THIRD hand plays high is a pivotal ditty for defenders. However, it is important to add the proviso: but think if dummy has an unplayed picture. Take this deal from the 2023–24 English Premier League at the East Midlands Bridge Club in Spondon, Derby.
West led the six of Hearts and dummy played low. And East?
At half the tables, East looked no further than third-hand-high. Declarer beat his King with the Ace and, now with a slow dummy entry via the Knave of Hearts, could afford to play for the drop in Clubs (his best chance of avoiding a loser).
At trick two, declarer led the Knave of Clubs (to tempt a cover from Queen-low-low), but rose with the Ace when West played low. He cashed the King, felling East’s Queen, crossed to his ten then led up a second Heart. West rose with the King and, in desperation, switched to a low Spade. Declarer beat East’s ten with the King, crossed to the Knave of Hearts, ran the Clubs, and romped home with two overtricks.
At the other half of the tables, East inserted the eight of Hearts at trick one. Yes, he would have looked foolish if his partner held Ace-Queen-low-low(-low). Here, however, it was the best play, as it prevented declarer from using dummy’s Knave of Hearts as an entry. Declarer won the nine, but, with Clubs blocked, had no real choice but to run the Knave of Clubs.
East won the Queen and switched to a deceptive Knave of Spades. Declarer ducked and East continued his obfuscation by leading the ten. Declarer played with the odds— rising with the King, but West could win the Ace and return his remaining Spade, East cashing out the suit. Two down.
On our second Spondon deal, a Four Hearts, half the field made it, half went down. The danger was losing a trick in each sui
