Bridge for BeginnersBridge for Beginners

Lesson 3Lesson 3

Declarer PlayDeclarer Play

Homework from Week 2Homework from Week 2

11 Chris Game in Chris Game in 10 1022 Bill Part score in Bill Part score in 11 1133 Bill Game in NT 8Bill Game in NT 844 Ann Part score in Ann Part score in 8 855 Chris Part score in Chris Part score in 6 666 Ann Game in Ann Game in 11 1177 Del Game in NT 9Del Game in NT 988 Chris Part score in Chris Part score in 9 999 Del Game in Del Game in 12 121010 Bill Part score in NT 7Bill Part score in NT 71111 Ann Game in Ann Game in 9 91212 Chris Part score in Chris Part score in 9 9

A&BA&B C&DC&D420420

2002005050

90905050400400

400400140140420420

90905050

110110830830 15901590

Declarer PlayDeclarer Play You have the basics to play MiniBridgeYou have the basics to play MiniBridge This week we will try to improve your playThis week we will try to improve your play Each HandEach Hand You declare your points You declare your points Dummy’s hand goes downDummy’s hand goes down Declarer decides the contractDeclarer decides the contract The lead is madeThe lead is made All you have to do is make the contractAll you have to do is make the contract

Declarer PlayDeclarer Play

Before you start to playBefore you start to play StopStop ThinkThink Be a BaldrickBe a Baldrick Prepare a Cunning PlanPrepare a Cunning Plan

The Cunning PlanThe Cunning Plan Contract is game in Contract is game in How many top tricks are there?How many top tricks are there?

AT5

KQ65

JT6

KQ3

Q6

AJ432

K975

A4

1in 1in ’s; 4 in ’s; 4 in ’s; 0 in ’s; 0 in ’s; 3 in ’s; 3 in ’s’s 8 top tricks8 top tricks

How many more are needed?How many more are needed? 22 Where will they come from?Where will they come from?

1 more is certain in 1 more is certain in ’s’s Establish the 10Establish the 10thth in in ’s’s

The Cunning PlanThe Cunning Plan

Contract is part score in Contract is part score in How many top tricks are there?How many top tricks are there?

T5

K5

JT642

K532

KQ62

A432

KQ75

4

0 in 0 in ’s; 2 in ’s; 2 in ’s; 0 in ’s; 0 in ’s; 0 in ’s; 0 in ’s’s 2 top tricks2 top tricks

How many more are needed?How many more are needed? 55 Where will they come from?Where will they come from?

4 more are certain in 4 more are certain in ’s’s Establish the 7Establish the 7thth in in ’s’s Draw TrumpsDraw Trumps Lead low from dummy to Lead low from dummy to KQKQ

Establishing Extra TricksEstablishing Extra Tricks

Long suits are often the answerLong suits are often the answer Especially in NTEspecially in NT Look at these holdingsLook at these holdings

No top tricks No top tricks If you drive out the A you must make 4 If you drive out the A you must make 4

trickstricks

K

J

T

4

Q

9

5

2

3

Establishing Extra TricksEstablishing Extra Tricks That hand had all the top cards except AThat hand had all the top cards except A How about this holding?How about this holding?

1 top trick 1 top trick 8 cards in the suit8 cards in the suit If the rest split 3/2 you can make 3 tricksIf the rest split 3/2 you can make 3 tricks 4/1 you still make 2 tricks4/1 you still make 2 tricks Play 2 rounds of low cards to see how Play 2 rounds of low cards to see how

they splitthey split Then cash A and any remaining winnersThen cash A and any remaining winners

A

7

5

4

8

6

3

2

Establishing long suitsEstablishing long suits

With 8+ cards in a suitWith 8+ cards in a suit You can establish extra tricksYou can establish extra tricks So concentrate on that suitSo concentrate on that suit Even if it is very weak you will still Even if it is very weak you will still

establish winnersestablish winners

Length before StrengthLength before Strength

The FinesseThe Finesse Another method for establishing extra Another method for establishing extra

trickstricks When you are missing an honourWhen you are missing an honour

If you play A then Q you will make the A If you play A then Q you will make the A but nearly always lose the Qbut nearly always lose the Q

Lead 3 to the QLead 3 to the Q If K is onside it makes; if offside it losesIf K is onside it makes; if offside it loses A 50% chanceA 50% chance

A

Q

5

4

8

6

3

The FinesseThe Finesse It works even better with 2 lower honoursIt works even better with 2 lower honours

Now you can Finesse twiceNow you can Finesse twice Lead 3 to the JLead 3 to the J If K is onside it makes; if offside it losesIf K is onside it makes; if offside it loses If it makes cross to the other hand in If it makes cross to the other hand in

another suitanother suit Lead 6 to the QLead 6 to the Q Making 3 tricks and a 4Making 3 tricks and a 4thth if they split 3/3 if they split 3/3

A

Q

J

4

8

6

3

The FinesseThe Finesse

The Finesse is a very useful techniqueThe Finesse is a very useful technique But it only makes 50% of the timeBut it only makes 50% of the time And it seems worse than that!And it seems worse than that! Establishing a long suit is a surer optionEstablishing a long suit is a surer option If you can take a finesse in a long suit your If you can take a finesse in a long suit your

chances are much improvedchances are much improved

Suit ContractsSuit Contracts The Key issue in Suit ContractsThe Key issue in Suit Contracts Is retaining trump controlIs retaining trump control The defence will have a number of trumpsThe defence will have a number of trumps You must seek to make them of little use You must seek to make them of little use

to the defenceto the defence As declarer you do this by playing enough As declarer you do this by playing enough

rounds of trumps as needed to use up all rounds of trumps as needed to use up all of the defence’s trumpsof the defence’s trumps

This is called This is called Drawing TrumpsDrawing Trumps

Drawing TrumpsDrawing Trumps There are some occasions when you do not There are some occasions when you do not

draw trumps firstdraw trumps first But any trick played in a non trump suit But any trick played in a non trump suit

before trumps are drawn MUST be a before trumps are drawn MUST be a calculated riskcalculated risk

Of which more later in the courseOf which more later in the course Not because you forgot to draw them!!Not because you forgot to draw them!! For now the Golden Rule isFor now the Golden Rule is Draw Trumps As Soon As You Get InDraw Trumps As Soon As You Get In Make sure you count how many have gone!Make sure you count how many have gone!

Getting BlockedGetting Blocked A sure way of not getting the contractA sure way of not getting the contract Look at these holdings:Look at these holdings:

Almost certain 5 tricksAlmost certain 5 tricks Unless you take 2 top honours in the long hand Unless you take 2 top honours in the long hand

firstfirst Then the K takes the third and you are stuck in Then the K takes the third and you are stuck in

the short handthe short hand Be very careful to avoid getting blockedBe very careful to avoid getting blocked By cashing top honours from the short hand firstBy cashing top honours from the short hand first

A

Q

J

4

8

6

2

K

SummarySummary There is lots to learn about Declarer playThere is lots to learn about Declarer play But however much you learnBut however much you learn The Cunning Plan is the keyThe Cunning Plan is the key So stop and think after the opening lead So stop and think after the opening lead

before you play the handbefore you play the hand How many tricks do you need?How many tricks do you need? How many can you see?How many can you see? Where can you establish any more?Where can you establish any more?