1. IMPROVERS’ LESSONS Welcome
Teacher: Your Name Here
Telephone:
© Copyright Reserved New Zealand Bridge Inc Prepared by Amanda Smith

2. Lesson Three Play Techniques (for both notrump and suit play)

3. You often need to LOSE a trick to establish other tricks
Promoting Honours
You often need to LOSE a trick to establish other tricks

4. Lose to the Ace to establish two tricks
Promoting Honours
K Q J
9 6
Lose to the Ace to establish two tricks

5. Lose to the Ace & King to establish two tricks
Promoting Honours
Q J 5
Lose to the Ace & King to establish two tricks

6. Promoting Honours
Q 5
K J
Lose to the Ace to establish five tricks
BUT you must play the honour from the SHORT suit first

7. Lead towards Honours
Play towards an Honour, hoping that the missing card is in SECOND player’s hand

8. Lead towards Honours – need 1 trick
6 5 3
Lead a SMALL card towards the King
You hope that SECOND player has the Ace

9. Lead towards Honours – need 2 tricks
K Q 8
6 3
Lead a SMALL card towards the King/Queen
You hope that SECOND player has the Ace
IF SO, you can make two tricks

10. Lead towards Honours – need 2 tricks
K Q 8
6 3
If the Ace is not played, return to the hand with no honour and lead once more towards the honours
If SECOND player has the Ace you can make 2 tricks

11. Lead towards Honours – need 1 trick
Q J 4
7 6 3
Lead a SMALL card towards the Queen / Jack
You hope that each opposition player has an honour

12. Lead towards Honours – need 1 trick
Q J 4
7 6 3
If the Jack loses to the Ace or King, later in the play lead another small card from the hand with no honour

13. You hope that the missing honour is favourably placed
Finesse
You hope that the missing honour is favourably placed

14. A Q 7 6 3 Finesse – need 2 tricks
Lead a SMALL card towards the Ace/Queen
You hope that SECOND player has the King

15. If you WIN the trick, repeat the Finesse with the Jack
Finesse – need 4 tricks A
Q J 4
Play the Queen first
If you WIN the trick, repeat the Finesse with the Jack

16. A J 10 9 8 4 Finesse – need 2 tricks Lead a SMALL card towards the 10
When the opportunity arises, play another small card towards the Jack

17. Q 3 2 A 8 4 Finesse – need 2 tricks
Play the Ace first (in case there is a singleton King)
Then lead a SMALL card towards the Queen

18. Establishing a Long Suit
Establish the suit where you have the BEST fit (excluding trumps). This suit will be your longest/strongest combination.

19. Establishing a Long Suit
J 5
K Q
Lose to the Ace to establish this suit
Play the JACK first.
COUNT your opponents’ cards as they are played

20. Establishing a Long Suit
K 3
A Q 7 6 2
Play the King first, then back to the Ace
Hope that the suit splits evenly (3-3)

21. Establishing a Long Suit
K 5 3 A
There are five cards missing including QJ109
You HAVE to lose at least one trick to win a trick
Play the King first

22. Please contact me if you have any questions
IMPROVERS’ LESSONS
Please contact me if you have any questions
Teacher: Your Name Here
Telephone: