Bridge Tips for Play of the Hand in a Trump Contract

The following bridge tips will show you new options to win more tricks, play the proper sequence, and prevent your opponent from taking loads of tricks when you wind up in a trump contract.

• Count your losers. If you have too many losers to make your contract, try to develop extra tricks in unevenly divided suits (more cards in one hand than the other).

• If the dummy has a short side suit (singleton or doubleton), void the dummy in the suit and then trump whatever losers you have left in the dummy.

• If the dummy has a long side suit, think in terms of establishing the suit by trumping a card or two until the small cards morph into extra winners — good for discarding losers.

• As the declarer, when you’re able to take a trick with a choice of equal cards such as the KQ, take the trick with the higher equal. It’s more deceptive.

• When trying to take a trick with a queen or king, lead from the other hand toward the honor. With xxx facing Kx, lead toward the king. With Axx facing Qxx, lead low toward the queen.