Chapter 19
Kantar
- AKHH. only lead A from AK if have 4 honors (demanding partner unblock missing honor)
- Unbid xxx(x). If P has not bid lead top of nothing from xxx(x) to prevent P thinking want return of suit
- Unsupported suit. If P has bid and you have not supported – xx lead high, xxx(x)(x) lead 3rd/5th best. If you have supported – xxx(x)(x) lead high, Hxx(x)(x) lead 3rd/5th.
- Their suit. Leading low in their bid suit means you have exceptionally strong suit AQ10xx(x) or better
- Supported suit. If you have supported P, lead high from xxx(x) to deny H
- When to lead K from AK. 1) if partner has bid suit, 2) you have bid suit and partner has supported or 3) opponents playing at 5 level or higher (avoid confusion since would lead A from Axx(x)(x) in these circumstances).
- Lead Q from AKQ. In hopes P will provide count (not mistake for QJx or Qx) to tell partner how many tricks can cash before ruff
- Exception to lowest of equals. If have AK, KQ and likely to take trick play high low to indicate doubleton
- Third hand high or lowest of equals. If Dummy has H and plays low, 3rd Hand has higher H insert 9 or higher if possible else play high or lowest of equals (unless suit contract play A to catch singleton)
- Can’t overtake highest of equals. If Dummy wins trick (you are unable to overtake) play highest of equals
- Exceptions to overtaking. Do not overtake or unblock with Hx when Partner leads Honor if overtaking will cost a trick based on Dummy holding
- Exceptions to third hand high. Do not play 3rd hand high if (there are other exceptions): 1) You have 3 worthless cards (give count), 2) at NT from AQx(x)(x) usually best to play Q rather than A
- Return current count. 1) with 2 cards remaining – high low, 2) with 3 cards remaining – low, 3) with \>3 cards remaining – original 4th highest (often current third highest), 4) with H sequence return highest
- Low from equals. To force higher card from Dummy
- Attitude. If Declarer wins trick play and you have H, play high or highest of Honor equivalent sequence.
- Attitude. Majority of time when partner leads low or an H.
- Q promises J. 3rd Hand Q after Partner leads A or K promises J (to allow Partner to underlead to get to your hand). With Qx, if ambiguous who has J, must play low.
- Doubletons after K lead. Do not signal encouragement (high-low echo) with doubleton unless obvious 3rd Hand lacks A or J.
- Doubletons After Q lead. Do not signal encouragement with doubleton unless obvious 3rd Hand lacks K or 10.
- Doubletons after J Lead. Following Partner lead of J (denies), only encourage with doubleton if obvious 3rd Hand lacks an honor.
- Q lead from AKQ. If reason to believe Partner has AKQ 3rd Hand gives count (see above)
- Count.
- Exceptions. Do not give count if bidding makes clear Declarer’s holding in that suit
- Running Dummy Defense. Must give count if Dummy has running suit lacking A and/ or K
- Trump suit echo. Shows at least one more trump or odd number – use to tell Partner you have more trumps to ruff or when Declarer trump holding is unknown (vs SPINS below)
- Suit Preference
- H lead from your 6+ suit. When 3rd Hand has promised 6 or more cards in a suit in which Partner leads an Honor in that suit
- K Continue. K asks for continuation
- Switch to higher. 9-Q asks for switch to higher ranking suit
- Middle Continue. 5-8 asks for continuation (couldn’t afford the K)
- Switch to Lower. 2-4 asks for switch to lower ranking suit
- Singleton Dummy. Partner leads Honor and Dummy has singleton in that suit.
- High Continue. High spot asks for continuation,
- Low Obvious Shift. Low spot asks for switch to weaker of Dummy’s side suits (“Obvious Shift”),
- Honor Non-Obvious Shift. Honor asks for switch to Dummy’s stronger side suit (“Non-Obvious Shift”)
- SPINS. When Declarer Trump Count is Known give suit preference when Declarer draws trump (SPINS)
- Q promises J. Even if K led by Partner, do not unblock with Qx (play of Q promises the J)
- Unblock J (Q lead from KQT9). If Q is led and you have J unblock it (Partner has KQ109).
- Axx after J Lead. If J is led, with Axx need to judge based on bidding and dummy whether to overtake or encourage.
- Q or lower dummy win, give count. If Partner leads spot and Dummy wins trick with Q or lower give count unless Declarer count in that suit known then give encouragement if hold J or 10.
- 2nd hand low, try to give count. Generally play low and provide count if can
- Cover Honor w/ Honor. To promote 9’s & 10’s held by you or Partner else don’t cover
- Generally cover last equal Honor
- Protecting Honors. When J led from Dummy generally play A from AQx(x) to make more difficult to finesse Q. With Axx play A at NT to promote Partner’s 10 and at suit duck in hopes Declarer guesses wrong unless have reason to believe Declarer has singleton K.
- Splitting Honors. When Dummy leads low side suit card in suit contract do not split Honors with QJx(x) or J10x(x) – give count. Do split AK and KQ (play the Q to avoid confusion have AK).
- Three card sequences. With QJ10(x), J109(x), 1098(x) play High. With KQJ(x) play the J to avoid confusion you have AK. (Partner must work out from bidding that you don’t have J109(x).
- Summary. K from AK, Q from KQ or QJT, J from KQJ or JT9, T from T98.
- Exceptions to Count. Don’t give count if Declarer count already known or if all strength with one defender then only Weaker defender gives count
- Covering Honors Exceptions. When Declarer leads J, 2nd Hand has Qx(x) and Dummy has Axx NEVER COVER unless have Q9.
- Exceptions to 2nd hand Low. 2nd Hand High 1) to kill long suit in Dummy, 2) preserve Partner’s potential entry, 3) prevent Partner from being endplayed, 4) when represents setting trick
- Attitude. Generally discards are attitude in suit discarded. Discard Highest of Equals to show encouragement
- Exceptions to Attitude. In NT if want Partner to switch from initially led suit discard in initially led suit. Discarding in a suit Partner has led, shows current count – high from 2, low from 3
- Discard losers, Keep Winners. Generally discard low card in suit don’t want than high spot in a suit you do want especially against NT
- Avoid Fresh Suits. If can do so safely, avoid discarding from fresh suits or from short suits whereby Declarer will be able to get a count on Partner in that suit
- Keep Parity. Keep parity with Dummy and Declarer if your highest card is higher than Dummy’s lowest.
- Attitude then Count in same suit. 1) When make 2 discards in Same Suit, 1st is attitude, 2nd is Current Count. 2) After you have led a suit, your 1st discard in that suit is Current Count. 3) After you play 3rd Hand to a trick showing attitude, fist discard in that suit is Current Count