Bridge for Beginners by Zia Mahmood

Author:Zia Mahmood
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pavilion Books
Published: 2014-10-28T04:00:00+00:00

Using high cards to prevent the opponents from taking winners

A high card in a suit only wins a trick if you manage to play it. Taking winners consists not only of developing the winners in the first place but also of being in the right place at the right time. Consider this layout of the diamond suit. You are in a no-trump contract and West leads the K.

It looks as if you have only one trick in the suit, which you can win with the A. The opponents, on the other hand, have established five winners after your A is played. At first glance, there may seem to be nothing you can do about the situation. But remember, winners are only good if you have a way to get to them. It is true that your ace has the power to take only one trick. Another way of looking at the situation, however, is to consider not only the trick-taking power of the card but the way it can control a suit. Played at the right time, it may prevent the opponents from taking all five of their diamond tricks. Timing is everything.

Suppose you play your A on the K. Unless you can immediately take enough tricks to make your contract, you will have to give the lead to the opponents while you are developing the winners you need. If West gets the lead, he will take his diamond winners. If East gets the lead, he will be able to lead his remaining small diamond to West’s promoted winners. Either way, the opponents take five diamond tricks. What can you do to prevent this?

Suppose you don’t play your A until the second trick. The defenders will have collected one diamond trick. What has changed? You still may have to give up the lead to the opponents. This time, however, if it is East who gets the lead, he will have no diamonds left to lead back to West’s winners. Of course, West may have an entry in another suit, or it may be West that gets the lead when you are developing the winners you need. Too bad. At least you gave yourself the best chance. By holding up your ace until the second round, you may hold the opponents to only one trick in the diamond suit.

Let’s look at this idea in a complete hand. You are in 3NT and the opening lead is the K.

Contract: 3NT

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