Beginners Lesson 17 Defender Play in No Trumps

The hardest part of Bridge The hardest part of Bridge Declarer knows all his cards Declarer knows all his cards And all the defence’s cards And all the defence’s cards (This should help!!) (This should help!!) Each defender knows his own hand and dummy’s Each defender knows his own hand and dummy’s But must try to work out how the others are placed But must try to work out how the others are placed

Defence have control of trick 1 Defence have control of trick 1 Opening lead is very important Opening lead is very important Defence need to communicate Defence need to communicate Signalling with cards played is also key Signalling with cards played is also key We will consider We will consider Opening Leads Opening Leads Signals Signals

Opening Leads against NT Rules: Rules: If partner has bid lead partner’s suit unless you have a VERY good reason If partner has bid lead partner’s suit unless you have a VERY good reason Otherwise lead longest suit Otherwise lead longest suit With equal length suits lead strongest With equal length suits lead strongest Bidding may affect lead Bidding may affect lead Lead through strength not to strength Lead through strength not to strength Means you can lead what dummy has bid but not what declarer has bid Means you can lead what dummy has bid but not what declarer has bid

Standard Leads Top of an honour sequence 4th down from a suit headed by an honour 3rd down from 3 card suit headed by an honour 2nd down from a suit not headed by an honour MUD (middle, up, down) NB Honours are AKQJ and T Highest from a doubleton

Leading Top of an honour sequence AKxxKQxxQJTxJT9xT98x Lead AKxx Lead KQxx Lead QJTx Lead JT9x Lead T98x

Top of Internal Honour Sequence AJTxAQJxKJTxKT9x Lead AJTx Lead AQJx Lead KJTx Lead KT9x

From suit headed by honour(s) HxxxHxxxxHxxxxxHxx Lead Hxxx Lead Hxxxx Lead Hxxxxx Lead Hxx From a doubleton whether headed by an honour or not always lead high - low

Suit with no honours xxx xxx xxxx xxxx xxxxx xxxxx xx xx Lead 2 nd highest Lead 2 nd highest Then play highest Then play highest Then lowest Then lowest MUD MUD Shows shape Shows shape But note doubleton is always high - low But note doubleton is always high - low xxx xxx xxxx xxxx xxxxx xxxxx xx xx

Leads Top of Honour Sequence Top of Honour Sequence 4 th Highest from suit with honour(s) 4 th Highest from suit with honour(s) MUD MUD High – Low for doubleton High – Low for doubleton Leading suits bid by dummy is OK Leading suits bid by dummy is OK Leading suits bid by declarer is dangerous Leading suits bid by declarer is dangerous Try not to lead away from tenaces Try not to lead away from tenaces i.e AQxx or KJxx i.e AQxx or KJxx It gives a trick away It gives a trick away

The Rule of 11 Most leads against NT are 4 th down Most leads against NT are 4 th down When partner leads use this rule When partner leads use this rule Subtract the card led from 11 Subtract the card led from 11 Subtract the cards in your hand above the card led Subtract the cards in your hand above the card led Subtract the cards in dummy above the card led Subtract the cards in dummy above the card led Result is how many cards above the card led are held by Declarer Result is how many cards above the card led are held by Declarer

Rule of 11 example Partner leads Partner leads Your hand Your hand Dummy Dummy 77 55 22 A J 6 5 77 JJ 77 66 55 7 QQ TT 99 Q 8 3 KK AA 88 44 33 TT 66 5 = = 4 -2 in dummy -2 in dummy -2 in hand -2 in hand Declarer has 0 cards above 7! Declarer has 0 cards above 7! Cover what is played from dummy Cover what is played from dummy

Rule of 11 Partner leads Partner leads You hold You hold Dummy Dummy AA TT 33 77 QQ 88 22 2 is played from dummy  2 is played from dummy Which card do you play? Which card do you play? 3  3 Declarer has no cards above 7 Declarer has no cards above  7

Rule of 11 Partner leads Partner leads You hold You hold Dummy Dummy AA JJ 88 55 QQ 99 77 Dummy plays 7 Dummy plays  7 Which card do you play? Which card do you play? 8  8 Declarer has no cards above 5 Declarer has no cards above  5 Then play A Then play  A Then J to unblock Then  J to unblock Partner may have 5 cards in the suit Partner may have 5 cards in the suit 22

Defensive Signals The Key to Good Defence The Key to Good Defence We need to play as a TEAM We need to play as a TEAM Do NOT just play your hand Do NOT just play your hand Consider what Partner may have as well Consider what Partner may have as well To help in this we employ signals To help in this we employ signals Using the cards we play we can sometimes tell partner about our hand Using the cards we play we can sometimes tell partner about our hand The only method allowed! The only method allowed!

On Partner’s Lead If Partner leads Low: Play Highest card necessary – Sacrifice your K if necessary! If Partner leads High: Tell partner if you like the suit A card above 6 is encouraging Below 6 is discouraging Use the highest or lowest you can afford Partner leads K. From A987 play ? A987

You Hold Partner leads Partner leads What do you play? What do you play? Partner has the Q Partner has the Q Play T (I Like this!) Play T (I Like this!) Partner should next play low to your A Partner should next play low to your A You return the 3 to Partner’s Q You return the 3 to Partner’s Q Partner should have a 4 th Partner should have a 4 th  AA TT 33 KK

You Hold Partner leads Partner leads What do you play? What do you play? Partner has the Q Partner has the Q Play 2 (No thanks!) Play 2 (No thanks!) Partner can decide whether to play on in this suit or switch to another knowing you have little support Partner can decide whether to play on in this suit or switch to another knowing you have little support 77 55 22 KK

You Hold Partner leads Partner leads What do you play? What do you play? Partner has the K Partner has the K Play 9 (I Like this!) Play 9 (I Like this!) Partner should next play low to your Q Partner should next play low to your Q You return the 2 to Partner’s K You return the 2 to Partner’s K Partner should have a 4 th Partner should have a 4 th  QQ 99 22 AA

You Hold Partner leads Partner leads What do you play? What do you play? Partner has the J & T Partner has the J & T Play 9 (I Like this!) Play 9 (I Like this!) Partner should next play low to your K Partner should next play low to your K If you get in you play 4 to Partner’s J Partner should have a 4 th If you get in you play 4 to Partner’s J Partner should have a 4 th  KK 99 44 QQ

Lead Signals Always make appropriate signal if you can Always make appropriate signal if you can Signal each time a new suit is led Signal each time a new suit is led Do NOT waste useful cards! Do NOT waste useful cards! Signals are not perfect. Often you don’t have a suitable card to use Signals are not perfect. Often you don’t have a suitable card to use

When Opponents Lead We show count to help partner We show count to help partner Playing High – Low shows an even number of cards in the suit Playing High – Low shows an even number of cards in the suit Playing Low – High an odd number Playing Low – High an odd number

You Hold Opponents lead an A Opponents lead an A What would you play from each suit? What would you play from each suit? 77 55 22 J 77 JJ 77 66 55 22 22 5 22 77 Odd Even Singleton

Count Signals Knowing how many cards partner holds in a suit tells you how many declarer holds Knowing how many cards partner holds in a suit tells you how many declarer holds Count your’s, partner’s and dummy’s Count your’s, partner’s and dummy’s How many are left? How many are left? Useful in planning your defence Useful in planning your defence Declarer is trying to retain control Declarer is trying to retain control You are trying to take control away You are trying to take control away

Discard Signals When a suit is played and you have no cards left in it you play a card from another suit – a discard When a suit is played and you have no cards left in it you play a card from another suit – a discard You have choice from any cards left in your hand You have choice from any cards left in your hand Great opportunity to tell partner which suit you would like led Great opportunity to tell partner which suit you would like led The first discard is the one that counts The first discard is the one that counts Various methods Various methods

Simple Discard Signalling HELD HELD High – Encourage ; Low – Discourage High – Encourage ; Low – Discourage This means: This means: Below 6 – I don’t want this suit Below 6 – I don’t want this suit Above 6 – Please lead me this suit Above 6 – Please lead me this suit Works fine if you have a spare card to use Works fine if you have a spare card to use

Better Discard Method McKenney McKenney I do not want the suit I am playing I do not want the suit I am playing I do not want the suit led I do not want the suit led Above 6 – lead higher of other 2 suits Above 6 – lead higher of other 2 suits Below 6 – lead lower of other 2 suits Below 6 – lead lower of other 2 suits 6 is non committal 6 is non committal

McKenney Example 1 Lead is Lead is With HELD you cannot be precise With HELD you cannot be precise With McKenney play With McKenney play 88 66 22 44 33 22 A K AA 88 You hold

McKenney Example 2 Lead is Lead is With McKenney play With McKenney play TT 99 77 AA QQ 9 8 AA You hold 9 2

McKenney Example 3 Lead is Lead is With McKenney play With McKenney play or or AA KK 99 66 55 Q 4 AA 55 You hold 4

McKenney Example 4 Lead is Lead is With McKenney play With McKenney play TT 77 AA 99 You hold 99 66 K Q J 8

McKenney Example 5 Lead is Lead is You have no preference You have no preference With McKenney play With McKenney play 66 22 AA 66 You hold 77 33 T 4 2

McKenney Example 6 Lead is Lead is With McKenney play With McKenney play or or 99 33 AA 33 You hold 88 22 K Q 8 88

Leads and Signals Both add greatly to your defensive play Both add greatly to your defensive play Agree system with partner beforehand Agree system with partner beforehand Use correct leads Use correct leads Use Rule of 11 Use Rule of 11 Make Signals Make Signals Notice what partner is doing!! Notice what partner is doing!!