THIRD HAND PLAY

 
 
MAXIM: third hand high

The Third Hand is always the Defender who plays after the Dummy and before the Declarer. The Third Hand usually plays HIGH in order to knock out the Declarer’s high honors. By doing this it is possible to promote Defender’s lesser cards to winners. By playing Third Hand High you make Declarer pay to win the trick. By sacrificing your high cards you are promoting lesser cards in your hand or in partner’s hand. Of course there are exceptions to this Maxim.
 

EXCEPTION 1
When you have a sequence. If you have a sequence in the suit led by your partner, then play the Lowest card in that sequence. Playing the bottom of the sequence in third seat, you provide your partner with a better chance to place high cards in that suit.
  EXAMPLE 1.  Partner leads the 5; Dummy plays the 2; and you play the Jack. (The bottom of the sequence.) When Declarer wins with the Ace your partner can place you with the King or Queen.
1.  DUMMY
    8 3 2
 

PARTNER                      YOU
      5                           K Q J 4

 
 
  EXCEPTION 2
Keep an honor over Dummy’s honor. Your honor has to capture Dummy’s honor. Do not play it on air.
  EXAMPLE 2. Your partner leads the 5; the Dummy plays the 2; and you play the 10. Save the King for the Queen in Dummy. 
Hopefully your partner has the Jack, and the 10 will drive out the Ace. In a suit contract, when your partner leads the 5, he denies the Ace.
2. DUMMY
     Q 3 2
 

PARTNER                      YOU
      5                             K 10 8
  EXAMPLE 3.  If Dummy plays low let the Queen win. Save the Ace for the King.
3.  DUMMY
        K 8 3
 

PARTNER                      YOU
     Q                              A 5 4

 

 QUIZ 14 THIRD HAND PLAY 

 
  YOUR PARTNER LEADS.  DUMMY PLAY S ITS LOWEST CARD.
WHAT DO YOU (IN THIRD SEAT) PLAY?
   1.          DUMMY
                          A 8 3
 

PARTNER                             YOU
        5                                     K 9 6
_____________________________ 

 2.          DUMMY
                          A 8 3
 

PARTNER                             YOU
        5                                  Q J 10 
_____________________________

 3.          DUMMY
                          Q 8 3
 

PARTNER                             YOU
        5                                  A J 4 
_____________________________

 4.          DUMMY
                          K 8 3
 

PARTNER                             YOU
        5                                  A Q 4 

    5.          DUMMY
                          J 8 3
 

  PARTNER                             YOU
         5                                  10 4 2
_____________________________ 

   6.          DUMMY
                          K 8 4
 

  PARTNER                             YOU
        Q                                  A 3 2 _____________________________

   7.          DUMMY
                          9 6 5
 

  PARTNER                             YOU
    K                                    A 2
_____________________________

   8.          DUMMY
                          7 6 4
 

  PARTNER                             YOU
        5                                    A J 3
 
  9.  You lead the 5 S from 
K 9 7 5 3 against a 3 No Trump contract.  Dummy has 8 4 of Spades and plays low. Your partner plays the Queen which is taken by Declarer’s Ace. Who has the Jack?		                 DUMMY
S  8 4
 

  PARTNER                             YOU
SK 9 7 5 3 SQ
  10. You lead the 2 D from 
J 8 3 2 of Diamonds against a 4 S contract. Dummy has the 7 5 4 of Diamonds and plays low. Your partner plays the King which is taken by Declarer’s Ace. Who has the Queen?		                DUMMY
XXXXXXXD  7 5 4
 

   YOU                  XXX   PARTNER
D J 8 3 2XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXD K

ANSWERS to Quiz 14

 

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