold a nine-card suit divided five and four1 it may be necessary to use both the third and fourth rounds of the suits as re-entries to lead another suit advantageously4 ,this is a chance for good play that is often overlooked in the pleasure of making a long suit4 ,q #g #e x-------x ,y ,a ,b ,z x-------x ,k #h #d ,when dummy's re-entry is a guarded king or queen1 and you have no means of knowing the position of the ace1 try to establish this re-entry by sacrificing a high card from your own hand4 ,j #f #c ,j #e #c x-------x x-------x ,y ,y ,a ,b ,a ,b ,z ,z x-------x x-------x ,a ,q #b ,k ,q #b ,in both of the examples given above1 the dealer to make a re-entry card for the dummy should sacrifice a high card from his hand4 ,,unblocking ,there is frequent necessity in the dealer's play for ridding one hand of high cards in order not to interrupt the lead of smaller cards from the other hand4 ,it is well to look ahead and prepare for this contingency1 for often in the middle of a hand you will quite unexpectedly find that unblocking will enable you to make small cards that the adversaries have made good by reckless discarding4 ,when you hold more cards of a suit in one hand than in the other1 you can invariably prevent blocking1 if you lead or play the high cards from the shorter hand4 ,at times a suit may be unblocked by discarding the winning card or cards from one hand1 but the first rule covers the majority of cases where there is necessity for unblocking4 ,j #i #h #b x-------x ,y ,a ,b ,z x-------x ,a ,k #g #d #c #aj #h #b x-------x ,y ,a ,b ,z x-------x ,a ,k #g #f #d #c ,in both of the above examples the dealer1 holding nine cards of a suit in the combined hands1 hopes to catch the queen by leading the ace and king4 ,blocking in these cases can be avoided by retaining the lowest card in the dummy hand4 ,when you hold but one re-entry card1 be careful not to take a finesse1 which will block your suit4 ,k #aj #g #e #c x-------x ,y ,a ,b ,z x-------x ,a ,j ,q ,j #aj #g #d x-------x ,y ,a ,b ,z x-------x ,a #h ,in the above examples dummy is supposed to hold one re-entry card in another suit4 ,should the dealer make an unsuccessful finesse1 the adversary will at once take out the re-entry card1 and the suit1 being blocked1 cannot be made4 ,,overtaking ,it not infrequently happens on the initial opening of a hand that you have the option of winning the trick either in your own hand or in dummy2 if you find that your cards of the suit led are all of equal value it is essential that you consider the advisability of overtaking a trick that you have already won4 ,with no re-entry in a hand1 overtaking is often the only means of making a suit4 ,k ,j x-------x ,y ,a ,b ,z x-------x ,a ,q #h #f #d ,k ,q x-------x ,y ,a ,b ,z x-------x ,a ,j #h #g #d ,in the above examples1 if the dealer holds no re-entry card1 he must overtake one of dummy's high cards in order to make the suit4 ,the adversary will often attempt to block the dealer's lead by holding up the winning card until one of the dealer's hands is exhausted in the suit4 ,whenever this is the apparent object of the adversary1 you can still continue and establish your suit by overtaking the last card from the shorter hand4 ,q ,j x-------x ,y ,a ,b ,z x-------x ,k #aj #i #g #d #c ,k ,j x-------x ,y ,a ,b ,z x-------x ,q #aj #i #g #c ,in the above examples1 if the dealer holds but one re-entry card he must overtake the second lead4 ,otherwise1 if the adversary holds up the ace1 the dealer must use his re-entry card to establish the suit1 which he can then never make4 ,overtaking is not confined to the dealer's play1 and it is much more difficult for the adversaries to determine when to resort to this strategy4 ,as a rule1 when the dealer is apparently holding up the winning card1 and when the cards of your suit are of equal value1 it is safer to overtake your partner's card than to risk his being unable to continue the lead4 8,,ducking0 ,when a hand contains no re-entry card1 the successful play of the long suit may depend on a refusal to win the first trick2 at times both the first and second tricks in the suit must be passed4 ,when you wish to make a long suit in a hand containing no re-entry card1 do not play the commanding card of the suit until you are reasonably sure that the remainder of the cards will fall4 ,use care not to exhaust the shorter of the two hands before the suit is established4 ,the situation is more clearly shown by the following examples3 ,a ,k #g #f #e #c x-------x ,y ,a ,b ,z x-------x #h #d ,the dealer should refuse to win the first round of the suit4 ,with no card of re-entry1 should he lead the ace and king1 the command would be left with the adversaries and the suit would not be made4 ,a #i #g #e #b x-------x ,y ,a ,b ,z x-------x #h #d #c ,the dealer must allow the adversaries to win the first and second tricks2 otherwise the suit cannot be made4 ,a #h #f #d #b x-------x ,y ,a ,b ,z x-------x ,q ,j #c ,the dealer should lead the queen toward the ace1 but should the second in hand adversary cover with the king the dealer must pass the trick2 otherwise the third round will be blocked by the nine or ten4 ,a ,q #f #e #d x-------x ,y ,a ,b ,z x-------x #c #b ,the dealer should pass the first trick and not attempt the queen finesse until the second round4 ,one trick1 it is true1 may be lost1 but the play may win four tricks4 ,one or two leads of a suit may show a distribution of the cards which must give the adversary one trick4 ,when this is the case1 be careful to lose that trick while you have still another card of the suit to lead to the opposite hand4 ,a ,k ,q #g #e #c #b x-------x ,y ,,none ,a ,b ,j #aj #f #d ,z x-------x #i #h ,the dealer finds at the first lead that the second in hand adversary has no card of the suit4 ,the jack is1 therefore1 three times protected in the opposite hand and the dealer should pass the first trick4 ,with nine cards of a suit in the combined hands headed by ace and king1 all the remaining cards will probably fall on two leads1 but when the suit is divided1 six and three1 with no card of re-entry in the long hand1 it is safer to make sure of five tricks by passing the first round4 ,a ,k #i #h #f #d x-------x ,y ,a ,b ,z x-------x #g #c #b ,even when there is a re-entry card in the hand containing the long suit1 if the adversaries must make a trick in the suit it is better play to lose the first trick4 ,the re-entry may be an important card to retain4 ,when you hold a guarded honour in the suit led originally1 or with a once-guarded king in an unopened suit1 place the lead so that these honours will be lead up to4 ,this can often be done by 8ducking0 or passing a trick4 8,,overtaking ,,and ,,unblocking0 ,the double necessity arises only on rare occasions4 ,when the dummy contains no re-entry and the adversary opens a suit in which dummy has length1 arrange the play of your own cards so as not to block the dummy's suit4 ,a #i #f #d #b x-------x ,y ,k ,j #g #e ,a ,b #c ,z x-------x ,q #aj #h ,should the first trick be won with the eight1 the dealer cannot overtake the ten without loss4 ,the ten should1 therefore1 be played and the lead continued with the queen4 ,if the adversary covers1 the trick must be passed4 ,the eight should then be led through the jack4 8,,overtaking ,,and ,,ducking0 ,occasionally the initial opening will prove to be the dummy's long suit4 ,to make this suit without a card of re-entry in dummy it may be necessary for the dealer not only to overtake dummy's trick in order to lead the suit through the original leader's hand1 but also to allow the adversary to win the second trick1 if an attempt is made to force dummy's high card4 ,a #aj #i #h #g x-------x ,y #e ,a ,b #d ,z x-------x ,k #c #b ,a #aj #i #h #g x-------x ,y #d ,a ,b #c ,z x-------x ,q #e #b ,the dealer should in both cases overtake dummy's trick in order to continue the lead from the weaker hand4 ,the original leader will probably attempt1 by playing a high card1 to force the ace2 in which case the dealer must pass the second trick4 ,the dummy will then hold a tenace over the remaining honour1 and the dealer can make four tricks in the suit4 ,,the ,,defence ,,against ,,overtaking ,,and 8,,ducking0 ,when you open a suit and find that it is dummy's strength do not attempt to win the second trick if the dealer leads through your hand1 that is1 unless you can mark the dealer with no other card of the suit to lead2 by taking the third round instead1 you will often save a trick or two4 ,a #i #g #f #e #d x-------x ,y ,k #aj #h #b ,a ,b ,,none ,z x-------x ,q ,j #c ,in this case the dealer takes the first trick with the jack and leads the queen4 ,no attempt should be made to cover the card4 ,in this way the dealer is forced to win the third round and dummy's suit is blocked4 ,,card ,,strategy ,when players have largely grasped the fundamentals of bridge they are frequently filled with complaisance and self-satisfaction that is gratifyingly reassuring to them1 but that does not tend to improve their game4 ,each hand played1 wherein they feel that they have committed no blunders1 brings a sense of contentment2 but1 unfortunately1 they overlook the tricks which they may have lost by the lack of a little card strategy4 ,these are the tricks1 which won1 decide rubbers4 ,there is always trouble for the player who is looking only for 8what he deserves10 and complacently assists the strategy of his opponents by not meeting it with an equal display of skill in attack1 or shrewdness in defense4 ,good players are frequently likely to be deceived by holding up small cards1 though as a matter of fact novices never appear to be fooled by such tactics2 play a high card like a ,king or a ,queen1 however1 and the poor player is decidedly apt to be frightened away from the play of his own suit4 ,to whomsoever it falls to play the dummy hand there is abundant opportunity to baffle1 mislead and confuse the opponents1 and still be playing strictly within the etiquette and the admitted possibilities of bridge4 ,in fact it is only just to one's partner to exercise one's best endeavor and employ one's brightest wits to bring about a brilliant finish4 ,a little of the combative disposition is a valuable adjunct to good bridge play4 ,combine that with clever strategy and a most commendable desire to send your adversaries on innumerable wild-goose chases1 and there will be no further playing merely for 8what the hand deserves40 ,pitfalls in the form of false leads1 false carding and clever underplay should be dug for your adversaries at every opportunity4 ,whenever they can do the same thing1 the adversaries will not scruple to place them for you4 ,there are hands in bridge which may be said to play themselves4 ,one holding all the winning cards could scarcely be expected to lose4 ,that1 however1 is purely primary4 ,as the player himself recognizes1 it is something that could scarcely have been avoided4 ,on the other hand1 when some well-planned ruse has found the opposition with no sentries posted1 and their camp is thrown into confusion by the clever capture of a trick or two which they never had dreamed it possible to lose1 you may feel the elation that is a part of bridge when the game is played to the full measure of its theory4 ,frequently a hand is picked up at the bridge table which on its face may be read as hopeless1 unless1 by some means1 the adversaries can be induced to blunder4 ,never exercise charity in a case of that kind4 ,make it a point to tempt them not only to blunder once1 but again and yet again4 ,it is surely far more strategic for a weak hand to take a strong hand prisoner than it is for the strong hand to capture the weak hand4 ,subjoined are a few 8ifs0 that are well to be remembered1 for all too frequently the situation arises where one of them may become most effective if you have retained its significance in your memory4 ,if you find that in some suit a certain number of tricks will go to your adversaries1 and that to lead from your best suit is disadvantageous1 throw the lead and see what will happen4 ,if you wish to make four tricks in a suit with but three in sight1 give the adversaries a chance to discard a card or two before you show your strength4 ,if you are anxious to know which of your adversaries holds the ,queen of the suit in which you hold the ,ace1 ,king1 ,jack1 force a discard and see how kind they will be to you4 ,if no discard can be forced1 then give the adversaries the lead and let the suit come up to you4 ,if you are reasonably certain of winning all the tricks but one1 lead out your remaining trumps4 ,you cannot lose and1 if your adversaries are uncertain about their discard1 the extra trick may be gained4 ,if you hold the ,queen and two small cards of a suit1 with small cards of the same suit in dummy and the adversary opens with the ,king1 keep your lowest card4 ,the leader may be tempted to believe that his partner is echoing1 and he will establish your ,queen by leading the ,ace4 ,do not attempt this play however if you hold length in the suit4 ,if the ,king is led and you have length as well as strength in the suit1 play your highest card on the ,king1 for if the adversary continues with the ,ace1 the younger hand will probably ruff the third round and you should therefore endeavor to frighten your opponents from the suit4 ,if a suit is led and the card played by the younger hand is not higher than the ten1 do not win the first trick with the ,ace holding ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen4 ,the elder hand cannot have ,king1 ,queen1 ,jack1 and taking the first trick with the ,ace would clearly show the situation4 ,if you hold a singleton ,king lead the suit from dummy at the first opportunity1 being careful to select as a card to lead a ten or a nine4 ,this gives the impression that you intend to finesse4 ,you may tempt the adversary1 with the ,ace second in hand1 to pass the trick1 whereas were a small card led he would probably make no such mistake4 ,if you hold a small card as a singleton with ,king and ,jack1 or ,king and others in dummy1 do not wait until your adversary can count your hand1 but lead your singleton early in the hand and do not finesse4 ,if you want high cards to fall1 lead high cards4 ,it is astounding how difficult one finds it not to cover an honor led4 ,with this in mind1 with a singleton ,ace in your hand1 and a sequence in dummy from the ,queen to the nine1 the adversaries will make no mistake if a low card is led1 while the ,queen is a temptress that few can resist4 ,if you hold ten cards of suit in your hand and that of the dummy with the ,ace and ,king both against you1 no doubt you will lose two tricks in the suit2 but when you do lead it lead your highest card4 ,you may tempt your second hand adversary to cover and the other honor may fall4 ,if you have nine or more cards in your hand and that of the dummy headed by ,ace and ,king1 it is usually unwise to finesse2 but it is always good play to lead the ,jack towards the high card in the opposite hand as it may tempt your adversary to cover4 ,if the adversary1 after seeing dummy1 lead through a ,king ,jack suit he probably has no high cards in the suit4 ,to play the ,king can do but little harm1 and1 if he has the ,ace1 you may shut it out4 ,if you have ,queen1 ten and one small in dummy1 and ,ace1 nine1 small in your own hand1 lead the small card4 ,if the ,king is not put up second in hand1 play the ten2 if the ,jack wins the trick the ,king is probably in the same player's hand1 and you must get the lead in dummy to come through this hand4 ,without the ten in either hand pass the first trick and make no effort to win with your ,queen4 ,this may be your only hope to get two tricks in the suit4 ,if you have the ,ace1 ,king1 small in your hand and ,jack and two small in dummy1 the discard may show that your left hand adversary holds the ,queen protected4 ,to steal a trick here1 you must play the ,ace and underplay with the hope that this player will mark the ,king in his partner's hand and not play high4 ,if at 8,no ,trump0 a high card is led against you originally1 and you have length in that suit1 hold up the lowest card to make the adversary think his partner is unblocking4 ,if at a loss what suit to play for at 8,no-,trump0 choose the one that is shown in dummy1 so that the adversaries may not discover the weakness or strength of your own hand4 ,if at 8,no-,trump0 you are playing a poor hand with little or no hope of winning1 or even perhaps of saving the game1 try leading the suit that is all against you4 ,often the adversaries will hold imaginary tenace over your cards and come 8banging up0 to your strong suit4 ,the collision will be more disastrous to them than you4 ,if you must lose the lead at 8,no-,trump10 conceal the strength in your own hand and do not jump around and show strength in three suits1 for then when you do lose the lead the adversaries cannot make a mistake as to their own strong suit4 ,if your adversary's lead at 8,no-,trump0 is a ,jack and you have ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen in your hand1 take the first trick with the ,queen4 ,never win with the ,king4 ,many players lead the ,jack from ,king1 ,jack1 ten or ,ace1 ,jack1 ten4 ,if a ,queen is led at 8,no-,trump0 and you hold both the ,ace and ,king1 do not win the first trick with the ,ace4 ,the ,queen lead sometimes indicates the ,ace and ,jack1 and you may mislead an adversary by playing the ,king1 whereas the ,ace would clearly show the situation4 ,if you are playing 8,no-,trump0 do not blank the ,ace in dummy unless you want this suit led to you4 ,keeping a small card with the ,ace may lead the adversaries to believe that you have a high card in your own hand and they may hesitate to lead the suit4 ,another point that it is well to emphasize is in regard to being forced to lead disadvantageously from a suit4 ,be very careful in a case of that kind not to break a possible tenace by leading a high card4 ,for instance with ,ace1 ten and two small in your hand and ,jack and two small in dummy1 you are forced to lead the suit from your own hand4 ,play the small card4 ,often the adversary makes the mistake of playing a high card second in hand1 giving you1 perhaps1 a tenace over your right hand opponent4 ,too much haste in showing ability to ruff by your weak hand frequently brings disaster4 ,in fact a trump lead from you will discourage the trump attack by the adversaries1 and they are only too likely to give you the ruff without defining your purpose4 ,inference frequently will come to you from the cards held in the combined hands as to what suit will probably be led by the adversaries1 but do not expose your weakness by discarding from this suit4 ,last1 but one of the most important facts of all1 decide which of your cards you mean to play before fingering them4 ,indecision may tell your adversaries exactly what they are most eager to know4 ,bear in mind that these suggestions are advanced to try to impress all players with the fact that there may be much more in the hand than it seems to deserve1 and that 8much more0 is the real test of skillful bridge4 ,it is a far greater source of enjoyment than lackadaisically wading through deal after deal1 stirring only the surface of the shallow water and not venturing into those more fascinating depths where the secrets of bridge await those who will try for them4 ,,lost ,,tricks ,one development of bridge1 seldom touched upon1 has to do entirely with what may be designated the 8lost tricks40 ,hands that play themselves are1 to an extent1 colorless and featureless accessories of the game2 but the 8lost tricks0 are the 8might have beens0 of bridge that rankle in the memory long after the rubber is finished4 ,they are usually found in hands that require a thorough understanding of the score1 good judgment and keen perception1 and are lost many times because of a lack of understanding between partners4 ,there can be nothing more trying to one's finest nervous sense than to play with a partner in whom one has little confidence1 who makes each situation as difficult as possible1 gives no correct information as to his own hand by the play of the cards1 nor seeks to take advantage of the information correctly given by his partner4 ,there is one essential to bridge which must never be overlooked1 nor can its importance be too strongly impressed upon all players1 and that is1 that to play the game well involves the closest kind of a business partnership in which implicit confidence must exist4 ,evil effects attendant upon deceit cannot be too highly overestimated1 nor can such play be too severely condemned1 if your aim is to attain1 as nearly as possible1 the standard of perfection4 ,all players must understand that rules are but the mere convention of the game1 holding it to certain conformity1 that1 it is evident1 is necessary for its preservation and the perfect enjoyment of its enthusiastic devotees4 ,certain rules1 that govern the technicalities1 are absolute1 as they are in any game of cards1 but rules in general are not the masters of bridge2 rather should they be considered as second to circumstance and the fall of the cards4 ,brilliant plays are made in contravention to rules1 yet we would not attempt to deduce from that fact the theory that rules are not essential to the game4 ,there are those disaffected individuals who rail at everything4 ,to them rules are bogey men2 conventions are pitfalls4 ,they scoff at partners who play as such1 and argue weakly for disconcerted play in which one puts down a card1 his partner another1 and for all the information that either conveys to the other a pinch of snuff would be generous recompense4 ,you might as well take a chance on a card of any denomination or of any suit1 as to try to adhere to a union of forces with such a school of philosophy to guide you4 ,do not be influenced by theories somewhat wildly and illogically advanced by players thus minded4 ,time and experience will assuredly teach you that heresies fail in bridge1 as they fail in other subjects where cool1 philosophical reasoning will lead to a sane and intelligent understanding4 ,never forget that the dealer is in the possession of the strength of twenty-six cards all the time4 ,if you1 with half that force1 play at random1 and your partner1 with no more numerical strength than you possess1 is also playing a fourth of the game on his individual account1 with no particular interest in what is being done with the other three-fourths of the fifty-two cards1 it is surely not common sense to imagine that you and your partner are likely to be superlatively blessed with success4 ,united play in bridge is absolutely essential to success4 ,this has been demonstrated from the inception of the game1 and those who are most mindful of this fact are those who see fewer ghosts of 8lost tricks0 stalking dejectedly about as they recall the hands of the past4 ,occasions do arise however when you may deceive the dealer and not your partner4 ,if you wish the dealer to finesse1 it will often pay to play a high card second in hand1 holding a small one4 ,for instance1 with ,king1 ,jack1 nine1 four and three in dummy1 the dealer leads the ,ace and then a small card4 ,by playing the ten from the ten1 five1 deuce on the second round of the suit you may lead the dealer to believe that you hold the ,queen or no other card in the suit1 and this may tempt him to finesse4 ,when ,ace and ,queen are in dummy over your once guarded ,king1 you will probably be led through and your ,king be captured4 ,it will pay you at times1 especially if the card next to the ,king is a nine or ten1 to lead the suit in the hope that the dealer will play the ,ace second in hand and that he will infer from your lead that the ,king is in your partner's hand4 ,should you and your partner hold all the remaining cards in a suit1 do not hesitate to play or discard a card of the suit so as to mislead the dealer and make it difficult for him to count your own and your partner's hand4 ,to enumerate the many situations wherein tricks are lost and where partners go astray would need a keen observer and a pencil and pad at almost every rubber that is played4 ,it is usually accepted that a short suit is led for the purpose of establishing a ruff4 ,very good4 ,yet players are often met who complain about being forced after showing a desire to ruff4 ,then avoid giving the invitation4 ,your partner can only read it as you played to him and followed out your own suggestion as he felt in duty bound to do4 ,it is not invariably necessary that you open a short suit and play for a ruff4 ,it does seem to be a common impulse4 ,there appears to exist a desire on the part of most who play bridge to do something with trumps1 and players are always eager to begin their employment1 hoping to see ,aces and ,kings go by the board4 ,your short suit lead may establish that suit for your opponent1 and bring disaster through an effort to make a small trump trick2 while1 on the other hand1 the lead of your long suit may force and so weaken the dealer's trump hand as to make it impossible for him to take out the trumps against him4 ,tricks are lost by players not showing the correct numerical strength of their long suit4 ,a player who leads the deuce from a six card suit assuredly would not have done so had he confidence in the ability of his partner to read or count his hand4 ,frequently the under card of a sequence is led1 or the highest card of a sequence is played second or third in hand1 and repeatedly that has cost a trick or two because it conveyed misinformation4 ,one who continually leads the top of long1 weak suits against a declared trump1 gives misinformation and often leads his partner to believe that he is opening a short suit1 and frequently a trick or two is lost by the dealer obtaining discards4 ,the player who continually refuses to part with the best trump should bear in mind that ruffing with the commanding trump rarely loses a trick1 and often gains one4 ,remember that the partner who doubles usually has trump strength1 and so do not strew his pathway with obstructions by forcing him when it is most fatal to his chances4 ,there is one type of partner who is particularly trying4 ,he is that persistent individual who1 having acquired the notion of establishing his long suit at 8,no-,trump0 keeps at it with a bland faith that would be amusing were it not so vexing4 ,with little or no chance of ever getting in1 he sacrifices the only hope of saving the game by refusing to switch off and see what his partner has got4 ,think1 too1 how your partner must feel when marked with a card of your established suit1 and in the lead1 he witnesses a discard on your part of one of your good suit1 and is met with the feeble apology that you had a 8,king or ,queen to protect40 ,it is a maxim in bridge that the weaker hand should always consider itself subordinate to the stronger1 ready to sacrifice the high card holding so that it will be a gain to the partner in the end4 ,how selfishly and at what cost partners will decline to unblock because it appears to them to mean the sacrifice of too high a card4 ,too long they cling to their ,queens and their ,kings only to see the great army of 8lost tricks0 obtain fresh recruits because they would not1 or could not1 read what their partners were vainly trying to publish before them4 ,another rather cool invitation and one bound to be fraught with disastrous results is when you request your partner to play for a suit in which you have neither length nor strength4 ,it would be just as logical to ask him to play for cards in your adversaries' hands4 ,it is always good practice in bridge not to attempt to play for too much4 ,to bring in two suits is1 of course1 a very delightful sensation1 but it is a great deal better to confine your efforts to bring in one sure suit than to attempt two with the result of getting neither4 ,bear in mind that when one is a bit greedy1 8lost tricks0 are likely to foot up rapidly4 ,before the subject of 8lost tricks0 is abandoned it is well to call attention to what may be sacrificed by bad makes4 ,players overanxious to win will attempt declarations which they know to be unsound1 being influenced by a speculative impulse rather than by sound judgment4 ,countless rubbers are lost--not tricks1 but rubbers--because players do not know the score and1 because they lack that information1 are not playing with an intelligent idea as to how many tricks are absolutely essential to save the game4 ,in conclusion bear this in mind for it is a justifiable loss of a trick3 ,do not hesitate to lose when the only chance is to find in your partner's hand the card that will save the game2 you may be astonished to ascertain how often this will happen during the ordinary course of play4 ,play so to perfect your whole game as to take care of the 8lost tricks40 ,the winning tricks1 it will quickly be discovered1 take care of themselves4 8,,your ,,partner40 ,,his ,,idiosyncrasies1 ,,and ,,some ,,of ,,yours ,all games of cards1 even the simplest--those that require but little thought or mental analysis--afford an excellent field for the study of human nature4 ,players frequently permit little mannerisms and idiosyncrasies to intrude1 and1 if not corrected at the start1 the habit is likely to grow4 ,for the most part such offenses are1 of themselves1 but trivial breaches1 as it were1 of the etiquette of the card-table2 but at times they are intensely irritating and the cause of some displeasure that finds relief in word or action1 both of which may quite seriously disrupt bridge harmony4 ,when a rubber of bridge is in contemplation and after the preliminaries you sit down to play1 it is just possible that 8your partner0 may have his ideas about the game4 ,if you have omitted to ascertain in advance what they are1 it will help neither of you in the least if you immediately begin to differ as to leads1 discards and signals4 ,your game will strongly resemble a tug-of-war--both at opposite ends of the rope1 instead of at one end pulling conjointly4 ,it is an invariable custom that the player who cuts the lowest card has the choice of seats and the cards4 ,if 8your partner0 objects to moving do not advise that he would better change4 ,very likely his reasons why he should not are quite as urgent as any that you can advance to the contrary1 and why interject at the start anything that shall tend to create a slight element of discord4 ,if you ask 8your partner0 for advice rest assured of criticism during the remainder of play1 whether it be for a rubber or for an evening4 ,it is one thing to consult1 quite another to request4 ,the moment that you show subserviency you admit superiority1 and there are those who play bridge1 and some with little experience or knowledge1 who as critics1 in their own estimation1 are par excellence4 ,better agree with 8your partner0 at the start on the common principles that are essential to be observed1 and then play with an eloquent silence that will command respect and admiration at the table4 ,if you pass the make with a weak hand and your partner declares 8,no-,trumps10 look as cheerful as possible1 and make up your mind to do the best that you can with the cards that have been given to you4 ,if you begin by abusing your partner for the make1 you practically say that your hand is weak and that the situation is hopeless4 ,that is most valuable information for your adversaries4 ,some times 8your partner10 sitting behind the dummy hand1 has a queer way of waking up just as you are leading a thirteenth card from his hand1 and asking you whether you have a card of the suit led1 thus distracting your thoughts from the selection of a proper discard4 ,the partner behind the silent hand1 to hasten the play1 has no right to touch or suggest the use of a single card from those which lie exposed before him1 yet often players find the impulse to push out a card from dummy almost irresistible4 ,haste and waste are antitypes in bridge as they are in everything4 ,playing the hand as if you are in a hurry to catch a train may lend a spectacular appearance to your disposition of the cards1 but many a rubber is lost by not stopping to give the situation the careful thought that it demands4 ,the occupant of the 8high chair0 usually has a monopoly of giving advice4 ,that kindly and courteous soul who can see it all--and who may know it all1 or imagine he does1 which amounts to the same thing in this particular case--and who sees no hand played without voicing personal ideas as to the methods used1 is a well-meaning adjunct to the game1 even if occasionally distressing4 ,when a player spreads out all the cards of an abandoned spade hand1 scrutinizes each with an air of anxious concern1 and conjectures as to what might have happened had some other declaration been attempted1 it tries everybody at the table4 ,what is done with a hand cannot be undone4 ,all time at bridge should be devoted earnestly to what confronts a player1 not to what is of the past4 ,a penalty of some kind should be exacted from the player who makes a practice of insisting that the dealer has led from the wrong hand4 ,it is very disconcerting and frequently disturbs the one criticized to such an extent as to interrupt the train of thought for the subsequent lead4 ,post mortems have their interest and are unmistakably convincing as a rule4 ,don't venture upon them unless you are certain what the scalpel is going to reveal1 and above all things when the corpse is buried don't continue to talk of the harassing details with another hand awaiting play4 ,be careful how you criticize in all cases4 ,it is not an invariable rule that he who points out the first mistake had the best reason for doing so4 ,how about a blunder that may have been committed earlier by the critic himself1 and the possible embarrassment that may follow if a complete analysis of all the cards played is insisted upon4 ,there are personalities in bridge that can be avoided in addition to arguments with 8your partner0 or public criticism of his play4 ,the actual time saved in 8claiming all the rest0 will not shorten the game by two minutes4 ,better play all the cards out and save yourself the possible mortification of having it placed in evidence that you had not read your hand1 that of 8your partner0 and those of your adversaries1 as intelligibly as you had imagined4 ,bridge knowledge is not acquired in a moment4 ,some persons are naturally better players than others4 ,intuition is an aid to some1 the ability to forecast assists others1 but both are powerless without a thorough grasp of all the details that are accessory to the game4 ,in connection with this subject it may not be out of place to observe that while the object of the game is to take tricks1 the same number can be made in a great many different ways4 ,that you did not happen to lose on a hand is no palliation for the very bad play of which you may have been guilty4 ,always bear in mind the fact that there is a right way and a wrong way to play1 and that the acquirement of playing by the right method should be the purpose of all who devote their time to the game4 ,play bridge as if a genuine pleasure1 whether winner or loser1 and eventually you will discover that it is far easier to win in that spirit than it was with the critical idea predominating2 and1 if you do lose1 it is with the consciousness of good will toward your fellow man1 who happens1 in this case1 to be 8your partner40 ,endeavor to be serene under all circumstances4 ,keep in mind that it is a pastime for sound mental training4 ,never forget that a cool head is a most valuable essential1 and try just as far as possible to sink all peccadilloes in play1 avoid all whimsicalities and correct all personal mannerisms4 ,,illustrative ,,hands ,the following hands are illustrative of the principles discussed in the previous chapters1 and while1 to the experienced players1 some of the points will appear simple1 the hands all show interesting situations which merit careful study from those who wish to improve their ,bridge play4 ,all the hands have been taken from actual play and show by no means unusual situations4 ,the writer has endeavoured to eliminate freakish distributions of cards and unsound play4 ,play each illustration as though but one hand were exposed1 without previous reference to the notes4 ,in each case ,z is the dealer and ,a the leader4 ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,transcriber's ,note3 ,the square brackets indicate which card was lead4 ,for example ,k4 ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #a ,many players would be tempted to declare 8no-trumps0 with this hand1 but the declaration of hearts is sound4 ,no risks should be taken with a strong heart make when one weak suit is held4 ,,trick #a4--,there are two lines of play that could be adopted by the dealer in this hand1 one to exhaust the trumps and try for the spade suit1 the other to try to establish a ruff in the weaker hand4 ,the former course is preferable4 ,as ,z holds but one trump1 the adversaries would probably prevent the ruff4 ,to make the spade suit an entry card may be necessary4 ,y takes the lead1 in order to save ,z's entry card4 ,,trick #h4--,this position will be appreciated by all students of the game4 ,z has three good spades and the commanding diamond1 ,y the losing trump and the ace of clubs4 ,should ,y now lead a diamond and take ,z's re-entry card1 the adversaries' trump would stop the suit4 ,leading the losing trump is a clever play4 ,,saving ,,an ,,entry ,,card4 ,,leading ,,the ,,losing ,,trump4 ,it is the first game1 score sixteen to nothing1 in favor of the dealer4 ,z deals and passes the make4 ,y declares hearts4 #i ,a #f #e #c ,no4 #a ,a #d #b ,a ,k ,q #g #e x-------------x ,j #f #e ,y ,k #aj #h #g #d #b ,k ,q ,j #aj ,q #aj #h #f ,a ,b ,j #i #i #c #b ,j #aj #h #d ,z x-------------x ,a ,q #g #d #c #b #i #h ,k #g #e #c #f ------------------------------------ ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ------------------------------------ #a #f ,a #i #c #b #b ,k #d #f #c #c ,q #h #e #d #i ,a #aj #h #e #e #i #aj ,q #f #f #b #h ,a #g ,j #e ,k #b #h #b #g ,j #g #i #d ,a ,k #i #aj #h #d ,j ,k #aa #g #c #aj #g #ab #aj #e ,j #d #ac ,q #f ,q #c ------------------------------------ ,the dealer makes a small slam4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #b ,,trick #b4--,this situation demands careful attention4 ,if the diamond is led from ,y's hand for ,z to trump1 the adversaries must obtain the lead at the next trick1 and would promptly lead trumps to prevent any further ruffing4 ,z can estimate that he has but five sure tricks in the two hands1 three trump tricks1 the diamond trick1 the ruff1 and the possibility of making a trick with the king of clubs4 ,this1 however1 would give the adversaries the game and the rubber4 ,to win the game1 two ruffs must be obtained and ,z cannot afford to make the situation clear to his opponents4 ,he leads the seven of clubs from ,y's hand in order to establish the cross-ruff4 ,it is this form of strategy that wins games and rubbers for the clever player4 ,z takes the one chance to win the game4 ,,trick #c4--;,b's best play is unquestionably the trump4 ,he has both the spade and the club suit protected1 his partner is marked with strength in diamonds1 and he can lead trumps with safety1 but not knowing that the weak hand can ruff1 he returns his partner's original lead4 ,,trick #g4--;,a can stop the cross-ruff by trumping with the king of hearts1 but this play would not afford him any advantage1 as ,y would discard a losing spade1 and ,z may not have another trump4 ,,trick #h4--,there is no reason for ,b to trump4 ,to discard is his best play4 ,,not ,,showing ,,adversaries ,,that ,,the ,,weak ,,hand ,,can 8,,ruff40 ,it is the rubber game1 score twenty-four all4 ,z deals and passes the make4 ,y declares hearts4 #i #f #e #g ,no4 #b ,a #e #c #b ,q ,j #aj #e #d ------------- ,y ,k ,q ,a #aj #h #g #aj #h #f ,a ,b ,a ,q #e #b ,k ,q ,j #i #f #aj #h #g ,a ,k #c ,z #g #b ------------- ,j #d #c #b ,k ,j #i #d #c #d #i #h #f ---------------------------------------- ----- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ---------------------------------------- ----- #a ,k ,a #g #d #b #f #g ,a #c #c #f #b #aj #f #d #h #e #b ,k #e #aj #d #e #d #f #i #c #h #i #g ,q #e ,q #i #h ,j #e #g #h #i ,q #f #b ,j #aj ,k #aj #g #b #aa ,k #i #h #c #ab ,a ,j #aj #d #ac #c ,q ,a ,j ---------------------------------------- ----- ,the dealer wins two odd tricks4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #c ,,trick #d4--,when the commanding trump is against you1 the best play is usually to force your adversary to 8ruff0 with it1 but if you hold an established suit in one hand1 it often pays to take out the winning trump4 ,your long suit can then be continued without interruption4 ,,leading ,,the ,,losing ,,trump ,it is the first game1 score love all4 ,z deals and makes it hearts4 #e #d #b ,a ,q ,j #h #f #c ,no4 #c #g #e #i #e ------------- ,y ,a ,k ,q #h #g #f #c ,j #aj #i #aj #e #d ,a ,b #i #g ,k ,q ,j #aj #i #h ,j #c ,z ,q #h #b ------------- ---- ,k #b ,a #f #d #c #b ,a ,k #aj #g #f #d ---------------------------------------- ----- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ---------------------------------------- ----- #a ,k #b #i #d #b #c #e #b ,a #c ,j #i #h ,k #d #c #d ,q #f #e ,k #e ,q ,a #f #d #c #g ,k #g #e ,a #i #b #h #aj ,q #aj #b #i #f ,j ,j #c #aj #g #h #h #d #aa #h #f #i #f #ab ,q #g #aj #g #ac ,a #e ,j #aj ---------------------------------------- ----- ,the dealer makes a small slam4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #d ,,trick #a4--,to win the game the king of hearts must be in ,b's hand and the lead must be arranged so that ,y can lead the jack of hearts toward the ace queen4 ,to make an entry card in ,y's hand1 ,z throws his king of diamonds on the ace4 ,,trick #b4--;,a would like to change the suit1 but1 undoubtedly1 the diamond is his best lead4 ,,arranging ,,the ,,lead ,it is the rubber game1 score eight to twenty-four against the dealer4 ,z1 the dealer1 declares ,hearts4 #i #h #f #d #i #h #f #d ,no4 #d ,q #d ,j #e #d ------------ ,y ,k #e ,a ,q ,j #aj #g #aj #c #b ,a ,b ,a #g ,a #i #h #g #f #c ,j #aj #e #h #f ,z ,k #i #b ------------ #c #b ,k ,q ,j #e ,k #b ,a ,q #aj #g #c ------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ------------------------------- #a ,a #d #e ,k #b #c ,q #aj #b #c #f ,j #b #c #d #h #e #i #aj #e #f #d ,k ,a #f #b #d ,a ,k #g #g #d ,j #g #h #h #f #g ,q #i #c #f #g ,q #aj #aj #h #aj ,j #aa #i #i ,j #e #ab #e #i ,a #b #ac ,k #h ,q #c ------------------------------- ,the dealer wins three odd tricks4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #e ,,trick #b4--,to many players a trump lead at this trick would seem imperative1 but if trumps are led1 the adversaries obtain the lead and must make three tricks in the club suit4 ,the clubs must be discarded before the adversaries obtain the lead4 ,the king of spades should be led1 otherwise the spade suit would be blocked4 ,,trick #d4--;,it seems like tempting fate for ,z to lead his high cards1 but nothing can possibly be lost4 ,the discards which ,y takes on these high cards offset any trump that the adversary might make4 ,there is everything to gain and nothing to lose4 ,,not ,,leading ,,trumps ,,until ,,losing ,,cards ,,have ,,been ,,discarded ,it is the rubber game1 score eighteen to nothing in favour of the dealer4 ,z deals and passes the make4 ,y declares hearts4 ,k #c #i #h #g ,no4 #e ,a ,k ,q ,j #i #f #d #b ------------- #e #d #b ,y ,j #aj #i #g #f #c #b ,a ,k ,q ,j ,j #i #g #e #b ,a ,b #aj #h #d #e #c ,a #aj ,z ------------- ,a ,q #h #f #aj #e #d ,k ,q #f #c #h #g --------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z --------------------------------- #a #e ,a #d #c #b #b ,k #g #f #c #d #c #i ,a #d #b #g #h ,k #e #g #h #aj ,q #f #e #i #aj ,q #g #c ,j ,a #h #h #b #b ,k #d #i #e ,k #aj #g #aj #c ,q ,j #e #aa #f #i ,j #aj #ab #i #f ,q #f #ac ,j #d ,a #h --------------------------------- ,the dealer makes a small slam4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #f ,,trick #b4--,should ,b lead another round of hearts the weak hand would 8ruff0 and the strong hand would discard4 ,,trick #d4--,the dealer requires every trick to win the game4 ,to accomplish this both finesses must be successful4 ,the trumps held in the two hands are in sequence from the six to the queen1 and should ,b have the king of trumps three times protected1 the lead must be kept in ,y's hand4 ,many a hand has been ruined by the incorrect play of this position4 ,,trick #aj4--,z has the opportunity to make a brilliant coup4 ,to catch the ten of spades he must lead through ,a's hand1 and1 therefore1 trumps ,y's winning club in order to obtain the lead4 ,,leading ,,through ,it is the first game1 score love all4 ,z deals and makes it diamonds4 ,a ,j #i #g #e ,k ,q ,j #g ,no4 #f ,q #h #f ,j ------------- ,k #aj #f #d ,y ---- #h #f #d #b ,a #e #c ,a ,b ,k #e #d #b ,k #aj #i #g ,a #h #f #e #d #c #b ,z ------------- ,q #h #c #b #aj #i #c ,a ,j #aj #i #g ,q ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a #g ,j ,a ,q #b #b #g ,a #c #c #d ,j #e #i #d #c ,q #b #i #e #f #h #d #g #f #h #f #e #aj #g #i #e ,k ,a #h ,k ,a #b ,q #i #aj ,k #c #aj #aj ,k ,q #d ,j #aa #d #g #e #h #ab #f #i #f #c #ac #aj ,j #h #b ----------------------------------- ,the dealer wins five odd tricks4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #g ,,trick #a4--;,as there are but six trumps in the two hands1 ,z knows that one adversary must hold at least four trumps1 and should the force be taken and the trumps led1 the adversaries would make the entire suit of diamonds4 ,z must wait until ,y is able to take the ruff1 in this way keeping his own trump strength intact4 ,,trick #c4--;,a is placed in a difficult position4 ,,trick #g4--,with the best trump against him1 ,z must force the commanding trump1 for1 no matter how the adversaries play1 the spade suit must be brought in4 ,,refusing ,,to ,,accept ,a ,,force ,it is the first game1 score eight all4 ,z deals and makes it hearts4 ,q #d #c ,a #aj #i #h #g #e ,no4 #g #g #e #i #c ------------- #f #b ,y #aj #g ,k ,q ,j #f ,a ,k ,q #h #c #b ,a ,b ,j #aj #i #f #d ,j #aj #h #b #g #e #d ,z ------------- ,a ,k ,j #i #h #e #d #c #b ---- ,a ,k ,q #f ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a ,k #e #f #b #b ,q #g #i #c #c ,k ,a #f #d #d #b #c #d ,a #e #h #i #e ,k #f #aj #e #g ,q #g #b ,q #g #e #h #f #c #aj ,a #i ,j #d #aj ,k #aj ,a #g ,j #f #aa #b #h #d ,j #ab #c #i ,j #i #ac #h #aj ,q #h ----------------------------------- ,the dealer wins four odd tricks4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #h ,many players might criticise the make of this hand without realising its tremendous possibilities4 ,a hand with five trumps and an established suit is a difficult one for the adversaries to defeat4 ,as ,z is short in two suits1 there are not many tricks for the adversaries outside of the trump suit4 ,z hopes to find an honour in trumps with his partner which would enable him to exhaust the trumps and make his suit4 ,,trick #b4--,many players would find it difficult to resist the temptation of leading trumps up to the ace and queen in ,y's hand1 but the danger lies in having the finesse go wrong1 for this would enable the adversary to force the strong trump hand and the trump suit would be blocked4 ,to get the lead the dealer would again have to force his own trump hand4 ,if either adversary held four trumps this would be ruinous4 ,,not ,,taking ,a ,,finesse1 ,,which ,,if ,,unsuccessful1 ,,would ,,block ,,the ,,trump ,,suit ,it is the first game1 score love all4 ,z deals and makes it hearts4 #f #h #g #f #c #b ,no4 #h ,a #e #d #c #b ,a ,q x-------------x #i #h #e #b ,y #aj ,k #aj #d ,a ,q ,j #i #e ,k ,q ,j #i ,a ,b #aj #h #g #g #b ,k #h #f #d ,z ------------- ,a ,k ,q ,j #g #d #c ---- #f ,j #aj #i #e #c ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a ,k ,a #g #f #b #b ,a #d #c #c #g ,q ,k #e #d #i #b #aj #i #e ,j #f #f ,j #f #d #c #h #aj #g #b #d #aj ,a #h #e #e #e ,k #i #h #b #i ,q #aj #i #c ,j ,j #aa ,q #f #h #g #ab #aj #g ,q #d #ac ,k #h ,a #c ----------------------------------- ,the dealer makes a small slam4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #i ,,trick #a4--,z must save an entry card for the spade suit4 ,,trick #b4--;,a refuses to part with the control of the adversary's suit4 ,,trick #c4--,should ,z not overtake the jack of spades1 ,a would again refuse to part with the control1 and hence this entire suit would be blocked4 ,this situation frequently occurs and is often misplayed4 ,when your cards are in sequence and should you know that the adversary is holding up1 always overtake to obtain the lead so that you can continue to establish your suit4 ,,trick #d4--;,a cannot afford to lead any other suit and continues with the diamonds4 ,,saving ,,an ,,entry ,,card4 ,,overtaking ,it is the first game1 score love all4 ,z deals and passes the make4 ,y makes it 8no-trump40 ,q ,j ,a ,q ,j #b ,no4 #i ,a #e #c ,a #h #g #d x-------------x ,a #f #c ,y #e #b ,k #h #g #i #e #d ,q ,j #g #f #b ,a ,b #aj #i #h ,k #aj ,q ,j #i #f #e ,z ------------- ,k #aj #i #h #g #d #aj #f #c ,k #d #c #b ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a #f ,a #h #d #b #h ,q #b #d #c ,a ,j #e ,k #d ,q #c #i ,k #e #f #d #e #aj #f #b #g #f #i #g #g #h #d #h #h #aj #e #e #g #i #g #b #i #aj #aj #h ,j #aj #f #aa ,k ,a #i #c #ab ,k ,q ,j #b #ac ,j ,a ,q #c ----------------------------------- ,the dealer makes a small slam4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #aj ,,trick #a4--,z false cards the king of spades in order to deceive his adversaries4 ,,trick #b4--,the lead of the club suit must come from ,y1 but if a low heart is led1 it will take out ,y's only card of entry4 ,with the purpose of making two cards of entry1 ,z leads the high cards from his own hand4 ,,trick #d4--;,as all the hearts have fallen1 ,z can safely overtake the jack1 to lead the queen of clubs toward the ace4 ,should ,z continue with another round of hearts1 ,y would have no way of obtaining the lead after the club suit was established4 ,the low heart must be saved as a card of entry4 ,,double ,,entry ,it is the first game1 score love all4 ,z deals and makes it 8no-trump40 #d #b ,q ,j #aj #f #c ,no4 #aj #d #c ,k #e #d #c x-------------x ,a #i #h #g #f ,y ,j #e #c #h #e ,k #g #d ,k #h #e ,a ,b ,q ,j #aj #i #f #aj #g #f #i #h ,z ------------- ,k ,q #aj ,a #i #b ,a #g #b ,a ,q ,j #b ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a #g #b ,j ,k #b #f #c #h ,a #c #g #d #i ,q #d #aj ,k #f ,j #e #e ,q #d #b #f #h #c #g #i #g #e #f ,k ,a #h #f #e #c #b #i #h ,j #e #b #aj #i #aj #i #g #aa ,a #d #aj ,q #ab ,k #c ,j ,a #ac #h #d ,q #aj ----------------------------------- ,the dealer makes a small slam4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #aa ,,trick #a4--;,as the club suit is blocked1 ,y needs two entry cards1 one to establish the suit and the other to obtain the lead and make it4 ,z1 therefore1 overtakes the jack of spades with the ace1 to make it possible for ,y to have two entry cards4 ,,trick #e4--,without reference to the position of the cards1 ,a's lead of the five of spades is bad4 ,the game is lost unless ,b holds the diamond suit1 and his best play is undoubtedly the ace and the jack of diamonds4 ,as the cards are placed1 however1 this would give the dealer an additional trick4 ,,making ,,an ,,entry ,,card ,it is the rubber game1 score twenty-four to nothing against the dealer4 ,z deals and makes it 8no-trumps40 ,q ,j ,q ,j #aj #i #g #c #b ,no4 #aa #h #f ,a #b x-------------x #aj #g #e #d #b ,y #i #h #f ,k #f #d #h #e ,a ,j ,a ,b ,q #aj #i #e ,k ,j #aj #i #h #g #c ,z ------------- ,a ,k #c ,a ,k #g #d #c #b ,q #f #e #d ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a #d ,j #f ,a #b #d #b #e ,a #c #b ,q #h #c #d ,k ,q #h #b #e #e #f #i ,k #f #aj ,a #c #d #g #f ,j #e #c #h ,j #aj #g #d #i ,j #i #h #e #aj #g #g #i #f #aa #aj #c #i ,q #ab ,a #h #aj ,k #ac ,k #b ,q #g ----------------------------------- ,the dealer wins four odd tricks4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #ab ,,trick #e4--,z finds that the seven of diamonds is a card of re-entry and plays to establish the club suit4 ,,trick #ab4--,z can well afford to chance the making of a small slam4 ,a ,,card ,,of ,,re-,,entry ,it is the first game1 score love all4 ,z1 the dealer1 makes it 8no-trumps40 #h #d #b #h #g #e #d #c ,no4 #ab #g #d #c #b ,a x-------------x #aj #i #g #c ,y ,k ,j #e #i #f ,q ,j #aj #aj #e ,a ,b ,j #i #h ,q ,j #g #f #d #aj #i #h #e ,z ------------- ,a ,q #f ,a ,k #b ,a ,k ,q #f ,k #c #b ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a #f ,a #h #b #b #e #b #h ,a #c #aj #c #i ,k #d #f #d ,j ,q #e #i #c #aj ,a #f #c #d ,j ,k #g #g #e ,q #b #h #d #b #aj ,k #i #i #g #e #f #aj #g #h #i #f #aa ,j #g #e #c #ab #aj #h ,j ,q #ac ,q #d ,k ,a ----------------------------------- ,the dealer makes a small slam4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #ac ,,trick #a4--,z cannot afford to hold up the ace of spades1 as the entire diamond suit is against him4 ,the game can neither be saved nor won unless the king of clubs is in ,b's hand4 ,should this be the case1 it may be necessary to lead twice from ,y's hand4 ,z proceeds to make these entry cards by leading the high hearts from his own hand4 ,the situation is one that is not only interesting but instructive4 ,,double ,,entry ,it is the rubber game1 score twenty-four to nothing against the dealer4 ,z deals and makes it 8no-trump40 #g #e #i #h #f ,no4 #ac #g #f #e #d ,k #e #d #c x-------------x ,k ,j #aj #h #f #d #c ,y ,q #b #g #d ,k #aj #c ,j ,a ,b ,a ,k ,q #aj #c #b ,j #i #g #aj #h ,z ------------- ,a #i ,a ,q ,j #e #b #i #h ,a ,q #f #b ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a #aj #e #b ,a #b #g #c #h ,a #c #i #d #aj ,q #d ,j ,k #b #f #e #d #i #aj ,j #f #c #e #c #b #g #g #h #c #b #h #d #f ,k ,a #i #f #g ,q ,q #aj #h #d #aj #e #aa ,j #e ,q #h #ab ,j #f ,k #i #ac ,k #g ,a #i ----------------------------------- ,the dealer wins four odd tricks4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #ad ,,trick #a4--,z's only hope to win the game is to establish and make the diamond suit in ,y's hand4 ,to do this it may be necessary to have an entry card4 ,,trick #b4--;,b very properly refuses to part with the commanding diamond and waits until the last diamond has been played from the dealer's hand4 ,,trick #e4--,there is little excuse for the dealer's play of the ace of clubs at this point4 ,he cannot lose by playing a low card4 ,,overtaking ,,to ,,make ,,an ,,entry ,,card ,it is the first game1 score love all4 ,z1 the dealer1 makes it 8no-trump40 #i #h #c ,j #g ,no4 #ad ,k ,j #g #f #c #b ,k ,q x-------------x ,k ,q #e ,y ,j #aj #g ,k ,q #e ,q #aj #i #e #aj ,a ,b ,a #i #e ,j #i #f #e #c #b #aj #h #g ,z ------------- ,a #f #d #b ,a #d #c #b ,q #h #d ,a #d ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a #e ,q #g ,a #b #aj #b #e ,q #c #b ,j #i #h #d #c #c ,a #d #e #f #g #e ,a #f #f ,k #h #d #g #e ,k #aj #b #h #h #g #i #c #i #i #f #g #d #aj ,q #i #aj ,a #aa ,k #c ,j #b #ab ,j ,j #aj #d #ac ,k #h ,q #f ----------------------------------- ,the dealer wins three odd tricks4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #ae ,,trick #a4--;,it is wrong to hold up an ace when one entire suit is against you4 ,you must take the lead and make all that is possible in the other suits4 ,,trick #b4--,the spade suit looks tempting1 but the club suit is longer and the dealer cannot afford to run the risk of the adversaries' obtaining the lead4 ,hasty and careless play to the first lead of clubs would ruin the hand4 ,y must begin to unblock4 ,,trick #h4--,the game is saved and cannot be won unless the finesse in the spade suit is successful4 ,,not ,,holding ,,up ,,an ,,ace4 ,,unblocking ,it is the rubber game1 score twenty-four to nothing against the dealer4 ,z1 the dealer1 makes it 8no-trumps40 ,a #aj #i #f #e #aj #i #d ,no4 #ae #e #d #b #g #d x-------------x ,k #h #b ,y #d #c ,q #e ,j #f ,j #aj #c ,a ,b ,a ,k ,q #i #g #f ,q #aj #i #h #c ,k ,j #e ,z ------------- ,q ,j #g ,a ,k #h #g #c #b #h ,a #f #b ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a #h #d ,k ,a #b #e #i #f ,a #c ,q #aj ,j ,k #d #c #d #f #h #e #aj #g #c #g #f #c #b #d #c #g ,j #d #g #b #h #b #e #i ,q #i #h #f ,q ,j #aj ,k ,a #e #g #aa #i #aj ,j #b #ab #aj #i ,k #f #ac ,q #e ,a #h ----------------------------------- ,the dealer makes a small slam4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #af ,,tricks #a ,,and #b4--,z refuses to part with the ace of hearts1 and waits until ,b's last heart has been played4 ,,trick #d4--;,b cannot afford to win the queen of clubs with the king4 ,the dealer may have another club to lead4 ,as the dummy holds no card of entry1 ,b hopes to block this suit by waiting until the last club has been played from the dealer's hand4 ,,trick #e4--,the dealer can1 without doubt1 make an extra trick by playing the ace of clubs1 but he imagines that the king of clubs is with ,a4 ,,holding ,,up ,a ,,king ,it is the first game4 ,score #h-j against the dealer4 ,z1 the dealer1 declares 8no-trumps40 ,a leads for the first trick4 #e #d #b ,a ,j #aj #h #g #c ,no4 #af #h #f #d #b x-------------x ,j #h #f ,y ,a #aj #c #i #d ,k #f #b #aj #i #e ,a ,b ,k ,j #d #b ,k ,q ,j #e #c #aj #h #f ,z ------------- ,k ,q #i #g ,q #e ,a ,q #g #c ,a #i #g ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a ,k #b #f #g #b ,q #d #h #i #c #c #b #aj ,a #d #d #c #b ,q #e #i #aj ,k #e #f #e #f #b ,q #g #f #d ,a ,k #h #i #h ,k ,a #i #h #e #c ,q #aj ,j #g #aj #g #aa ,j #h #f #i #ab #e ,j #d #c #ac #aj ,a ,j #g ----------------------------------- ,the dealer loses two odd tricks4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #ag ,,trick #a4--,to win the game ,z must establish and make the club suit2 as ,a holds both queen and jack of clubs1 he must make one trick4 ,,trick #b4--;,a plays very badly in attempting to win this trick4 ,this mistake1 however1 is often made4 ,should ,a refuse to win this trick it would be impossible for the clubs in ,y's hand to make4 ,,trick #i4--;,b's only hope is to find his partner strong in spades4 ,,overtaking1 ,,losing ,a ,,trick1 ,,in ,,order ,,to ,,make ,a ,,suit ,it is the rubber game1 score love all4 ,z1 the dealer1 makes it 8no-trumps40 #h #f #d ,k #aj #i #h #f #e ,no4 #ag #aj #f #e #d ------------- ,k #aj #e ,y ,q ,j #c ,q ,j #g #b ---- #e #d #b ,a ,b ,a ,j #i #g #c #i #h #c ,k ,j #aj #f #b ,z ------------- ,a #i #g #b ,a #d #c ,k ,q #h ,a ,q #g ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a #b #e #b ,a #b ,j #f #c #d #c #i #d #f ,q #d #g #h #g #c #e ,q ,k #i #b #f #b #aj #aj #g #g #d #i ,j #i #h #e #aj ,a #h #i #e #d ,q ,a #aj #c #f #c ,k #aa #h #e ,j ,q #ab #aj #f ,j ,a #ac ,k #h ,k #g ----------------------------------- ,the dealer wins four odd tricks4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #ah ,,trick #b4--,should ,z finesse and lose1 ,y's suit would be blocked and the adversary would undoubtedly take out ,y's only re-entry card4 ,the suit must be cleared before this re-entry card is gone and many games and rubbers are lost by hasty play in positions of this kind4 ,,not ,,taking ,a ,,finesse ,the score is eighteen to nothing against the dealer4 ,z deals and makes it 8no-trumps40 #h #g ,j #aj #i #f #e #d ,no4 #ah #g #c #b ,a ,k x-------------x ,q #d ,y ,k ,j #aj #i ,k #h #g #c #b ,q #i #f ,a ,b #aj #h #e ,q ,j #h #g #f #b #aj #i #e ,z ------------- ,a #f #e #c #b ,a ,q ,a ,k ,j #d #d #c ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a #g ,k #e #c #b #h #d #b ,a #c ,k #e #c ,q #d #b ,a #i #d #e #f ,j #g #b #f #d #aj #h #c #g #h #i #e #e #h ,j #f #i #f #i #f #b #aj ,k #aj #i #c #aj ,a #aa ,q #g ,j ,a #ab ,q #g #aj #d #ac ,q #h ,k ,j ----------------------------------- ,the dealer wins four odd tricks4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #ai ,,trick #a4--,should ,z refuse to win the first round of spades with the king1 his hand may be led through and the king captured4 ,he cannot gain by holding up this high card unless the original leader holds a six-card spade suit as well as the ace of hearts4 ,in other words1 he will lose if ,a has a four-or a five-card suit1 and can only win if ,a holds a six-card suit and the ace of hearts4 ,in the play of any hand1 the usual1 not the unusual distribution of the cards should be considered4 ,,trick #b4--,z must play the hand with a certain goal in view--eight tricks4 ,if he leads the diamonds1 he is compelled to guess1 and a wrong guess would be disastrous4 ,as the ace of hearts must win1 ,z hopes1 by allowing the spades to make1 to obtain information which will guide him to a successful finesse4 ,,tricks #d1 #e1 ,,and #f4--,why does ,b protect both clubs and diamonds8 ,,trick #i4--;,a's discard of the two of diamonds is informative and as ,b is protecting the diamond suit the dealer can safely infer the location of the queen4 ,,forcing ,,discards ,,to ,,locate ,a ,,finesse ,it is the rubber game1 score twelve to twenty-four against the dealer4 ,z passes the make4 ,y declares 8no-trumps40 #i #e ,a #h #g #c ,no4 #ai ,a #aj #h #f ,k ,q #c x-------------x ,a ,j #aj #g #f ,y ,q #d ,k #aj #f ,q #e #d #i #d #b ,a ,b ,q #e #c #h #b ,a #i #f #e #d ,z ------------- ,k #h #c #b ,j #i #b ,k ,j #g ,j #aj #g #d ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a #g #e ,q ,k #b #b ,q ,a #g #c #aj #i #d #b #d ,a #c #d #c #e ,j #g #e #h #f #f #h #f #b #g #f ,a #d #i #h #h #c #i ,j #i #b ,k #e #aj #aj #d #f #c ,j #aa #i #h #e ,k #ab #aj ,a ,q #g #ac ,k #aj ,q ,j ----------------------------------- ,the dealer wins two odd tricks4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #bj ,,trick #b4--,z cannot afford to lead diamonds from ,y's hand1 as this would take out the only entry card4 ,,trick #c4--;,b waits until ,z's last diamond has been played4 ,,trick #f4--,z endeavours to establish an entry card for ,y by sacrificing a high card from his own hand4 ,b again tries to block the dealer's game4 ,,trick #g4--,the ace of hearts is now marked with ,b1 and the ,finesse ,obligatory must be taken4 ,unless the jack of hearts lies with ,a1 ,y can never make the diamond suit4 ,,trick #aa4--;,it is very difficult for ,a to mark the two of clubs4 ,,deschapelles ,,coup4 ,,finesse ,,obligatory ,it is the rubber game1 score love all4 ,z1 the dealer1 makes it 8no-trumps40 #i #h #e #d #h ,no4 #bj ,j #i #g #e #d ,q #aj #f x-------------x ,k #aj #f ,y ,q ,j #g #aj #g #f #e #c ,j #i #d #aj #f ,a ,b ,k #h #c ,j #c #b ,a #i #e #d ,z ------------- ,a #c #b ,a ,k ,q #b ,a ,q #b ,k #h #g ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a #e #h ,j ,a #b #f #d #c ,a #c #aj #e #h ,q #d #f #g ,k #b #e #c #d #i ,k #f #b #f #d ,k #g #c #aj ,a #h #h #f #e #d ,q #i ,j ,q #e #g #aj #g ,j #i #b #aa #aj #i #g #c #ab ,k #i ,j ,a #ac #aj #h ,q #b ----------------------------------- ,the dealer wins four odd tricks4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #ba ,,trick #b4--,z infers that the adversaries will not continue with the spade suit as ,y holds a tenace over ,a's cards4 ,every suit is protected1 but it would be dangerous to have clubs led through1 for1 should ,a obtain the lead1 this entire suit might be brought in4 ,in all probability the adversaries will make a trick in diamonds and ,z prefers that the first be taken by ,b4 ,,trick #c4--;,b leads an irregular card in hearts so that ,a can mark his suit4 ,z cannot afford to have ,a lead and so takes this trick4 ,,not ,,allowing ,,adversary ,,to ,,lead ,,through ,a ,,once ,,guarded ,,king ,it is the rubber game1 score eight to twenty against the dealer4 ,z deals and makes it 8no-trumps40 ,k ,j #g ,k #g ,no4 #ba ,k #h #c #aj #h #e #d #c x-------------x ,q #aj #i #f #c ,y #h #b #aj #h #d ,a ,q ,j #i #e #c ,q #g #b ,a ,b ,j #i ,k ,j ,q #i #b ,z ------------- ,a #e #d #f #b ,a #aj #f #e #d ,a #g #f ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a #f #g #h ,a #b #b #h ,j #d #c ,j #c #i ,a #d #g ,k #i #e #e ,q #c #b ,a #f #d #d #c #aj #g #h #e #e #f #h #c ,j #i #e #i #i ,k ,j #d #aj ,k #aj #b #f #aa ,q #h ,q #g #ab #aj #g ,q #b #ac #aj ,k ,a #f ----------------------------------- ,the dealer wins two odd tricks4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #bb ,,trick #a4--,z hopes to exhaust the hearts in ,b's hand4 ,,trick #d4--,to make two odd tricks is simple4 ,to win the game ,a must not get the lead4 ,with an established suit against you1 you should not take a finesse1 which would allow the adversary with the established suit to obtain the lead4 ,to lead the queen of clubs from ,y's hands would be dangerous4 ,the possibilities lie in the diamond suit4 ,z1 therefore1 leads a diamond and allows ,b to win the trick4 ,the dealer must play the ace of clubs1 for1 should the diamonds fall1 the game is assured4 ,,not ,,allowing ,,an ,,established ,,suit ,,to ,,make ,it is the rubber game1 score twenty-four to nothing against the dealer4 ,z deals and makes it 8no-trumps40 ,q ,j #c ,q #i ,no4 #bb ,a ,k #h #f #e #b #g #f x-------------x #i #g #e ,y #h #f #b ,k #h #f #d #c #b ,q #d #c ,a ,b ,j #aj #i ,k ,q ,j #aj #e #i #d #b ,z x-------------x ,a ,k #aj #d ,a ,j #aj #g #e #g ,a #h #c ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a ,k #f #b #c #b #aj #g #d #h #c ,j #c #i ,a #d #c #b #i #g #e #h #i #b ,a #f #e ,j #b #d #g #d ,a #aj #e #h ,q ,k ,j #g #i #g #h #f #aj #aj #i #f #h ,j #aa #e #e #c #aj #ab ,q ,q #d ,k #ac ,k ,q #f ,a ----------------------------------- ,the dealer wins four odd tricks4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #bc ,,trick #c4--,with four spades in ,b's hand1 to make this suit ,z must allow ,b to win the first trick4 ,,trick #aj4--,z hopes to make the king of diamonds by leading from the weak hand4 8,,ducking0 ,it is the first game1 score love all4 ,z1 the dealer1 makes it 8no-trumps40 ,a ,k ,q #aj #g #e #d #i #f #d ,no4 #bc #aj #g #c x-------------x ---- ,y ,j #i #c #b ,q #aj #h #e ,k ,j ,q #f #c #b ,a ,b ,a ,j #i #d ,q #aj #g #f #d #i #h #e ,z ------------- #h #f ,a #g #c #b ,k #h #e ,a ,k ,j #b ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a #f #c #h ,j #b #b #d #i #h #c #d #d #i ,a #d #e ,q #b #f #e #g ,a #c #b #f #h ,k ,j #c #g #aj #aj #d #g #h ,q #g #i #e #i #aj #e ,j #b #aj #c #g ,a #h #aa ,q #aj #e ,k #ab #f #f ,j ,k #ac ,q #i ,k ,a ----------------------------------- ,the dealer wins five odd tricks4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #bd ,holding the ace1 king1 and jack of a suit1 provided the queen is not in dummy1 it is often advisable to wait until your partner can lead through the dealer's hand4 ,to lead through a king in dummy is sound play1 especially when you hold a sequence4 ,z cannot gain by covering the honour led4 ,he hopes that the ace will fall to the first or second lead4 ,,trick #e4--;,b indicates his suit before returning his partner's original lead4 ,,leading ,,through ,,dummy',s ,,strength ,it is the first game1 score eight to nothing against the dealer4 ,z1 the dealer1 passes the make4 ,y declares hearts4 ,j #b ,k #i #h ,no4 #bd #f #d #c ,a ,q ,j #g #e x-------------x #aj #g #e ,y ,a ,k #f #d ,q ,j #aj ,a #f #e #d ,a ,k ,j #e ,a ,b #i #h #b ,k #f #c #h #b ,z ------------- ,q #i #h #c #g #c #b ,q #aj #g #aj #i #d ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a ,k #c #b #g #b ,q #h #d #b #c ,j #i #e #c #d #aj ,k ,a #g #e #e #b ,k #c #f ,j #d #i #aj #g ,a #f #h ,q #h #g ,j ,a #h #i #aj #e #d #i #aj #c ,a #b #d #aa ,k #g #h #i #ab #e ,j #f ,q #ac #f ,q #f #aj ----------------------------------- ,the dealer loses three odd tricks4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #be ,,trick #a4--,many players would be tempted to lead the supporting diamond rather than to open the four-card suit4 ,,trick #b4--,should ,b lead the ace of spades the ruff would be established in the weak hand4 ,as ,b holds protection in all of the suits1 his best play is to lead trumps through the strong hand4 ,,trick #c4--;,it would be bad play for ,a to return his partner's lead of trumps4 ,he holds the king of trumps protected and must wait until his partner can again lead through the dealer's hand4 ,it would be wrong to continue his original lead of spades1 as the dealer could then stop the lead of trumps and give dummy the ruff4 ,a infers from his partner's lead of trumps that he holds strength in the other suits1 and the ten of diamonds is undoubtedly his best play4 ,,trick #d4--;,b again leads through the strong trump hand1 ,a makes his king and leads his losing trump to draw two for one4 ,no matter how the dealer may play he cannot prevent his adversaries from making the remaining tricks in spades or in diamonds1 it being impossible to obtain the lead in dummy4 ,,preventing ,,the ,,weak ,,hand ,,from ,,ruffing ,it is the rubber game1 score sixteen to eight in favour of the dealer4 ,z1 the dealer1 makes it hearts and ,a leads for the first trick4 #e #d ,k ,q #f #e #b ,no4 #be ,k ,j #d #g #f #d ------------- ,q #aj #i #b ,y ,a ,k #f #i #g #d ,j #aj #h #c #aj #i #e ,a ,b ,a ,q #h #b ,k ,j #b #e #c ,z ------------- ,j #h #g #c ,a #g #f #c ,a ,q #aj #i #h ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a #b #d ,k #c #b ,j #d #e #h #c #aj ,j ,q #c #d ,k #f #c #i #e #b #g #b #aj #f #d #b #c ,a #g #e ,k ,a #f #h #i #e ,a #g #i #aj #d #f #h #aj ,q #e #h ,j #aa #i #f #h #g #ab #g ,q #aj ,q #ac #i ,k ,j ,a ----------------------------------- ,the dealer loses three odd tricks4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #bf ,,trick #a4--;,a is almost strong enough to lead the trump originally1 but holding the ace and king of a suit his best play is to take a view of the dummy hand4 ,,trick #b4--,the queen of spades falling in the dealer's hand indicates that the weak hand will ruff4 ,a leads trumps through the strong hand4 ,,trick #c4--;,b has no reason to wait for the trumps to be led through again1 as he does not hold a tenace over dummy4 ,he1 therefore1 leads the ace and then a low trump in order to exhaust trumps from the weak hand4 ,,preventing ,,the ,,weak ,,hand ,,from ,,ruffing ,it is the first game1 score love all4 ,z1 the dealer1 passes the make4 ,y declares hearts4 ,a leads for the first trick4 #i #d #c #b ,a ,k #f ,no4 #bf #g ,k ,j #i #e #c x-------------x ,a ,k ,j #aj ,y #h #g #f #e ,q ,j #h #c #aj #b ,a ,q #b ,a ,b ,k ,j #h #d #g #f ,a ,q #h ,z ------------- ,q #i #g #e #d #aj #i #f #e #c #aj #d #b ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a ,k #b #e ,q #b #g #c ,q #b #c #f #e ,a #d #d #b #i #h #aj #e #c ,k #b #d #f #h ,a #aj #e #g ,j #f #f #g #h ,a #c #g #i #i ,j #d #h #c #aj #aj #i #d #e #aa ,a #g #h #f #ab ,q ,j ,j #i #ac ,q ,k ,k #aj ----------------------------------- ,the dealer loses two odd tricks4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #bg ,,trick #b4--,the dealer after taking the force leads trumps in order to bring in the established spade suit4 ,,trick #d4--,this is the critical point in the hand4 ,a can continue to force the strong trump hand1 but as the trumps are evidently all established in the dealer's hand1 it would enable the dealer to take out the remaining trumps and make the spades4 ,this situation is interesting and deserves careful study4 ,it is too late to force when the adversary holds an established suit against you4 ,you must make what you can in the other suits before giving up the lead4 ,,trick #e4--;,a overtakes the queen of clubs in order to continue the lead4 ,,trick #g4--;,b discards his only spade4 ,,trick #h4--;,a gives ,b the opportunity to make his losing trump4 ,,not ,,forcing ,it is the first game1 score love all4 ,z1 the dealer1 makes it hearts4 ,a ,k ,q ,j #h #g #f #aj #h ,no4 #bg #aj #h ,j #i ------------- #aj #b ,y #i ,k ,j #i #b ,a ,q #f ,a ,k ,q ,j #g ,a ,b #i #f #e #d #c #b ,a #e #g #d #b ,z ------------- #e #d #c #g #e #d #c ---- ,k ,q #aj #h #f #c ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a ,k #h #b #c #b #e ,j #b #f #c ,a #i #d ,k #d #b #h ,a #c #e ,k #aj ,q #d #f ,j #aj #f #e #g #i #f #i #g #h #aj ,j #g #c #i #g #g #c #h #aj #b #h #d #d #aa ,j ,q #e #e #ab ,q ,k #f #aj #ac ,a ,a #i ,q ----------------------------------- ,the dealer wins the odd trick4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #bh ,,trick #a4--,z false cards the ace of hearts to tempt ,a to again lead the suit4 ,,trick #c4--,the correct play of third hand is high unless two or more honours are held in sequence1 in which case the lower honour is played4 ,b's play of the jack denies the ten and the king4 ,it would1 therefore1 be bad play for ,a to continue his suit4 ,he must wait until his partner can lead through the dealer's hand4 ,a's best lead is through the strength of the dummy hand1 and he leads the highest card of his sequence4 ,,trick #d4--;,b must wait until his partner can again lead through the king of diamonds1 and so returns his partner's original lead4 ,,inference ,it is the rubber game1 score twenty-four to nothing against the dealer4 ,z1 the dealer1 makes it 8no trumps40 #aj #e #c #b #i #g #d ,no4 #bh ,k ,j #c #b #h #b ------------- #g #f #d ,y ,q ,j #i #h ,a ,k #f #b #aj #i #e ,a ,b ,a ,q #h #d ,q #i #g #f #c ,j #e #d ,z ------------- ,a ,k ,q ,j #aj #h #e #c #g #f ,a ,k #aj ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a #f #b ,j ,a #b ,k #d #b ,q #c #aj ,j ,q #f #d ,q #h #e #aj #e #i #b #d ,k #f ,a #g #f ,j #g #g #c #h #g #h #c #e #i #c #i #i #b #d #e #aj #e #c #h #h #aa #d ,k ,a ,k #ab #f #aj ,q ,a #ac #g #i ,j #aj ----------------------------------- ,the dealer loses three odd tricks4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #bi ,,trick #a4--,with three cards of re-entry in his hand ,a can afford to lead one of them in order to gain information as to the position of the cards in his long suit4 ,winning the first trick1 ,a can clearly see the situation4 ,the play of the two of hearts by ,b indicates that he cannot hold four cards in the heart suit4 ,should ,a continue leading hearts he must establish one or more cards in the dealer's hand4 ,,trick #c4--;,a cannot afford to lead spades1 as ,y holds a double major tenace over his hand4 ,as ,z1 the dealer1 has passed the make1 ,a can mark strength in the diamond suit with ,b4 ,he1 therefore1 abandons his own suit and endeavours to help his partner by leading the singleton diamond4 ,b overtakes the jack of diamonds and continues with the suit4 ,,inference ,it is the rubber game1 score twenty to nothing against the dealer4 ,z1 the dealer1 passes the make4 ,y declares 8no-trump40 ,a ,q #aj ,a ,q ,j #h #d #b ,no4 #bi ,a #b #h #e ------------- ,k ,j #h #e #d #c ,y #g #i #g ,k #f ,j ,a ,b ,k ,q #aj #i #h #g #f ,a ,k ,q #c #g #f #b ,z ------------- #i #f #b #aj #e #c #e #d #c ,j #aj #i #d ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a ,k #e #b #d #b ,q #h #f ,j #c ,j #b ,q #c #d #c ,a #f #d #e #g ,a #f #c #f #i ,q ,k #e #g #d #aj ,k #e #h #e ,q #aj #b #i #h #b #i #f #aj ,j #d #h #i #aa ,k #h #g #aj #ab ,a ,j #g #aj #ac #c ,a #g #i ----------------------------------- ,the dealer loses four odd tricks4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #cj ,,trick #a4--;,b's play of the queen denies the jack1 which ,a marks with the dealer4 ,,trick #b4--,the dealer can lead his high spades1 but this lead might establish a trick in the suit for his adversaries4 ,his best play is to conceal the strength in this suit1 and to establish the club suit4 ,,trick #c4--;,a is placed in a difficult position2 if he continues with his diamonds the jack will make4 ,he must place the lead with ,b so that the dealer's hand may be led through4 ,the heart suit is better than the spade suit1 as dummy holds an honour to lead through4 ,,trick #d4--;,b must wait until his partner can again lead through the king of hearts1 and so returns ,a's original lead4 ,should ,a continue with the lead of diamonds at trick two the dealer would win four odd tricks instead of losing that number4 ,,inference ,it is the rubber game1 score sixteen to nothing against the dealer4 ,z1 the dealer1 makes it 8no-trump40 #i #h #g #e #h #f #e #d ,no4 #cj #h #c ,k #h #g ------------- #d #c #b ,y ,j #aj #f ,a #c #aj #b ,k #aj #i #g #b ,a ,b ,q #f #e #f #e #b ,a ,q ,j #i #d ,z ------------- ,a ,k ,q ,k ,q ,j #i #g ,a ,j #d #aj #c ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a #g #c ,q ,a #b ,a #d #b ,k #c #f #g ,j #c #d #i #h #f #d #e ,k #e #e ,j #f #aj #f #aj #aj #g #b #h #f #g #h #e #h ,q #i #i #b ,k ,a ,j #aj #c #e #i ,q #aa #b #g #d ,k #ab #c #h #aj ,a #ac #d #i ,j ,q ----------------------------------- ,the dealer loses four odd tricks4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #ca ,,trick #b4--;,b's return of the three of hearts shows the situation to ,a4 ,it is the rule at 8no-trump0 to return partner's suit with your highest card4 ,a can mark ,z with two cards in the suit higher than the three4 ,,trick #c4--;,it would be bad play for ,a to lead his king of hearts1 as this would establish the queen for ,z4 ,a opens the low diamond1 hoping that ,b can obtain the lead4 ,,leading ,,through ,it is the rubber game1 score love all4 ,z1 the dealer1 makes it 8no-trump40 ,k ,q ,j #d #c ,k ,q ,j #g ,no4 #ca ,j #e #b #aj x-------------x #f #e ,y #h #g #b #i #c #aj #f #e #d ,q #aj #f #d ,a ,b ,a #g #c ,k ,j #h #g #f ,a #c #b ,z ------------- ,a #aj #i ,a #h #b ,k #i #h ,q #i #e #d ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a #g #aj ,a #d #b ,j #b #c #i #c #d #e ,a #h #d #f ,j #b #e #e ,k #g #c ,q #f #h #c #g #i #g ,q #d #b ,k #h #e ,j #g ,a #i #f ,q #h #aj #aj #c ,k #d #i #aa #i ,k #e #b #ab #f ,q #f #h #ac #aj ,j #aj ,a ----------------------------------- ,the dealer wins the odd trick4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #cb ,,trick #a4--;,b's play of the jack denies the ace1 which must be with the dealer4 ,,trick #b4--,should ,a allow the queen of hearts to win this trick1 his re-entry card would be taken out before his suit is cleared4 ,he must overtake his partner's card in order to establish the suit4 ,,trick #d4--,the dealer hopes that the ace of clubs is with ,b1 as this would shut out ,a's heart suit4 ,,overtaking ,,by ,,the ,,adversary ,it is the second game1 score twenty-four to nothing against the dealer4 ,z1 the dealer1 makes it 8no-trump40 ,q #d #b #aj #i #f ,no4 #cb ,a ,j #aj #e #d #e #c x-------------x #i #h #c ,y ,j #aj #f #e ,a #g #e #d #c #h #c ,a ,b ,q #i #g #b ,k #aj #i #h #f #d ,q ,j ,z ------------- ,a ,k #g ,k ,q ,j #h #b ,k #f ,a #g #b ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a #h #c ,j #b #b ,k #e ,q #g #c #d #b #d ,a #d ,a #f #c ,k #e #aj #d #e #g #f #i #e #b #b #g #f #aj #e #h #h #h ,j ,q ,k #i #g #i #f ,q #aj #c #aj #aj ,j #aa #c #d ,j ,a #ab #h ,q #g ,k #ac #i ,a #i #f ----------------------------------- ,the dealer wins the odd trick4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #cc ,,trick #b4--;,as ,a holds no card of re-entry except the ace of diamonds1 he cannot afford to win this trick4 ,he must trust ,b for a card of re-entry and a diamond to lead4 ,the play can only lose one trick1 and it may save the game4 ,,trick #c4--,z must establish the spade suit4 ,,refusing ,,to ,,play ,,the ,,high ,,card ,,of ,a ,,long ,,suit ,it is the rubber game1 score love all4 ,z1 the dealer1 makes it 8no-trumps40 #i #h #g ,j #aj #g #e ,no4 #cc ,k #d #b ,k ,q #e x-------------x #f #b ,y ,a #e #c #i #f #b ,k #h #c ,a #aj #g #f #e ,a ,b ,q #i #c #f #d #c #aj #i #h #g ,z ------------- ,k ,q ,j #aj #d ,a ,q #d ,j #h ,a ,j #b ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a #f #b ,q #h #b #e #d #i ,j #c #b #g ,a #d #d ,a ,k #c #d #e #aj #h #c ,q #f #g #i #e #b #g #i #e #c ,a #h #f #g #h ,k #i #b #aj #g ,q #aj #f ,j #h ,j #aa #c #e #i #aj #ab #d ,q #aj ,a #ac #f ,k ,k ,j ----------------------------------- ,the dealer wins two by cards4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #cd ,,trick #a4--;,b wins the first trick with his lower honour in sequence4 ,,trick #b4--,the usual rule at 8no-trump0 is to return partner's lead with your highest card4 ,this is done to prevent blocking and in order not to mislead4 ,to arrange the lead1 ,b returns the low spade1 knowing that he can neither deceive nor block his partner's suit4 ,he arranges the lead so that hearts may be led through the dealer's hand4 ,,arranging ,,the ,,lead ,it is the first game1 score love all4 ,z1 the dealer1 makes it 8no-trump40 #b ,j #f #d #c ,no4 #cd #i #h #g #f #b #e #c #b x-------------x ,a ,j #i #g #f ,y ,k ,q #e #d #c #h #g #b #aj #i #e #d ,a ,b ,j #aj ,a #h #d ,q ,j #aj #g ,z ------------- #aj #h ,a ,k ,q #e ,a ,k ,q #c ,k #i #f ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a #g #b ,q #h #b ,j #b #c #aj #c ,a #c #d #c #d #i #e #e ,q #e #f #c ,k ,k #f #d #d ,q #f #g #h #b ,j #i #h ,a #f #g ,k #i #h #f #i ,a #aj #d #g #aj ,a #aa #e #h ,j ,k #ab #b #i #aj ,q #ac #g ,j #aj #e ----------------------------------- ,the dealer loses two odd tricks4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #ce ,,trick #a4--,with the ace and a small card1 to your partner's high card lead at 8no-trumps10 the ace should usually be played1 but ,b cannot afford to overtake his partner's king1 as it would eventually establish the ten of spades for ,y4 ,,trick #c4--,unless ,a holds the king of hearts1 the game is lost1 no matter what ,b may lead4 ,to make a possible re-entry for ,a1 ,b sacrifices his queen of hearts4 ,z hopes that ,b has but two hearts and so refuses to win this trick4 ,it makes but little difference what ,y now leads4 ,a's spades must make4 ,,not ,,unblocking4 ,,deschapelles ,,coup ,it is the rubber game1 score eighteen to twenty-four against the dealer4 ,z1 the dealer1 passes the make4 ,y declares 8no-trump40 #aj #i #h #d ,a ,k ,j ,no4 #ce ,a ,q ,j #i ,a ,j x-------------x ,k ,q ,j #f #e #c ,y ,a #g #h #c ,q #e #d #b #f #e ,a ,b ,k #d #c #b ,k #h #f ,q #e #d ,z ------------- #b #aj #i #g #f #aj #h #g #aj #i #g #c #b ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a ,k #d #g #b #b #c #h ,a #b #c #f ,j ,q #c #d #h ,a #e #g #e #e ,a #b #g #f #f ,q ,k #h #g ,k ,j #d #i #h ,q #i #c #f #i ,j #aj #d #g #aj #f #i #b #i #aa #e ,k #d #aj #ab #h ,a #e #aj #ac #c ,j ,q #aj ----------------------------------- ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #cf ,,trick #b4--,the dealer's best play is undoubtedly to establish the club suit4 ,a has little reason to pass this trick2 taking the king with the ace may establish the jack in ,b's hand4 ,,trick #c4--,players will so often play for their own suit1 with little or no regard for their partner's hand4 ,if the high cards in your suit are against you1 and your card of entry has been taken out1 abandon the suit and endeavour to help your partner4 ,a infers that his partner's suit is diamonds and leads the supporting jack through the king4 ,,abandoning ,a ,,suit ,it is the rubber game1 score eighteen to nothing against the dealer4 ,z1 the dealer1 declares 8no-trump40 ,j #i #h #g #e #e #d ,no4 #cf ,k #c #b ,k #h #g x-------------x #f #d #b ,y ,k #aj ,a #i #b #aj #g #c ,j #d ,a ,b ,a ,q #aj #i #g #e ,j #f #d #c #b #i #e ,z ------------- ,a ,q #c ,k ,q ,j #h #f #h #f ,a ,q #aj ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a #c #g #i #aj #b ,a #d #c ,k #c ,j #b #e #f #d #d #c #i #h #e #b ,k ,a #c #f #d #e ,q ,q #g #b #g #aj #f #h #b #h #g #h #i ,j ,k #e ,q #aj #i #e #g ,q #aa #f #i #aj ,j #ab #d ,j #aj ,a #ac #f #h ,k ,a ----------------------------------- ,the dealer loses the odd trick4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #cg ,,trick #a4--,the dealer's first object should be to win the game4 ,by playing the ace of spades1 ,z is assured of ten tricks--four in clubs1 four in diamonds1 one in spades1 and one in hearts--whereas the play of a low spade or the queen might enable ,b to win the trick and establish the heart suit against the dealer2 in this case1 should ,a hold the king of clubs the game could not be won4 ,,trick #b4--;,in order to unblock the diamond suit the ace and king in ,y's hand must be led4 ,,trick #c4--,whether or not ,b covers is of minor importance1 for the play of a low card does not alter the result of the hand4 ,,trick #e4--,z finds that his club suit is blocked by the two commanding cards in the dummy4 ,the only possible way to make the balance of this suit is to discard the jack and ten of clubs on the two winning diamonds4 ,,trick #aa4--,z takes out ,a's king of spades1 retaining the ace of hearts for re-entry4 8,,discarding ,,commanding ,,cards0 ,it is the first game1 score love all4 ,z deals and passes the make4 ,y declares 8no-trump40 ,a ,q #e #c #b ,q ,j #aj ,no4 #cg ,a ,k ,a #c #b ------------- ,k ,j #i #g ,y #aj #h #d #c #b ,k #e #e #d #b ,a ,b #aj #i #h #f ,k #h #d ,q ,j #aj #i #f ,z ------------- #f #d ,a #i #h #g #f ,q ,j #g #c #g #e ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a #g ,a #h #d #b #b ,a #f #c #c #d ,k #h #g #d #b ,q ,k ,a #e #e #aj #i ,q #f #c ,j #aj ,j #g #d #b #e #i #h #d #b #f #h #i #i #c #i #g #aj ,j #c #aj #f #aa ,k #e #aj #f #ab #h ,a ,j #e #ac ,k ,q ,q #g ----------------------------------- ,the dealer makes a small slam4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #ch ,,trick #a4--,the jack of clubs must be played to the first trick1 for otherwise the club suit would be blocked1 and it is useless to lead through ,a's hand4 ,b's best discard is a spade4 ,as ,a's lead indicates a four-card suit1 ,b can count ,z with six clubs4 ,,trick #b4--;,a cannot afford to win this trick1 for if ,z has an entry card the clubs will be made4 ,b should not shorten his diamonds or hearts as ,y has four cards of each4 ,he cannot lose by discarding an honour in spades4 ,the queen gives ,a information1 and if necessary enables ,b to unblock4 ,,trick #d4--;,a's lead may be from four spades2 ,b must keep the low spade4 ,,trick #f4--;,b can now count all the cards in both ,a's and ,z's hands4 ,a has shown four spades1 four clubs1 and is marked with the queen of diamonds alone2 he must1 therefore1 have three hearts4 ,z has three remaining clubs1 two diamonds1 one spade1 and two hearts4 ,b unblocks the spade suit4 ,,trick #h4--;,a can now count both ,b's and ,z's hands2 ,b must have four hearts and the ace of diamonds alone2 ,z has the remaining clubs1 a diamond and two hearts4 ,,trick #i4--;,it is immaterial what ,z now discards2 if he discards a diamond1 ,a leads the heart2 if he discards a heart1 ,a leads the ace of clubs1 and forces ,z to lead a diamond to ,b4 8,,counting0 ,it is the rubber game1 score eight to nothing against the dealer4 ,z passes the make4 ,y declares 8no-trump40 ,a ,k ,k ,j #e ,no4 #ch ,k #g #e #c ,k #g #e #b x------------x #g #e #c #b ,y ,q ,j #aj #f #d ,a ,q #c #b ---- ,q ,j ,a ,b ,a #aj #i #h ,j #f #d ,q #aj #i #h ,z ------------ #i #h #aj #i #h #g #f #d #f #d #b ,a #c ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a #b ,j #d #d #b #c ,k ,q #f #c ,q #e #h #g #d #b ,k #aj #h #e ,j #c #i #b #f #c ,a ,j #i #g ,q #e #aj #d #h #g #b #f #h #i #e #e #h #f #aj #d #g ,q ,a #aa #f ,k #i #c #ab ,a #g ,a #i #ac ,j ,k #aj #aj ----------------------------------- ,the dealer loses the odd trick4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #ci ,,trick #b4--;,a should not continue the lead of diamonds2 the weak hand would 8ruff40 ,,trick #c4--,z can exhaust the trumps and make the club suit1 but will then be left with two losing diamonds4 ,before attempting to get the trumps out1 he must allow ,y to trump these losing cards4 ,,trick #e4--;,hasty play by the dealer at this point would incur a loss of four or five tricks4 ,if ,y trumps with the eight of hearts1 the trump suit is blocked and ,z has no way of obtaining the lead4 ,ruffing with the ace enables the dealer to unblock the trump suit and make the clubs4 ,,allowing ,,the ,,weaker ,,hand ,,to 8,,ruff0 ,it is the first game1 score sixteen to nothing against the dealer4 ,z deals and makes it hearts4 #aj #g #f #d ,k ,q ,j #h #c ,no4 #ci #f ,a #h #f x-------------x ,q ,j #i #h #e ,y ,k #i #aj #g #f #b ,a ,k ,q #aj #h ,a ,b ,j #i #d #b #c #b #i #g #e #d ,z ------------- ,a #c #b ,a #e #d #g #e #c ,k ,q ,j #aj ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a ,k #f #b #c #b #i #c #b ,a #c #h #f #d #e #d #e #d ,k ,a #e #aj ,a #i #g #f #b #h #d ,k #g #c #f #e ,q #h #h #g #g ,j #i #i #aj #i #aj #aj ,q ,k #f #e #aa ,j ,q #g #d #ab ,a ,j #aj #b #ac ,q #h ,j #c ----------------------------------- ,the dealer makes a small slam4 ,,illustrative ,,hand ,,no4 #dj ,,trick #a4--;,it would be bad play to hold up the ace of hearts4 ,the adversary can only make the queen and jack1 the nine being three times guarded in ,z's hand4 ,the spade suit must be established at once4 ,,trick #e4--;,as ,a holds a possible card of re-entry in diamonds1 he continues his own suit4 ,,tricks #g ,,and #h4--;,clever play to unblock the club suit and to obtain the lead with the eight of spades4 ,z discards his losing diamonds4 ,,not ,,holding ,,up ,,an ,,ace ,it is the rubber game1 score love all4 ,z1 the dealer1 makes it 8no-trump40 #h #f #e ,k ,q #d ,no4 #dj #g #f #e #d #b ,a #aj x-------------x ,a #aj ,y #d #c #b #h #c #b ,j #aj #i #g #f #e ,k #h ,a ,b ,j #aj #i ,k ,q ,j #e #c #b #g ,z ------------- ,k ,q ,j #i #g ,a ,a ,q #c #i #h #f #d ----------------------------------- ,,trick ,a ,y ,b ,z ----------------------------------- #a ,k ,a #g #d #b ,a #e #b ,k #c ,q #aj #e #f #d ,j #b #c #h #e #b #d #d #i #f #aj #f #f ,q #g #b #d #g ,a #h #c #h #i #g #i #h ,k #aj #c #aj #c ,q ,j ,q #aa #h #e #i ,a #ab #e #f #aj ,j #ac ,k #g ,j #i ----------------------------------- ,the dealer wins four odd tricks4 ,,end ,,play ,end play must be premised by correct inferences drawn throughout the previous play of the hand4 ,the last three or four tricks often present opportunities for brilliant play2 opportunities which must be lost without a clear understanding of the position of the cards4 ,it is in the end play that the novice is most deficient4 ,he plays the last few cards carelessly1 without the least thought of the possibilities they offer4 ,in striving to gain by clever end play1 do not lose sight of the fact that the game should be made before you incur unnecessary risks4 ,with the game once won1 you are justified in resorting to any strategy that may gain extra tricks4 ,the best play of the last cards of a hand is most often obtained by throwing the lead4 ,the following are examples of this1 as well as other methods of gaining tricks4 ,,refusing ,,to ,,draw ,,the ,,losing ,,trump ,no4 #a #h #g #e #d #f x-------------x ,y #i #b ,a #f #c ,k #g #c ,a ,b #h #e ,z x-------------x ,k ,q ,j ,k #aj ,hearts are trumps4 ,z should lead king4 ,,leading ,,the ,,losing ,,trump ,no4 #b ,k #i #d #d #b x-------------x ,y #g #c ,k ,q ,j #aj #i #g ,a ,b ,k #c ,z x-------------x #f #e ,a #f #e ,hearts are trumps4 ,z should lead #e4 ,,throwing ,,the ,,lead ,no4 #c #f #e ,j x-------------x ,y xx ,q ,a ,b ,z x-------------x ,a ,q #g ,hearts are trumps4 ,clubs have not been led4 ,spades have all been played4 ,y has the best diamond4 ,z leads #g4 ,,leading ,a ,,singleton ,no4 #d #d #g ,k ,j x-------------x ,y ,a ,b ,z x-------------x #aj #h #e #c ,hearts are trumps4 ,z holds the two commanding diamonds and the thirteenth trump4 ,clubs have not been led4 ,z leads #c in the hope that ,a may hold the ace and not play it4 ,,saving ,a ,,low ,,trump ,,to ,,lead ,no4 #e ,q #f #e #g x-------------x ,y ,k #aj #i #e #g #c ,a ,b #aj #g ,z x-------------x ,q ,j #c #d ,hearts are trumps4 ,a leads king4 ,z trumps with jack and leads #c4 ,,refusing ,,to ,,overtrump ,no4 #f #e ,k #g x-------------x ,y ,j ,a ,j #d ,a ,b ,k #aj ,z x-------------x #d ,a #i ,hearts are trumps4 ,y leads king 4 ,b ruffs with #aj4 ,z should discard4 ,,the ,,extra ,,trump ,no4 #g #g #e ,k #g x-------------x ,y ,a #aj ,a #d #aj #i ,a ,b ,j #f ,z x-------------x #f #h ,q #h ,hearts are trumps4 ,z should lead #f1 not #h4 ,,unblocking ,no4 #h ,q #d #c x-------------x ,y ,k ,q ,j ,a ,b ,j #aj #g ,z x-------------x ,a #h #f 8,no-trumps40 ,a leads king4 ,y should discard queen4 ,,making ,a ,,tenace ,no4 #i ,q #h #e x-------------x ,y ,k #h #d ,a ,b ,k #aj #d ,z x-------------x ,a ,j #e ,hearts are trumps4 ,the remaining trumps are all with ,a and ,z4 ,z should lead five4 ,,glossary ,book4--,the first six tricks won by the same partners4 ,bring-in4--,to make the cards of a suit4 ,by ,cards4--,the number of tricks won1 more than six1 or over the 8,book10 is the number by cards4 ,for instance1 eight tricks are equal to two by cards4 ,cards of ,re-entry4--,a winning card which will bring into play another suit4 ,sometimes the re-entry is in the suit itself1 but when a suit with a re-entry is spoken of1 it means that the re-entry is in another suit4 ,chicane4--,a hand dealt without a trump4 ,command4--,the best card or cards of a suit4 ,the ability to stop the suit at any time4 ,coup4--,a brilliant play resulting in gain4 ,covering4--,putting a higher card on the trick when not the last player4 ,cross-ruff4--,when two suits are being trumped by opposite hands4 ,des ,chapelles ,coup4--,sacrificing a high card1 by leading it to make an entry card for your partner's hand4 ,discarding4--,when unable to follow suit1 throwing away a card of a suit which is not trumps4 ,doubling4--,increasing the value of the trick points4 ,doubtful ,cards4--,cards which may or may not win tricks4 ,ducking4--,refusing to play the master card of a suit1 with the object of making the smaller cards in the suit4 ,dummy4--,the player whose cards are exposed on the table4 ,duplicate4--,a modification in which each hand is played more than once4 ,echo4--,playing a higher card before a lower1 to your partner's high card lead4 ,eldest ,hand4--,the player on the dealer's left4 ,entry ,card4--,a card1 with which you can obtain the lead4 ,established ,suit4--,a suit in which the partners can win every trick4 ,exposed ,card4--,any card which is shown1 but is not played to the trick1 such as one or two cards inadvertently played at once4 ,fall4--,the cards as they are played4 ,false ,cards4--,playing the ace1 holding the king1 or any similar attempt to conceal the cards held4 ,finesse4--,any attempt to win a trick with a card which is not the best in the hand1 nor in sequence with it4 ,follow4--,the cards played of the suit led4 ,forcing4--,making a player trump to win the trick4 ,fourchette4--,the card next higher and next lower than the one led4 ,holding jack1 nine1 ten led--you hold a fourchette4 ,fourth ,best4--,counting from the highest card in the suit4 ,going ,over4--,doubling the value of the trick points4 ,guarded ,suits4--,a high card so protected by smaller cards that it cannot be caught by the adversaries' lead of higher cards4 ,holding ,up4--,refusing to play the best1 and sometimes the second best card1 of a suit4 ,honours4--,in trumps the ,a ,k ,q ,j #aj of the suit4 ,at 8no-trumps10 the four aces4 ,leader4--,the first player to any trick4 ,leading ,through4--,leading suit with a view to what the second hand holds in it4 ,leading ,up ,to4--,playing a suit with a view to what the fourth hand holds in it4 ,little ,slam4--,twelve tricks won out of thirteen4 ,long ,suit4--,a suit of more than three cards4 ,long ,trump4--,the last trump in play4 ,losing ,cards4--,cards which cannot possibly take tricks4 ,love-all4--,the state of the score before either side has made a point4 ,master ,cards4--,any card of a suit the best in play4 ,odd ,trick4--,the first trick over the book of six4 ,opening4--,you 8open0 a suit when you are the first to lead a card from the suit4 ,the original leader is said to make the opening lead4 ,original ,lead4--,the opening of the hand4 ,pass4--,when no effort is made to take a trick4 ,revoke4--,renouncing while still holding cards of the suit led4 ,round4--,the cards that compose the trick4 ,rubber4--,two out of three games4 ,ruffing4--,trumping a trick4 ,sequence4--,two or more cards of equal value4 ,short ,suit4--,any suit of less than four cards4 ,singleton4--,a suit of which you hold originally but one card4 ,slam4--,winning all thirteen tricks4 ,tenace4--,the best and third best of a suit4 ,ace and queen are tenace over the king1 jack4 ,third ,hand4--,the leader's partner4 ,throwing the ,lead4--,purposely playing a losing card that you may not retain the lead4 ,unblocking4--,getting rid of a card that may stop the run of a long suit4 ,underplay4--,playing a low card with a higher card in hand4 ,weak ,suits4--,those in which tricks are impossible1 or very improbable4 ,weakness4--,inability to stop a suit4 ,younger ,hand4--,the partner of the original leader4 ,,index4 ,ace1 king1 jack combination1 #abg ,ace1 queen1 jack combination1 #abe ,ace1 jack1 ten combination1 #abi ,ace and king1 lead from1 #fj ,ace1 lead of1 #fd ,ace denies king1 #fd ,accepting force1 #adc ,advantages of discarding strength1 #abj ,arranging the lead1 #aca ,avoid leading trumps1 #ada ,avoid weak red makes1 #cc ,avoid opening trumps1 #gj ,avoid leading from short trumps1 #gb ,avoid leading from suit with one honour1 #gb ,abandoning spade hands1 #di ,bridge for three players1 #bd ,bridge1 laws of1 #a ,bystanders1 #bj ,cards exposed before play1 #ac ,cards exposed during play1 #ad ,cards played in error1 #af ,changing suits1 #gd ,choice of suits to lead through1 #gi ,choice of suits to play for1 #aea ,chicane1 #d ,clubs1 #df ,convention1 heart1 #eg ,convention1 weak suit1 #eg ,covering honour with honour1 #ic ,combining hands of dealer and dummy1 #abe ,combinations to be avoided1 #aca ,cutting1 #c ,cutting out1 #d ,dealer's play of 8no-trump0 declaration1 #aea ,dealer's play1 #abd ,defensive play against red makes1 #ei ,dealing out of turn1 #ac ,declaration1 the1 #ca ,declaring to the score1 #bg ,declaring trumps1 #h ,deal1 a new1 #g ,deal1 the1 #f ,defence against overtaking and ducking1 #agb ,desire to ruff1 #ge ,diagrams of good combinations to lead from1 #fb ,diagrams of bad combinations to lead from1 #fa ,diamonds1 #dc ,diamonds1 original1 #dc ,diamond make for safety1 #de ,diamond make1 rule for1 #de ,discard1 the1 #aaf ,discarding strength1 advantages of1 #aag ,discard against declared trump1 #aag ,discard from weakness1 #aai ,discard from strength1 #aah ,discard at 8no trump10 #aah ,discarding1 hints on1 #aba ,discarding partner's suit1 #aba ,discarding by the dealer1 #abb ,discontinuing lead of trumps1 #add ,discards1 forcing1 #adh ,doubling1 #ea ,doubling gives information to partner1 #ec ,doubling to the score1 #ec ,doubling on the rubber game1 #eb ,doubling spades1 #eb ,doubling no-trump1 #ec ,doubling1 redoubling1 etc41 #i ,doubling to prevent loss1 #ec ,ducking1 #aff ,dummy1 #aa ,echo1 the1 #hh ,eleven1 rule of1 #fg ,estimating the value of a hand1 #ed ,establishing adversaries' suit1 #ha ,establishing small cards1 #aea ,etiquette1 #ba ,examples of fourth-best leads1 #fb ,examples of bad openings against declared trump1 #fa ,examples of hands that should not be passed1 #db ,examples of opening leads1 #fc ,examples of inference from opening leads1 #fh ,examples of leading trumps to the maker1 #ga ,examples of leading trumps through dummy1 #ga ,examples of no-trump makes1 #ch ,examples of short suit openings1 #gg ,examples of second hand plays1 #acg ,examples of unblocking1 #aji ,examples of original leads at no trump1 #ajf ,exhausting trumps1 #add ,exposed card before play1 #ac ,exposed card during play1 #ac ,false-carding1 #abb ,finesse obligatory1 #acd ,finessing1 #acb ,finessing by dealer1 #acb ,finesses1 locating1 #ace ,finessing against partner1 #ha ,five hearts including three honours1 #dj ,five hearts including two honours1 #da ,five hearts with one honour1 #da ,forming tables1 #c ,forcing discards1 #adh ,forcing strong hands1 #hi ,forcing1 #hi ,fourchette1 #id ,four hearts with three honours1 #da ,fourth best leads1 examples of1 #fb ,fourth best lead1 #if ,general inferences1 #ii ,general rules1 #ai ,giving correct information to partner1 #fj ,giving partner ruff1 #ge ,holding up by non-dealers1 #aaa ,holding up1 examples of1 #aab ,hearts1 #ch ,hearts in preference to 8no trump10 #db ,heart combination1 #ci ,heart convention1 the1 #eg ,hearts1 not 8no-trumps10 #dc ,hesitating in play1 #ic ,hints on discarding1 #aba ,holding the lead1 #fc ,honours1 value of1 #d ,how to draw inferences1 #ig ,how to play to partner's trump opening1 #gc ,illustrations of inferences from third hand plays1 #hb ,information1 give to partner1 #fa ,inferences from opening leads1 examples of1 #fh ,inferences from third hand play1 #hb ,information1 value of1 #if ,information1 giving partner1 #if ,inferences1 how to draw1 #ig ,inferences1 general1 #ii ,inferences1 #ie ,inferences regarding the make1 #ih ,information given by doubling1 #eb ,inferences from low card leads1 #fg ,inferences from high card leads1 #fd ,keeping command of adversary's suit1 #aec ,keeping the lead1 #aea ,king1 jack1 ten combination1 #abi ,laws of ,bridge1 #a ,locating trumps1 #ajd ,locating finesses1 #ace ,long suits1 leading from1 #fj ,long suit1 value of1 #db ,low card leads1 inferences from1 #fh ,leading trumps1 examples of1 #ga ,leading up to dummy1 #hg ,leading to force1 #hi ,letting partner ruff1 #ij ,leading fourth best1 #if ,leading red suit to dealer1 #aje ,leading weak suit at no-trump1 #aje ,leading from weak hand1 #acj ,leading trumps to prevent a ruff1 #gd ,leads out of turn1 #ae ,leading through strength1 #gg ,leading through king in dummy1 #gi ,leading long with four trumps1 #gf ,leading short with six trumps1 #gf ,leading red suit on passed make1 #ge ,leading highest of short suit1 #gf ,lead when spades are trumps1 #gb ,leading trumps to throw the lead1 #ga ,leading trumps from sequence1 #gj ,leading trumps to prevent a ruff1 #adc ,leading up to strength1 #gj ,leading from long suit1 #fb ,lead of the ace1 #fd ,lead of ace and king1 #fe ,lead of the king1 #fe ,lead of the queen1 #fe ,lead of the jack1 #ff ,leading jack from king1 jack1 ten1 #ff ,lead of the ten1 #ff ,lead of the nine1 #fg ,leading to save slam1 #fj ,leading from sequence1 #fa ,leading from ace and king1 #fe ,leading trumps in doubled spades1 #ef ,leading from weak trumps1 #gd ,leading through weakness1 #gh ,lead when partner has doubled1 #ee ,leading short suits1 #fh ,making high cards1 #fj ,making to score1 #ca ,management of trumps by dealer1 #aci ,miscellaneous combinations1 #acj ,misdeal1 #aj ,new deal1 #g ,new cards1 #bj ,non-dealer's play against a 8no-trump0 hand1 #ajb ,non-dealer's play to the score1 #bi ,non-dealer's play against a declared trump1 #ei 8,no-trump0 declaration by the dealer1 #cb 8,no-trump0 with three aces1 #ce 8,no-trump0 with two aces and one other guarded suit1 #ce 8,no-trump0 with two aces1 #cf 8,no-trump0 with one ace1 #cg 8,no-trump0 without an ace1 #cg ,not returning lead of trumps1 #gc ,not leading from single honour suits1 #gb ,not leading from tenace suits1 #gb ,not forcing strong trump hand1 #adb ,obtaining a ruff1 #ada ,opening leads1 examples1 #fc ,opening a short suit against a 8no-trump0 declaration1 #ajg ,original lead at 8no-trump10 examples of1 #ajf ,original lead at 8no-trump10 #ajc ,opening short with strong hand1 #gd ,opening lead1 the1 #fj ,opening lead against trump declaration1 #fj ,original lead1 the1 #ajc ,original lead at 8no-trump10 #ajf ,original trump openings1 #gj ,original trump openings from strength1 #gb ,overtaking and ducking1 #aga ,overtaking and unblocking1 #agj ,overtaking1 #afc ,overtrumping1 #adg ,passed makes1 #dg ,passed red makes1 #di ,passed black makes1 #dh ,placing high cards1 #ha ,placing partner in lead1 #ge ,playing before dummy1 #ib ,playing ace second in hand1 #id ,playing through strength1 #gg ,playing to the score1 #bh ,playing before dealer1 #id ,preventing ruff1 #gd ,preventing ruff1 leading trumps to1 #adc ,redoubling1 #aj1 #ed ,returning partner's lead1 #ia1 #aji ,re-entries1 saving1 #aeg ,red makes defensive1 #ci ,re-entry cards1 #adh ,reverse discard1 #abb ,revoke1 the1 #ag ,rights of entry1 #e ,rubber1 the1 #a ,ruff1 obtaining a1 #adj ,ruff1 preventing a1 #gd ,ruff1 desire to1 #ge1 #hh ,ruff1 giving partner1 #gh ,ruff1 letting partner1 #hh ,rule of eleven1 #fg ,rules for 8no-trump0 declaration by the dealer1 #cd ,rules for the heart make1 #dj ,saving game1 #aea ,saving re-entries1 #aeg ,score1 the1 #bg ,scoring1 #a ,seeing dummy hand1 #ei ,second hand plays1 #acf ,second hand plays1 examples of1 #acg ,short suit openings1 examples of1 #gg ,short suit openings1 #gd ,second hand play1 #ia ,shuffling1 #f ,slam1 #d ,short suit1 leading from1 #gd ,spades1 #dg ,spades1 original1 #dg ,strength indicated by trump opening1 #gj ,strength indicated by doubling1 #ea ,suggestions for third hand play1 #hj ,taking out re-entry cards1 #aae ,trumps1 leading in doubled spades1 #gc ,trumps1 avoid leading1 #gb ,trump1 original openings1 #gj ,trumps1 leading up to strength1 #gj ,trump1 opening from strength1 #gb ,trump lead1 not returning1 #gc ,trusting partner1 #ii ,trumping losing cards1 #ada ,trump opening indicates strength1 #gb ,trump lead when weak hand can ruff1 #gd ,trump lead against a spade make1 #gb ,trump opening from strength1 #gb ,tenace1 not leading from1 #fb ,third hand play1 #hj ,throwing the lead1 #aej ,unblocking1 #afa1 #agj ,unblocking trump suit1 #adb ,unblocking1 #ajh ,unblocking1 examples of1 #aji ,value of long suit1 #db ,value of tricks1 #d ,value of information1 #if ,watching dealer's discards1 #ace ,watching fall of cards1 #ih ,watching partner's play1 #ih ,watching adversaries' play1 #ih ,weakness1 leading through1 #ga ,weak trumps1 leading from1 #ga ,weak suit convention1 the1 #eg ,when to lead through strength1 #gh ,when to lead trumps1 #aci ,when not to lead trumps1 #ada ,when to draw the remaining trumps1 #add ,when to trump1 #adf ,when you play before the dummy1 #ib ,when you play before the dealer1 #id ,win the first trick1 #ei