It is very important for the leader, especially in a “no-trump” hand,
to be in a position to determine whether his suit should be continued
or abandoned. Careful notice of the card your partner plays to the
first trick will often enable you to place the high cards in that
suit, and in this way suggest your subsequent play.
The following are given as illustrations of inferences to be drawn by
the leader from third-hand play:
A and B are partners, and the underlined card in each example
indicates A’s lead; Y’s cards are exposed.
+---------------------------------------------------------+
| Transcriber's Note: |
| The underlines have been replaced with square brackets. |
| For example [K]. |
+---------------------------------------------------------+
8♠ 7♠
x-------x
| Y |
K♠ 10♠ 6♠ [5♠] | A B | Q♠
| Z |
x-------x
A♠
B’s play of queen denies the jack, which should therefore be marked
in the dealer’s hand. The small cards cannot be placed.
6♠ 3♠
x-------x
| Y |
A♠ J♠ 7♠ [5♠] | A B | 9♠
| Z |
x-------x
K♠
B’s play of the nine denies the eight and the queen. Both of these
cards must be in the dealer’s hand. The ten should be placed with B.
The leader, in order to catch the dealer’s queen, must await a return
of the suit.
7♠ 3♠
x-------x
| Y |
Q♠ 9♠ 6♠ [5♠] | A B | J♠
| Z |
x-------x
A♠
The play of the jack denies the ten and the king; both of these cards
are marked in the dealer’s hand. Should A continue this suit, it
would allow the dealer to make tricks with both ten and king. The
suit must be abandoned until the lead can come from B’s hand.
J♠ 8♠
x-------x
| Y |
K♠ 9♠ 7♠ [6♠] | A B | Q♠
| Z |
x-------x
A♠
B’s play of the queen with the jack exposed on the table denies the
ten, which must be in the dealer’s hand.
10♠ 7♠ 5♠
x-------x
| Y |
J♠ 9♠ 8♠ [6♠] | A B | K♠
| Z |
x-------x
A♠
B’s play of the king denies the queen. To continue the suit might
allow the dealer to make two tricks. A should abandon the suit until
B can return it through the dealer’s hand.
J♠ 7♠ 2♠
x-------x
| Y |
10♠ 9♠ 6♠ [4♠] | A B | Q♠
| Z |
x-------x
A♠
It is impossible to tell whether the king is held by the dealer or
by B. The suit, however, may be continued with the ten. If B holds
the king this may shut out the jack. If the dealer holds the king
probably nothing will be lost.
8♠ 7♠ 5♠
x-------x
| Y |
[Q♠] J♠ 10♠ 9♠ | A B | A♠
| Z |
x-------x
B’s play of the ace denies the king, which should be placed with
the dealer.
K♠ 6♠ 5♠
x-------x
| Y |
Q♠ 8♠ 7♠ [2♠] | A B | A♠
| Z |
x-------x
It is customary holding the ace and jack with the king or queen in
dummy to finesse the jack third in hand. B’s play of ace would,
therefore, deny the jack, which is marked with the dealer. Avoid
continuing the suit.
K♠ 6♠ 4♠
x-------x
| Y |
Q♠ 7♠ 5♠ [3♠] | A B | 10♠
| Z |
x-------x
8♠
As the dealer does not take the ten, the ace and jack are presumably
in B’s hand. B’s play of ten denies the nine, which should be placed
with the dealer.
6♠ 4♠ 2♠
x-------x
| Y |
J♠ 8♠ 7♠ [5♠] | A B | A♠ K♠
| Z |
x-------x
B plays ace to the first trick, and returns the king; this indicates
no more cards in the suit, and marks the queen in the dealer’s hand.