Play and Defense Practice for Beginners #4

Play and Defense Practice for Beginners #4

Play and Defense Practice for Beginners #4


Hand 1

You're defending, sitting East.

Declarer plays Q from dummy, what will you play?

Correct Answer: K

As declarer plays Q from the dummy they most likely have AJ. By covering the Q with your K, Declarer will take it with the A. Now, they'll get 1 more trick, the J, and your 10 will be promoted.

If you don't cover with the K in the first place, Declarer will play small and can still finesse your K with the AJ.


Hand 2

You're defending, sitting East.

Partner leads 3. Declarer plays small  in dummy.

What will you play?

Click "NEXT" to see the play

Correct Answer: K

Think, "third hand high". Partner leads small against 3NT, which should be from their longest and strongest suit. That's why you should play the K to help partner develop Hearts. If Declarer takes with the A, it's likely partner holds the Q. So when you get a chance to win, play heart again to partner. If Declarer just follows with a small , then continue the heart suit to partner.


Hand 3

Contract is 2♠ by South. You're defending, sitting East.

West leads small . You win with the J as declarer follows with the 9.

How will you continue?

Click "NEXT" to see the play

Correct Answer: Play small

Attack the trump suit to protect partner's Heart suit to reduce opponents ability to ruff the Heart suit in dummy.


Hand 4

You're declarer, sitting South.

West leads 3

What will you play from dummy?

Correct Answer: Small

The correct play in this situation is to play small and promote your J. Opponents will always get 2 tricks, the AQ. If you play the K and A is with East and Q with West you won't be able to win with your J. 


Hand 5

Sitting South how do you play this suit combination to win the most tricks?

Correct Answer: Play a small to the 10

Let's hope that QJ separate. Play small to 10. If East wins with the Q, then when you get a chance play small again. If West plays small then you play 9. If West plays J, then you play K, even if East takes it with the A you'll still have the 9 top. This is an example of the Double Finesse.


Hand 6

Sitting South how do you play this suit combination for most tricks?

Correct Answer: Small to J

As with Hand 5, we need to double finesse this suit combination. The possible combinations are:

  • KQ are with West
  • K is in West and Q is in East
  • Q is in West and K is in East
  • KQ are with East

The probability that KQ in East is only 25%, so it's better to finesse than attempting to drop the A. You need to play small to J, finessing one of the honors. If East wins with K or Q, you then need to finesse again to A10.


Hand 7

What's your lead?

Correct Answer: A

Assuming the bidding is natural, you can see that opponents have 8 or 9 cards in diamonds. You have 4 cards, meaning partner will have 1 or none. So lead A and continue with diamond, so partner can ruff. Remember to continue with the 10 to signal partner to return Spade (the high rank) so you can give partner another diamond to ruff.


Hand 8

What's your lead?

Correct Answer: 5

Even though the contract is 3NT, leading from one of the majors is not good her, given opponents bid majors. You won't lead a spade into declarer's suit, moreover you have the ♠K which would be advantageous for Declarer. So, choose your strongest minor suit; lead the 5.


Hand 9

What's your lead?

Correct Answer: 8

You have many reasons to lead the 8. It's partner's suit and a singleton. You also have length in the trump suit but it's not that strong so better to use them to ruff.


Hand 10

What's your lead?

Correct Answer: J

As partner doubles in 2 it means that their suit is hearts. So follow partner's instruction, and from Jx lead the J.

22 comments on “Play and Defense Practice for Beginners #4”
  1. In Hand 8 the correct answer is a low club but according to Richards’s Pavlicek bridge site: Avoid leading a four-card suit that contains the ace or king — you are likely to lose a trick in that suit. So why that?

  2. Very instructive, specialty the opening lead quizzes who all beginners suffer to do the “correct” play.

  3. The double of an artificial bid like 2C Stayman or 2D/H Jacoby shows that suit. Here, responder has shown spades with the 2H transfer. If the next hand is very, very strong, it can bid 2S as a takeout double. If the next hand is thinking about balancing over 2S, it can pass, see what the opponents do, and if they stop at 2S, balance with a double at the next turn. A X of 2H shows hearts. At least partner will lead hearts. And if partner has a decent hand with some heart support, perhaps partner can push the opponents up by bidding 3H.

  4. A double of any ARTIFICIAL bid is always Lead Directing. In this case, a response bid by West of 2 hearts is an artificial bid transferring to spades.

  5. This is really helpful. I haven’t noticed this before. I see it’s No 3. Are the others archived somewhere so we can get to them?

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