In third seat (No-Trump) by Matthias Huberschwiller

In this quiz, you won't have a lead to make, but you'll be in third seat and will have to decide which card to play. Should you always play your highest?

The fate of the contract may depend on the card you play.

Good luck.

Question 1

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

Q: 1 - Which card do you play as South?

North has led: ♥4

Dummy's hand:
♠ A 6 4
♥ Q 7
♦ K 6 5 2
♣ Q J 9 4

Dummy plays the ♥7.

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

A: ♥K - It would be a mistake to insert the ♥9. If your partner has led from A-x-x-x-x, you would be giving declarer a trick.

The only situation where it would be good to play the 9 is when your partner has led from J-10-x-x(-x), but in that case, declarer would have played the Queen from dummy to try for a second Heart trick.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ Q J 4
♥ J 9 8 7
♦ 6 5 4 2
♣ A 2

Q: 2 - Which card do you play as South?

North has led: ♠3

Dummy's hand:
♠ 6 5
♥ A 6 5 3
♦ K Q 3
♣ J 10 8 7

Dummy plays the ♠5.

South	West	North	East
-	1 NT	Pass	2♣
Pass	2♦	Pass	3 NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

A: ♠J - You need to play a high card in third seat, but which one, since the Queen and Jack are equivalent?

You need to play the smallest of touching cards, i.e. the ♠J.

When you play the Jack and declarer wins with the Ace, your partner, holding the King, will know you have the Queen. If you play the Queen instead, North would place declarer with the ♠J.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ K 7 4 2
♥ J 7 3 2
♦ 7 4
♣ Q 6 2

Q: 3 - Which card do you play as South?

North has led: ♠9

Dummy's hand:
♠ 6 5 3
♥ A 6 5
♦ 10 9 3
♣ J 10 8 7

Dummy plays the ♠3.

South	West	North	East
-	2 NT	Pass	3 NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

A: ♠2 - Your partner's 9 is top of nothing. Declarer has ♠A-Q-J-10, so playing your King would only help him. If you play small, declarer won't have enough entries to capture your King.

Play your lowest Spade and hope that your partner won't continue Spades when he gains the lead.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ 10 7 6 3
♥ 6 5 4 2
♦ A Q 3
♣ A 6

Q: 4 - Which card do you play as South?

North has led: ♦5

Dummy's hand:
♠ A 9 4 2
♥ Q 3
♦ 10 2
♣ K 10 8 7 2

Dummy plays the ♦2.

South	West	North	East
-	1 NT	Pass	2♣
Pass	2♥	Pass	3 NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

A: ♦Q - If your partner has the ♦K, it won't matter whether you start with the Queen or the Ace. However, if he has something like J-x-x-x-x and you play the Ace first, declarer will then duck your Queen, cutting you off from partner's Diamonds.

By playing the ♦Q first, you make it very difficult for declarer to duck because if your partner had the ♦A, ducking would give away a trick.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ J 6 4 2
♥ A 5 4 3
♦ 10 9
♣ K 5 2

Q: 5 - Which card do you play as South?

North has led: ♣4

Dummy's hand:
♠ 10 5
♥ K Q 6 2
♦ A 5 4 2
♣ Q 9 6

Dummy plays the ♣6.

South	West	North	East
-	1 NT	Pass	2♣
Pass	2♠	Pass	3 NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

A: ♣5 - There's no point in playing the ♣K. Even if your partner had the Ace and Jack, declarer would still have a Club stopper.

If declarer has the ♣A-10, playing the King would give him three tricks in the suit. You need to play low while encouraging with the ♣5.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Overall Results

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

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