Third Hand Play by Matthias Huberschwiller

This week, your partner has led and you are the third hand playing to the first trick.

You'll have to choose which card to play.

Third-hand-high is a good way to start, but is it always right?

Good luck.

Question 1

Dummy's Hand:
♠ J 5 2
♥ A 7 5
♦ Q 9 2
♣ K J 5 4

Your Hand
♠ Q 10 9
♥ J 6
♦ K 6 5 4
♣ 8 7 3 2

Q: 1 - Your partner leads the ♠4.

Dummy plays the ♠2.

Which card do you play as East?

South	West	North	East
1 NT	Pass	3 NT	Pass
Pass	Pass

A: ♠9 - You need to finesse against dummy's Jack, since you have a tenace.

Should you play the 10 or the 9? You need to play the 9, the lowest of touching cards; If you play the 10, you would be denying the 9.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Dummy's Hand:
♠ Q 6 5
♥ A 3
♦ 8 3 2
♣ Q J 10 9 8

Your Hand
♠ 7 4 3 2
♥ K 9 2
♦ 7 6 4
♣ A K 3

Q: 2 - Your partner leads the ♥J.

Dummy plays the ♥3.

Which card do you play as East?

South	West	North	East
1 NT	Pass	3 NT	Pass
Pass	Pass

A: ♥9 - If you play the King and another Heart, you'll then get on lead in Clubs and play another Heart. When you get on lead the third time though, you won't have a Heart to play back.

You need to play the 9 of Hearts now. Declarer will take with the Queen and when you take the first Club, you'll play the King of Hearts to unblock the suit. In this way you'll have another Heart to play for your partner to cash them.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Dummy's Hand:
♠ 9 6 2
♥ A 6
♦ K 3 2
♣ Q J 10 9 6

Your Hand
♠ 10 8 7 3
♥ J 5 4 3
♦ A 5
♣ 5 4 2

Q: 3 - Your partner leads the ♦Q.

Dummy plays the ♦2.

Which card do you play as East?

South	West	North	East
1 NT	Pass	3 NT	Pass
Pass	Pass

A: ♦A - You need to play the Ace immediately. If you play low, you might block the suit. Anyway, you won't capture dummy's King since your Ace is in a shorter holding.

When you take the Ace and play a Diamond back, if your partner can get on lead, he'll be able to cash all his Diamonds.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Dummy's Hand:
♠ Q 6 3
♥ J 6 2
♦ 6 3 2
♣ A 9 6 2

Your Hand
♠ K 9 5 2
♥ Q 9 3
♦ K 9 5 4
♣ 7 3

Q: 4 - Your partner leads the ♦10.

Dummy plays the ♦2.

Which card do you play as East?

South	West	North	East
1♣	Pass	2♥	Pass
4♥	Pass	Pass	Pass

A: ♦4 - Your partner seems to have led the top of a doubleton or a singleton. You know he has no honor in the suit, so playing your King would only help declarer by setting up at least three tricks for him.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Dummy's Hand:
♠ 9 8 6
♥ K 8 7 4
♦ 6
♣ K 9 6 5 3

Your Hand
♠ 10 3 2
♥ 10 9 5 3
♦ 9 2
♣ Q 7 4 2

Q: 5 - Your partner leads the ♠4.

Dummy plays the ♠6.

Which card do you play as East?

South	West	North	East
1♠	Pass	2♠	Pass
4♠	Pass	Pass	Pass

A: ♠2 - You need to keep the 10 of Spades. There is no point in playing a high card here, but if declarer tries to take short hand ruffs, you might want to keep that 10 of Spades to be able to overruff.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Overall Results

Your results: out of Average:

What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
More informations on our website: www.VuBridge.com

Rate yourself:

0 - 40%	We applaud your effort. Review the subject and try again. You'll be surprised how much better you'll do. We're here for you!!
41 - 50%	Buy your mentor a cuppa and ask for clarification on the ones you got wrong. No mentor? Make finding one a priority!
51 - 60%	Nice improvement! One more review and you'll have this down solid!
61 - 80%	What a good job! All that's left is some fine tuning
Over 80%	Wow! It's time for you to become a mentor. Find someone who needs help and share your knowledge!