ImproversImprovers

Week 4Week 4

Defender Play in No TrumpsDefender Play in No Trumps

Defender Play in No TrumpsDefender Play in No Trumps

The hardest part of BridgeThe hardest part of Bridge Declarer knows all his cardsDeclarer knows all his cards And all the defence’s cardsAnd all the defence’s cards (This should help!!)(This should help!!) Each defender knows his own hand Each defender knows his own hand

and dummy’sand dummy’s But must try to work out how the But must try to work out how the

others are placedothers are placed

Defence have control of trick 1Defence have control of trick 1 Opening lead is very importantOpening lead is very important

Defence need to communicateDefence need to communicate Signalling with cards played is also Signalling with cards played is also

keykey

We will considerWe will consider

Opening LeadsOpening Leads SignalsSignals

Opening Leads against NTOpening Leads against NT Rules:Rules: If partner has bid lead partner’s suit unless If partner has bid lead partner’s suit unless

you have a VERY good reason you have a VERY good reason Otherwise lead longest suitOtherwise lead longest suit With equal length suits lead strongestWith equal length suits lead strongest Bidding will affect leadBidding will affect lead Lead through strength not to strengthLead through strength not to strength Means you can lead what dummy has bid Means you can lead what dummy has bid

but not what declarer has bidbut not what declarer has bid

Standard LeadsStandard Leads

Top of an honour sequenceTop of an honour sequence 44thth down from a suit headed by an honour down from a suit headed by an honour 33rdrd down from 3 card suit headed by an down from 3 card suit headed by an

honour honour 22ndnd down from a 3+ card suit not headed by down from a 3+ card suit not headed by

an honouran honour MUD (middle, up, down)MUD (middle, up, down) NB Honours are AKQJ and TNB Honours are AKQJ and T Highest from a doubletonHighest from a doubleton

Leading Top of an honour Leading Top of an honour sequencesequence

AKxxAKxxKQxxKQxxQJTxQJTxJT9xJT9xT98xT98x

Lead Lead AAKxxKxxLead Lead KKQxxQxxLead Lead QQJTxJTxLead Lead JJT9xT9xLead Lead TT98x98x

Top of Internal Honour Top of Internal Honour SequenceSequence

AJTxAJTx

AQJxAQJx

KJTxKJTx

KT9xKT9x

Lead ALead AJJTxTx

Lead ALead AQQJxJx

Lead KLead KJJTxTx

Lead KLead KTT9x9x

From suit headed by From suit headed by honour(s)honour(s)

HxxxHxxx

HxxxxHxxxx

HxxxxxHxxxxx

HxxHxx

Lead HxxLead Hxxxx

Lead HxxLead Hxxxxxx

Lead HxxLead Hxxxxxxxx

Lead HxLead Hxxx

From a doubleton whether headed by an honour or not always lead high - low

Suit with no honoursSuit with no honours

xxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxx

Lead 2Lead 2ndnd highest highest Then play highestThen play highest Then lowestThen lowest MUDMUD Shows shapeShows shape But note doubleton But note doubleton

is always high - lowis always high - low

xxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxx

LeadsLeads Top of Honour SequenceTop of Honour Sequence 44thth Highest from suit with honour(s) Highest from suit with honour(s) MUDMUD High – Low for doubletonHigh – Low for doubleton Leading suits bid by dummy is OKLeading suits bid by dummy is OK Leading suits bid by declarer is dangerousLeading suits bid by declarer is dangerous Try not to lead away from tenacesTry not to lead away from tenaces i.e AQxx or KJxx i.e AQxx or KJxx It gives a trick awayIt gives a trick away

The Rule of 11The Rule of 11 Most leads against NT are 4Most leads against NT are 4thth down down When partner leads use this ruleWhen partner leads use this rule Subtract the card led from 11Subtract the card led from 11 Subtract the cards in your hand Subtract the cards in your hand

above the card ledabove the card led Subtract the cards in dummy above Subtract the cards in dummy above

the card ledthe card led Result is how many cards above the Result is how many cards above the

card led are held by Declarercard led are held by Declarer

Rule of 11 exampleRule of 11 example Partner leadsPartner leads

Your handYour hand

DummyDummy

7

5

2

A

J

6

5

7

J

7

6

5

7

Q

T

9

Q

8

3

K

A

8

4

3

T

6

5

11-7 = 411-7 = 4 -2 in dummy-2 in dummy -2 in hand-2 in hand Declarer has 0 Declarer has 0

cards above cards above 7!7!

Cover what is Cover what is played from played from dummy dummy

Rule of 11Rule of 11 Partner leadsPartner leads

You holdYou hold

DummyDummy

A

T

3

7

Q

8

2

22 is played is played from dummyfrom dummy

Which card Which card do you play?do you play?

33 Declarer has Declarer has

no cards no cards above above 77

Rule of 11Rule of 11 Partner leadsPartner leads

You holdYou hold

DummyDummy

A

J

8

5

Q

9

7

Dummy plays Dummy plays 77 Which card do you play?Which card do you play? 88 Declarer has no cards Declarer has no cards

above above 55 Then play Then play AA Then Then JJ to unblock to unblock Partner may have 5 Partner may have 5

cards in the suitcards in the suit

2

Defensive SignalsDefensive Signals

The Key to Good DefenceThe Key to Good Defence We need to play as a TEAMWe need to play as a TEAM Do NOT just play your handDo NOT just play your hand Consider what Partner may have as wellConsider what Partner may have as well To help in this we employ signalsTo help in this we employ signals Using the cards we play we can sometimes Using the cards we play we can sometimes

tell partner about our handtell partner about our hand The only method allowed!The only method allowed!

On Partner’s LeadOn Partner’s Lead If Partner leads Low:If Partner leads Low: Play Highest card necessary – Sacrifice your K if Play Highest card necessary – Sacrifice your K if

necessary!necessary! If Partner leads High:If Partner leads High: Tell partner if you like the suitTell partner if you like the suit A card above 6 is encouragingA card above 6 is encouraging Below 6 is discouragingBelow 6 is discouraging Use the highest or lowest you can affordUse the highest or lowest you can afford Partner leads K. From A987 play ?Partner leads K. From A987 play ? AA998787

You HoldYou Hold

Partner leadsPartner leads

What do you play?What do you play? Partner has the QPartner has the Q Play T (I Like this!)Play T (I Like this!) Partner should next Partner should next

play low to your Aplay low to your A You return the 3 to You return the 3 to

Partner’s QPartner’s Q Partner should Partner should

have a 4have a 4thth

A

T

3

K

You HoldYou Hold

Partner leadsPartner leads

What do you play?What do you play? Partner has the QPartner has the Q Play 2 (No thanks!)Play 2 (No thanks!) Partner can decide Partner can decide

whether to play on whether to play on in this suit or in this suit or switch to another switch to another knowing you have knowing you have little supportlittle support

7

5

2

K

You HoldYou Hold

Partner leadsPartner leads

What do you play?What do you play? Partner has the KPartner has the K Play 9 (I Like this!)Play 9 (I Like this!) Partner should next Partner should next

play low to your Qplay low to your Q You return the 2 to You return the 2 to

Partner’s KPartner’s K Partner should Partner should

have a 4have a 4thth

Q

9

2

A

You HoldYou Hold

Partner leadsPartner leads

What do you play?What do you play? Partner has the J & Partner has the J &

TT Play 9 (I Like this!)Play 9 (I Like this!) Partner should next Partner should next

play low to your Kplay low to your K If you get in you If you get in you

play 4 to Partner’s J play 4 to Partner’s J Partner should Partner should have a 4have a 4thth

K

9

4

Q

Lead SignalsLead Signals

Always make appropriate signal if Always make appropriate signal if you canyou can

Signal each time a new suit is ledSignal each time a new suit is led Do NOT waste useful cards!Do NOT waste useful cards! Signals are not perfect. Often you Signals are not perfect. Often you

don’t have a suitable card to usedon’t have a suitable card to use

Discard SignalsDiscard Signals When a suit is played and you have no When a suit is played and you have no

cards left in it you play a card from cards left in it you play a card from another suit – a discardanother suit – a discard

You have choice from any cards left in You have choice from any cards left in your handyour hand

Great opportunity to tell partner which Great opportunity to tell partner which suit you would like ledsuit you would like led

The first discard is the one that countsThe first discard is the one that counts Various methodsVarious methods

Simple Discard SignallingSimple Discard Signalling HELDHELD HHigh – igh – EEncourage ; ncourage ; LLow – ow – DDiscourageiscourage This means:This means: Below 6 – I don’t want this suitBelow 6 – I don’t want this suit Above 6 – Please lead me this suitAbove 6 – Please lead me this suit

Works fine if you have a spare card to Works fine if you have a spare card to useuse

But can use up a card you needBut can use up a card you need

Better Discard MethodBetter Discard Method

McKenneyMcKenney I do not want the suit I am playingI do not want the suit I am playing I do not want the suit ledI do not want the suit led Above 6 – lead higher of other 2 suitsAbove 6 – lead higher of other 2 suits Below 6 – lead lower of other 2 suitsBelow 6 – lead lower of other 2 suits 6 is non committal6 is non committal

McKenney Example 1McKenney Example 1 Lead isLead is

With HELD you With HELD you cannot be cannot be preciseprecise

With McKenney With McKenney playplay

86

2

4

3

2

A

K

A

8

You holdYou hold

McKenney Example 2McKenney Example 2 Lead isLead is

With McKenney With McKenney playplay

T

9

7

A

Q

9

8

AYou holdYou hold

9

2

McKenney Example 3McKenney Example 3 Lead isLead is

With McKenney With McKenney play play

ororA

K

9

6

5

Q

4

A

5

You holdYou hold

4

McKenney Example 4McKenney Example 4 Lead isLead is

With McKenney With McKenney play play

T

7

A

9

You holdYou hold

9

6

K

Q

J

8

McKenney Example 5McKenney Example 5 Lead isLead is

You have no You have no preferencepreference

With McKenney With McKenney playplay

62

A

6

You holdYou hold

7

3

T

4

2

McKenney Example 6McKenney Example 6 Lead isLead is

With McKenney With McKenney play play

oror9

3

A

3

You holdYou hold

8

2

K

Q

8

8

Leads and SignalsLeads and Signals

Both add greatly to your defensive playBoth add greatly to your defensive play Agree system with partner beforehandAgree system with partner beforehand Use correct leadsUse correct leads Use Rule of 11Use Rule of 11 Make SignalsMake Signals

Notice what partner is doing!!Notice what partner is doing!!