Beginners Lessons Card Play Basic Principles (Lesson by Dave Cotton)

The secret of good play lies in exploiting the full potential of the partnership cards so as to win as many tricks as possible.

Where do the tricks come from?

1. High Cards
2. Low Cards in a long suit (once the high cards have gone)
3. Trumps

Promotion

	J 6 3
A 7 5 4		Q 2
	K 10 9 8

When you lead the Jack from dummy it is covered by the Queen, King and Ace. The Ten started by being the fifth ranking card in that suit and after one round has been elevated to first rank. Similarly the nine and eight allowing you to make three tricks in that suit even though both honours were "sacrificed".

Proper Order

One situation in which rank loses its significance is where you have a solid sequence of high cards in one hand or the other. Holding A,K,Q,J,10, for instance, there is no need to start with the ace. Since neither opponent has a higher card, the ten will win the first trick just as well. In effect your cards are equal and the order you play them is immaterial.
Rank reasserts itself, however when the high cards are divided between your hand and the dummy.

	A K
	Q J 10

You have no option but to win the first two tricks in dummy with the A & K and with the lead on the table you may have no way of returning to hand to cash your third trick in the suit. A holding like this, where the winners cannot be cashed without interuptionis known as a blocked suit. It is something to be avoided whenever possible.

	A Q
	K J 10

Here the position is more flexible. You can win the first trick with any one of the three cards Ace, King or Queen. If you win with the King or Queen the suit becomes blocked. Instead win with the Ace and overtake the Queen with the king to enjoy the third trick in that suit.

	A K 3
	Q J 10 9

Here you can win the first trick with any one of six cards. If you win in hand (with Q,J,10 or 9) the suit becomes blocked

	A Q 3
	K J 4 2

Here the blockage will develop if the first trick is won by the King or Jack.

Golden Rule: "HIGH - SHORT"

When high cards adjacent in rank are divided between the two hands,
play the High cards from the Shorter holding.
The rule holds good whether the High cards are immediate winners or not.

Examples:

	K J 10 3
	Q 2

	K Q 5
	J 10 4 2

	Q 9 5 4
	J 10 3

	9 3
	Q J 10 6 2

Positional Factor

	K Q 3
A x x x		x x x
	6 5 4

The only chance of making two tricks in this suit is for the Ace to be underneath the K,Q. Play small from hand towards K,Q. If the King wins return to hand in another suit and repeat playing small from hand towards the Queen..

	K 6 4
10 9 8 5		A 3
	Q J 7 2

With this combination it makes little difference if the opposing cards are split 3-3, in which case you will always make three tricks. If they are not the correct technique is to play small small from dummy towards the Q,J, repeating this operation a second time if necessary.

	Q 5
K 9 6 4		J 10 8 3
	A 7 2

Here you will only make one trick if the first lead in this suit comes from dummy. If you start with a low card from hand towards the Q,x, you will make two tricks whenever West has the King.

	J 4
Q 10 6 2		9 8 5
	A K 7 3

This is similar. Lead small from hand towards J,x. You will make 3 tricks if West has the Queen.