Bridge for the Improving Player

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What is the optimum line for four tricks with the following holding?

aaxx

How should you play the following for four tricks?

aaxx

How should you play the following for four and five tricks?

aaxx

How should you play for three tricks?

aaxx

How should you play for four tricks? What is the best line for three tricks, and what is the best line for two tricks.
aaxx

How should you play for your best chance for four tricks?

aaxx

What is your best play for three tricks and what is your safest line for two tricks here?

aaxx

Answers:

What is the optimum line for four tricks with the following holding?

aaxxWith K 10 6 4 opposite A J 8 3: The optimum line for four tricks is to lead the king and next run the ten. By leading up to the A J 8 you give yourself a chance of picking up 4-1 splits onside. The alternative strategy of starting with the ace does not allow you to negotiate the bad splits if East has a small singleton.

How should you play the following for four tricks?

aaxxWith 5 opposite K J 9 8 6 4: for four tricks start by leading to one top honour and then follow up by leading out the other top honour from hand (which lets you succeed on half of the 3-3 splits and all the doubleton tens). The question of which finesse to take at trick one appears to be a guess but the relevant doubleton to take account of is the doubleton queen onside, with East. You can negotiate that for two losers by leading to the jack first of all, which makes it the best play. Note that if West has the doubleton queen or either hand has the doubleton ace, you can’t take four tricks whatever you do).

How should you play the following for four and five tricks?

aaxxWith K J 3 opposite A 9 6 4 2: You should play for five tricks by leading to the jack first (that lets you negotiate the singleton queen with West). For four tricks you have a 100% safety play except against 5-0 breaks. Cash the king and cross back to the South hand to lead up to the jack.

How should you play for three tricks?

aaxxWith J 9 8 7 2 opposite A 5: Your best play for three tricks – brace yourself – is to lead the jack from dummy! This caters for any doubleton ten in either hand, or doubleton K or Q in West, dramatically increasing your chances over the routine line of leading the ace and small to the jack.

How should you play for four tricks? What is the best line for three tricks, and what is the best line for two tricks.aaxxHolding 6 4 2 opposite A Q 10 8: the play is very different depending on the number of tricks you require. You may not believe the answer here – I can’t say I did either but Roudinesco (the definitive text on suit combinations) tells us that it is right! For four tricks lead to the eight (intending to follow up by finessing the ten. If the finesse loses to the nine follow up by finessing the queen, otherwise by finessing the ten. For three tricks start by finessing the queen. Intend to follow up by finessing the ten and if necessary the eight. For two tricks start by finessing the ten. If that loses to the king play the suit from the top. If it loses to the jack, cross to North and finesse the queen if the nine appears, otherwise play the ace and go back to North to lead up to the Q-8.

How should you play for your best chance for four tricks?

aaxxHolding Q 10 opposite K 9 5 4 2: Your best chance for four tricks with is to lead to the ten immediately. This picks up J-x or J-x-x in the West hand. Leading the ten from dummy at some point loses to J-x in East – your intermediates are not good enough.

What is your best play for three tricks and what is your safest line for two tricks here?

aaxxHolding 10 5 2 opposite A J 8 4: Your best play for three tricks is to lead small to the eight (that picks up Q9x or K9x in East, whereas leading to the jack only picks up K-Q-x). If the eight loses to an honour, cross back to dummy and lead up to your hand. Unless East plays the nine, remember to put on the ace. (So East with 9xxx must follow with the nine on the second round to deflect you!) For two tricks cash the ace and lead up to the ten, then lead back to the Jack-eight.