exp. 12/31/2026
Surely a player of your bridge skills is familiar with most or all of the following tips you are about to read. But is your partner?
Fact 49:
Play the cards you are known to hold from the lead and third hand's play. Say the queen is led and dummy has x-x-x-x. You, the declarer, have the K-J doubleton. When third hand plays the ace, the king and jack are equals; however, third hand knows you have the king from the lead of the queen, but doesn't know you have the jack. If you play the king under the ace, the jack remains a mystery card. The opening leader also knows you have the king from partner's play of the ace. Get rid of that king! Remember, you are not costing yourself a trick when you make these plays because you have an equal to the card you are unloading in either your hand or dummy. Say the jack is led, dummy has 9-x-x-x, and you have Q-10 doubleton. When third hand plays the king, drop the queen. Why? The queen is a card they both know you hold. Third hand knows it from the lead of the jack and the opening leader knows it from the play of the king. You might as well show them your hand if you don't play that queen!
Fact 50:
When fortunate enough to have a powerful trump suit and being forced to ruff, tend not to ruff with your lowest trump. That tiny trump might be your only way to get to dummy
Fact 51:
When drawing trumps try to keep a flexible entry position after trumps are drawn. Ideally you want to be able to enter dummy in the trump suit and also be able to enter your hand with a trump. Say you have the K-Q-J-4-3-2 and dummy has the A-10-5. If you play the ace and king, you have an entry to dummy with the 10 and you can get back to your hand by overtaking the 10. If you play the K-Q, you block the trump suit. You can get to dummy with the ace, but you can't get back to your hand with a trump.
Wednesday Evening Game
at the Villa
6:30 pm.
NEW QUIZZES ON THE QUIZ CORNER
The 2026 Unit Game Schedule
The Longest Day
June 20th.
All Unit Games are at the Villa. Start at 12:15 pm. Lunch at 11:30 pm, unless otherwise noted.
WE WILL RESTART THE Bi-Weekly LESSONS.
THE SUGGESTED TIME WILL BE 11:15 to 11:45
New Lessons will be Posted every 2 Weeks on Sunday!
The Villa at San Mateo
4000 S El Camino Real, San Mateo.
Every Tuesday and Friday
Game at 12:00 noon
Stratified Open Pairs
Check "Current Lessons" section to review.
Past lessons will continue to be published here. Contact Raad with further questions and comments.