Third Hand Play

Successful performance at the bridge table relies heavily on the application of fundamental logic.

Equally, if not more important, is understanding and adhering to standard conventions for card play. These conventions are guided by the specific circumstances of the game, such as the composition of your hand, the layout of the dummy, and the choice of suit led by your opponent. In this section, we will delve into these established strategies and provide opportunities to practice and refine your understanding of them.

After partner’s spot card opening lead at notrump…

The lead of a low spot card is typically interpreted as a fourth-best lead, signaling that the partner likely holds at least one honor card in the suit. If the partner does not have an honor, they would generally lead a high spot card, often referred to as a “top-of-nothing” lead.

The standard principle for the third player in this situation is to play high, often summarized as “Third Hand High.” This means the third player should make their strongest effort to win the trick, using the highest card available if necessary, to gain an advantage or establish control of the suit. This guideline helps establish a collaborative strategy between partners and maximizes the effectiveness of their combined hands.

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

If Declarer wins this trick with the ♠A, you will still hold your ♠K over Dummy’s ♠Q.

And if Declarer doesn’t have the ♠A, Dummy’s ♠Q will now fall in two more rounds under your ♠K and partner’s ♠A.

Had you made the mistake of playing your ♠K on the first round, the ♠Q would have become a third round winner, playing after Partner’s ♠A.

Example 4

If your finesse loses to Declarer’s ♣Q, you still retain your ♣A ready to squish Dummy’s ♣K. Had you played your ace on the first round, Declarer would make TWO future tricks with his two honors.

And if it turns out that Partner has the missing honor (as she should), your finesse will win while you retain your well placed ♣A over the ♣K. Declarer may get no club tricks at all.

Example 5

If you play your ♥K on the opening lead, there will be no hope of preventing the ♥Q from scoring a future trick. Even if partner holds all the missing honors, her ♥A plays ahead of Dummy’s ♥Q.

Showing attitude

The second of the two main exceptions to Third Hand High is when you cannot beat the card Dummy plays.

Your play will be a spot card, telling partner if you have a high card (“something good”) in this suit or not.

• low spot card = no
• high spot card = yes

Example 6

“Something good” usually means the honor right below the one played by Dummy.

The Q is also “something good” when Dummy plays the A.

Example 7

Example 8

Example 9

Partner will know that your “something good” is lower than the ♥Q. If it were higher, you would play it on top of dummy’s ♥Q (Third Hand High).

Example 10

One of the top three honors is always “something good” when partner’s spot card lead also promises an honor. You expect partner to hold the ♠K, and your ♠Q is the most important card she is wondering about.

Example 11

Don’t claim the ♦J when Partner might assume it’s the ♦K or ♦Q.

Example 12

Partner’s low spot card lead promises a high honor, and she can see the ♣AK in the Dummy as well as you can. So the ♣J is the highest card you can have. Tell Partner you do indeed have it. Play an encouraging spot card.

Example 13

Partner knows you cannot hold the ♥K because you failed to play it on top of Dummy’s ♥Q. And besides, she’s got the ♥K, or she wouldn’t have led a low spot card.

Playing the lowest of equals

When following suit, different than when leading, you play the lowest of equals.

Playing the lowest of equals

When following suit, different than when leading, you play the lowest of equals.

Example 14

Example 15

Example 16

Can Declarer win this trick?

Returning Partner’s suit

Assuming you win the trick after Partner’s low spot card lead, what card do you play back?

Example 17

Partner’s low spot card promises an honor, and the only one missing is the ♥A. So your ♥K will win the second trick. Then you’ll lead to Partner’s ♥A, giving her the lead to cash her heart skaters.

If you had not returned the ♥K at trick two, the suit would be blocked.

Example 18

Example 19

Example 20

Unlike on opening leads, your fourth best spot card does not promise an honor. It simply tells how many cards you have in the suit, helping partner judge how to establish and cash skaters.

Example 21

When you have nothing but spot cards, don’t play back the top of a sequence. It’s more important to tell partner that you started with four of them. Play back the ♥7, not the ♥9.

Example 22

Example 23

Which diamond do you lead? 

The ♦T also wins the trick.

You will have the ♦96 remaining. Which one do you lead now?

After Partner’s honor card lead at notrump…

When Partner leads an honor at notrump, she holds a sequence of three honors, such as:

• ♠QJTxx
• or ♠KQTxx
• or KJTxx.

She would lead a low spot card from only one or two honors.

Example 24

Example 25

Your high spot card encourages Partner to continue leading hearts. What do you play if Partner leads the ♥T next?

Example 26

Example 27

Example 28

This situation closely resembles the previous example. Imagine your partner has led from a holding such as ♦AJTx. To prevent Declarer from winning an easy trick with their ♦Q, you should play your ♦K when it’s your turn. By doing so, you set up a finesse that allows your partner’s ♦A and ♦T to capture Declarer’s ♦Q in subsequent play.

This strategic maneuver not only prevents Declarer from gaining an unearned trick but also strengthens your side’s ability to dominate the suit. Understanding when to sacrifice your high card for a tactical advantage is a critical skill in bridge that can turn the tide of the game in your favor.

Example 29

You can do the same thing when Partner leads the ♠J. Your high spot card helps Partner figure out what’s happening.

Example 30

What do you return?

Aces are special

Leading an ACE…

Some partnerships adopt a specific agreement for leading an ace in a no-trump contract, where the lead asks the partner to either play their highest card under the ace or signal whether they hold an even or odd number of spot cards in the suit. However, I do not recommend using this agreement.

For beginners, it’s best to avoid special agreements that add complexity or require them to deviate from standard play. Instead, focus on mastering basic carding signals and building confidence in foundational techniques before incorporating more advanced strategies.

My recommendation is to treat the lead of an ace consistently in both no-trump and suit contracts. In other words, an ace lead should indicate the top of an honor sequence. Specifically:

• At no-trump, the ace lead typically shows three honors (e.g., AKQ, AKJ, or AKT).
• In suit contracts, it should show two or more honors, such as AKx.

This uniform approach simplifies decision-making and enhances clarity between partners, making it easier to develop strong and effective communication.

Example 31

Example 32

Example 33

Example 34

Perhaps she holds ♥AKJxx.

If you later gain the lead, be quick to table the ♥7. Then sit back and watch Partner set the contract by cashing her heart skaters.

Example 35

If you win a future trick in another suit, which club should you lead?

If Partner allows the ♣Q to hold the trick, is she asking you to switch to a different suit?

Trump contracts are different

After an opening lead of a spot card at a trump contract….

Most standard carding is the same for notrump and suit contracts. Third Hand High and finessing against the Dummy are still the main procedures. When you can’t beat the Dummy’s card, low and high spot cards when following suit also retain the same meaning.

There are however differences in how Partner LEADS for suit contracts.

1. Partner does not lead low cards from suits headed by the A.
2. Partner does not lead low from an unsupported J or T. She leads second highest.
3. Partner does not lead low from three honors.
4. Partner does not lead low from two touching honors. With that she leads the higher honor.
5. Therefore the honor Partner usually holds when leading low is the K or Q.
6. Partner may have two non-touching honors – KJ or QT, though she tries to avoid such leads.

Example 36

Who holds the ♦J? 

You can deduce that your partner holds the ♦9 because it is necessary for the ♦3 to qualify as a low card from a holding of three or four cards to an honor. Additionally, you can infer that Declarer has the ♦2, as your partner would have led it as the fourth-best card if it were part of their holding.

By carefully analyzing the cards played and the standard conventions for leads, you can piece together the likely distribution of the suit between Declarer and your partner. This type of logical reasoning is an essential skill in bridge, allowing you to make informed decisions and coordinate effectively with your partner.

Sometimes it seems almost magical that you can place the cards so early in the play!

What do you play on the opening lead? 

While you cannot prevent Declarer from winning a trick with their ♦A, you can ensure their ♦J never becomes a winning card. Your partner’s ♦Q is positioned to neutralize the ♦J effectively.

To achieve this, it’s crucial to play your ♦K at the first opportunity, even though you know it will be captured. This sacrifice is essential because it prevents Declarer from scoring two tricks in the diamond suit. Failing to play your ♦K early would allow Declarer to win with both the ♦A and the ♦J, giving them an unnecessary advantage. By taking this calculated action, you limit Declarer’s opportunities and support your partner in controlling the suit.

That was a lot of analysis leading to the same recommended play as the simple guideline, Third Hand High.

After an opening lead of an ACE at a trump contract…

In trump contracts, there is a key adjustment to the standard “Third Hand High” carding principle compared to no-trump contracts. In certain situations, you may have the opportunity to win a future trick by trumping, and it is important to signal this potential to your partner.

To facilitate effective communication, recall our recommended agreement: leading the Ace generally promises the King. This agreement allows your partner to make more informed decisions about how to play their cards. By staying mindful of these nuances and signaling appropriately, you can enhance your partnership’s ability to capitalize on opportunities and successfully defend against Declarer’s strategy.

Example 37

Example 38

Example 39

If you delay taking your three club tricks immediately, Declarer might find a way to prevent you from claiming them. They could draw your trumps, leaving you unable to regain control of the suit, or discard one of their clubs onto a winning card in another suit.

Acting promptly to secure your tricks ensures that you capitalize on your advantage before Declarer can implement a strategy to neutralize your holding. This proactive approach is critical to maintaining control and maximizing your side’s defensive potential.

So it’s good that your play of a high spot card alerts Partner to what’s going on.

Example 40

Example 41

Notice that this must be done quickly, before Declarer pulls trump.

Example 42

Now that your partner knows you hold the ♥J, they can decide who should take the lead after cashing the second heart trick. If your partner has a marginal holding in a side suit and wants you to lead through Declarer, they might underlead their ♥K, allowing you to win with your ♥J. Once you gain the lead, you can analyze the dummy to determine which suit your partner likely wants you to return.

In the next section, we will practice the standard plays we’ve been discussing. You may be surprised at how much information you can deduce about a hand simply by using these established methods and communicating effectively with your partner through card play.