2. When third hand has touching honors, he plays his cheapest honor.
Yes, third hand plays high, but not always the highest card. With a suit headed by the A K, follow with the King; With K Q, follow with the Queen, with Q J, follow with the Jack, with J 10, the 10.
So when third hand plays an honor, he says, “I do not have the honor immediately below.”
Dummy
♥ 7 5
You Partner
♥ J 8 6 4 2 ❏ ♥ 10 played
Declarer
♥A played
The bid is 3 NT. You led the ♥4. Dummy plays the ♥5, partner the ♥10 and declarer wins the ♥A.
What do you know? Everything!
Partner has no honor - he would have played high. He can’t even have the ♥ 9 - with ♥ 10 9 he would have followed with the ♥ 9. Declarer has ♥ A K Q 9. Stay away from this suit!
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Dummy
♦ 7 5
You Partner
♦ Q 8 6 4 2 ❏ ♦ J played
Declarer
♦A played
The bid is 3 NT. You led the ♦4. Dummy plays the ♦5, partner the ♦J and declarer the ♦A.
What do you know? Everything!
Partner can’t have the ♦K - with the ♦K J he’d play the ♦K. He can’t have the ♦10 since with ♦ J 10, third hand would play the ♦10. Declarer should have ♦ A K 10. If you eventually lead another spade, declarer will win his ♦10. Wait for partner to lead spades and declarer’s 10 will not survive.
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3. If the dummy has an honor that you can beat, try to hold back playing your honor until dummy plays its honor, but do not allow declarer to win with a low card.
Dummy
♥ K 5 3
Partner You
♥ 6 lead ❏ ♥ A J 10 2
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Dummy
♥ Q 6 2
Partner You
♥ 10 lead ❏ ♥ K 5 3
Partner led the ♥10. Dummy plays the ♥2. Save your ♥K to wait for the ♥Q. Let partner’s ♥10 do the pushing.
