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Beginners Lessons
Best Odds Play
(Lesson by Alf Holliday
Information from Bridge Base Online
http://www.bridgebase.com/) |
When you hold the majority of the cards in a suit, such as a trump suit,
there is an optimum way of playing the cards to maximize the number of tricks.
This "maximum probability" play is shown in the examples below.
11-Card Fit
Missing the King
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A 5 4 3 2 |
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Play the Ace |
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Q J 10 9 8 7 |
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10-Card Fit
Missing the King
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A 5 4 3 2 |
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Play the Finesse |
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Q J 10 9 8 |
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10-Card Fit
Missing the King & 10
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A J 4 3 2 |
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Play the Finesse leading an honour |
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Q 9 8 7 6 |
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10-Card Fit
Missing the Ace & Queen
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K J 10 9 8 7 |
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Finesse against the Queen |
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5 4 3 2 |
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9-Card Fit
Missing the Jack
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A 5 4 3 2 |
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Take the first trick with the King to avoid the possibility
of East being void |
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K Q 10 9 |
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9-Card Fit
Missing the Jack & 10
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A 5 4 3 2 |
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Take the first trick with the Ace to avoid the possibility
of West being void |
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K Q 9 8 |
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9-Card Fit
Missing the Queen & Jack
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A K 10 |
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Play the Ace. If no honour falls play the King otherwise
take the Finesse (Principle of Restricted Choice) |
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7 6 5 4 3 2 |
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9-Card Fit
Missing the King & Jack
(to avoid loosing any tricks)
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A Q 10 9 8 7 |
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Finesse with the Queen |
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4 3 2 |
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9-Card Fit
Missing the King & Jack
(to only loose 1 trick)
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A Q 10 9 8 7 |
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Play the Ace and then lead to the Queen (use the same play
for split honours) |
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4 3 2 |
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9-Card Fit
Missing the King & Jack
(to avoid loosing any tricks)
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A 4 3 2 |
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Guess between playing the Ace, hoping for a singleton King,
or playing the Queen, looking for West to hold a singleton Jack |
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Q 10 9 8 7 |
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9-Card Fit
Missing the King & Queen
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5 4 3 2 |
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Best percentage play is to Finesse twice |
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A J 10 9 8 |
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9-Card Fit
Missing the Ace & Queen
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K J 10 9 8 7 |
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Do not play the King. Finesse for the Queen with the Jack |
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4 3 2 |
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8-Card Fit
Missing the King & Jack
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A 4 3 2 |
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Take two Finesses. Start with the 10 to protect against a
void in East's hand |
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Q 10 9 8 |
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8-Card Fit
Missing the Queen & Jack
(to only loose 1 trick)
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3 2 |
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Play the Ace and the Finesse with the 10 |
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A K 10 9 8 7 |
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8-Card Fit
Missing the Queen & Jack
(to avoid loosing any tricks)
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3 2 |
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Play for the double Finesse |
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A K 10 9 8 7 |
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8-Card Fit
Missing the Queen & 10
(to only loose 1 trick - 100%)
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A 4 3 2 |
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Play the King and then play small and Finesse the 10 with
the 9 if necessary |
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K J 9 8 7 |
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