Bridge is a complex game and for the most part the winners are those that work at the game, are disciplined, bid and play within their structure, and largely stick to doing the normal thing most of the time.

The losers are those that play a game more resembling poker than bridge, which sometimes works against weak pairs but will always lose out against a good pair in the long run, as the occasional ‘success’ which makes for a good story at the bar is followed by a string of failures that never see the light of day.

Having said that, today’s column is about when you should break one of the tried and tested ‘rules’ of bridge — ‘third hand high’.

Third hand high is usually right and does well for most defensive situations — there are, however, times when a bit of thought and analysis will tell you where to deviate from the rule.

This hand cropped up the other night on BridgeBase Online.

Dealer East N/S Vulnerable

S A95

H J82

D KJ54

C 1086

S 874 S QJ106

H K10754 H Q96

D 763 D Q1098

C 74 C A3

S K32

H A3

D A2

C KQJ952

The Bidding:

West North East South

1NT

Pass 3NT

I got to the very normal 3NT contract and was not happy to see the Heart lead as any other lead would be easy to handle.

Against a good pair I would probably play the Jack from dummy in the hope that West had led from KQxxx, but the pair I was up against were not great so I played low from dummy and was pleased to see East play the Queen — I won this with the Ace, knocked out the Club and when East returned a Heart actually made 11 tricks on a hand that should have been defeated!

East, of course, should have played the nine which defeats the contract!

I’ll explain why but I need you to concentrate — this is not a straightforward area but I promise will pay huge dividends for you in your bridge-playing life!

First let the answer the question some of you may be asking — why would I ever think of playing the Jack of Hearts from dummy at trick one?

Surely, you say, if West had KQxxx he would have led the King? No! Read on.

When you lead the King against a no trump contract you promise the Queen and Jack with it OR, at a minimum, the KQ10 …. partner is obliged, based on what they see in dummy, to let you know immediately whether they have the Ace or the Jack by playing those cards! Why?

Say if you lead the King from KQ10xx, dummy comes down with two small and partner plays low as does declarer — how do you continue? Declarer may well have AJx (‘Bath Coup’) and a continuation would be fatal — so if partner has the Jack partner must play it under your King letting you know it is safe for you to continue.

Given that is the case you cannot lead the King from KQxxx because if partner plays the Jack under that declarer’s A10x suddenly become dangerous.

Read this again and get comfortable with it as it will come up hundreds of times in your future — and make your partner read it!

So now let me come to the tougher part — some of you will tune out here, but it will be your loss. Easiest way is to give you a hand...

Dealer East N/S

Vulnerable

S A95

H J98

D KJ1064

C K3

S QJ10

H Q643

D AQ

C 7654

The Bidding:

West North East South

1D

Pass 2D (1) Pass 2NT (2)Pass 3NT

(1) Inverted Minor — usually shows four of the suit, denies a four-card major and asks partner which major suits they have stopped

(2) 2NT says both — with only one South would bid that suit which shows a stopper there but does not promise 4!

Partner leads the 2 of Hearts, declarer plays the 8 and you play? Low!

Why? Why not third hand high? Let’s take a look at the full hand and then explain why!

S A95

H J98

D KJ1064

C K3

S 874 S QJ10

H A1072 H Q643

D 73 D AQ

C 10982 C 7654

S K632

H K5

D 9852

C AQJ

On partner’s lead (fourth best) you have a lot of information ... declarer has a doubleton and since he has announced a stopper it is either Ax or Kx!

In either situation if you play the Queen the Jack becomes a second stopper in dummy — but take a look at the hand above and see what happens when declarer has Kx and you play low at trick one!

Declarer wins the Heart eight, crosses to a Club and runs the Diamond 9 ... you win and return a low Heart and declarers King is trapped and the defence takes three Hearts and two Diamonds — down one! If you had played the Queen at trick one declarer makes the hand!

Not easy, I know! But it is really worth the effort to understand this card combination.

So third hand high should remain your usual play, especially when dummy has all small cards in that suit, but when dummy has the Jack or Queen your play may require a bit more …. thought!