Third Hand Play - Suit contract by Matthias Huberschwiller

Your partner has led and dummy goes down.

You're in the third position. Usually you need to play a high card, but you will need to choose the right one.

In this second quiz, you will defend against suit contracts.

Question 1

Dummy's Hand
♠ K 8 4
♥ J 8 7 2
♦ K 6 5 3
♣ 9 2

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

Q: 1 - Your partner leads the ♥9.

Dummy plays the ♥2.

Which card do you play as East?

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

A: A♥ - You need to play the Ace. Never finesse against your partner.

Furthermore, you have high suspicions that your partner has a singleton in Hearts. You may be able to give him one or two ruff(s).

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Dummy's Hand
♠ K 6 5 2
♥ Q 6 2
♦ A 6
♣ J 9 5 2

Your Hand
♠ 8 7
♥ K 10 5
♦ J 10 8 7
♣ K 8 7 3

Q: 2 - Your partner leads the ♥4.

Dummy plays the ♥2.

Which card do you play as East?

South	West	North	East
1♠	Pass	3♠	Pass
4♠	Pass	Pass	Pass

A: 10♥ - You know your partner hasn't underled the Ace of Hearts (If he did do that against a suit contract, you might need to find yourself a new partner).

You need to finesse against dummy's Queen by playing the 10. If your partner has the Jack, declarer will make only one trick instead of two, and if your partner hasn't got the Jack, declarer will make only 2 tricks instead of three.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Dummy's Hand
♠ Q 8 7 4
♥ K 6 5 2
♦ 8 4
♣ 9 4 2

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

Q: 3 - Your partner leads the ♣5.

Dummy plays the ♣2.

Which card do you play as East?

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

A: Q♣ - You need to play a high card from your sequence, of course, but which one?

With touching cards, you need to play the smallest of the equivalents, the Queen. Should you play the King, you would be denying the Queen.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Dummy's Hand
♠ A 6 2
♥ Q 10 9 8
♦ 8 3
♣ J 4 3 2

Your Hand
♠ 8 7
♥ K 5 3 2
♦ Q 7 5 2
♣ 10 8 7

Q: 4 - Your partner leads the ♥7.

Dummy plays the ♥Q.

Which card do you play as East?

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

A: 2♥ - Actually, any spot card would be OK. Did you think about playing the King?

You know your partner has nothing in Hearts. From his lead of the Seven you can tell he either has a singleton or a doubleton.

If you play the King, you'll set up all the Hearts for declarer.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Dummy's Hand
♠ K Q J 8
♥ K J 7
♦ 8 2
♣ A 5 4 2

Your Hand
♠ 7 2
♥ A 6 5 4 2
♦ J 7 6
♣ 8 7 3

Q: 5 - Your partner leads the ♥9.

Dummy plays the ♥7.

Which card do you play as East?

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

A: 6♥ - Your partner seems to have a singleton or a doubleton in Hearts.

If he has a singleton, you need to win the Ace and give him a ruff. If he has a doubleton, you need to duck, and then when he gets on lead, he can play another Heart and you can give him a ruff.

How can you know which one to choose?

Look at the bidding. South does not have four Hearts. That means your partner cannot have a singleton. He has a doubleton, and you need to duck, playing an encouraging 6 of Hearts.

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

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