LaFetra Bridge Club
3RD HAND PLAY
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IT IS NORMAL TO GIVE ATTITUDE ON PARTNER'S OPENING LEAD IF YOU ARE NOT TRYING TO WIN THE TRICK)

Third Hand High, is a good rule, MOST OF THE TIME if partner has led a low card, and dummy has no high card that you want to cover. When you have a sequence of cards, play the lowest of the equals. A few examples follow:

LEAD - DUMMY - 3RD HAND - EXPLANATION
--- 4 ----- 95(X) ----- J105 - Play the 10, the lowest of equals
--- 4 ----- 97(X) ----- J108 - Play the 8, the lowest of equals
--- 4 ----- Q(9)X ----- AJ3 - Play the J, save the A for the Q
--- 4 ----- kx(X) ----- QJ10 - Play the 10, the lowest of equals
--- 5 ----- xx(X) ----- KQJ8 - Play the J, the lowest of equals
--- 2 ----- kx(X) ----- A105 - Play the 10, save the A for the K
--- 2 ----- Ax(x) ----- kqJx - Play the J, the lowest of equals
--- 2 -----Jx(X) ----- K93 - Play the 9, save the K for the J
--- 3 ----- aq(9)----- K107 - Play the 10, partner may have the J
--- 8 ----- aq(X) ----- K107 - Play the K, partner does not have the J
--- 10 ----- ax(X) ----- Q63 - Play the Q, partner may have KJ104
--- 10 ----- ax(X) ----- KQ4 - Play the Q, the lowest of equals - Partner does not have the J
--- J ----- qx(X) ----- A96 - Play the 6, save the A for the Q
--- J ----- qx(X) ----- A86 - Play the 8, the Jack denies a higher honor
--- Q ----- xx(X) ----- K5 - Play the K, get out of partners way (unblock)
--- Q ----- 10x(X) ----- K43 - Play the 4, do not let declarer win a trick with the 10
--- Q ----- xx(X) ----- K92 - Play the 9, to encourage
--- Q ----- xx(X) ----- 1074 - Play the 7 to encourage, partner has the J
--- K ----- xx(X) ----- J73 - Play the 7 to encourage, partner has the Q
--- K -(NT) xx(x) ----- xX - Play the low card
--- A -(NT) xx(X) ----- Jxx - Play the J the lead of the A asks 3rd hand to play a high honor if he has it
--- A ----- xx(X) ----- 984 - Play the 4 no high honor, give count, low shows an odd number; high shows an even number
--- A-(Suit)----- xx(x) ----- Qjxx - The play of the Queen shows the Jack or a singleton
--- A-(Suit)----- xx(x) ----- Q4 - Play the 4, the Q would show the J or a singleton
--- A-(Suit)----- xx(X) ----- 74 Play the 7 to encourage, the 4 to discourage,this is attitude not suit preference