Tutorials
| Open the Bidding |
| Basic Rules |
| NT Openings |
| Strong Hands |
| Pre-empt |
| Reply to Opener |
| To 1NT |
| To 1 Suit |
| To Strong Hands |
| To Pre-empt |
| Rebids |
| Opener Rebids |
| Responders Rebids |
| Conventions |
| Blackwood |
| Card Play |
| Basic Card Play |
| Defence to NTs |
| Best Odds Play |
| Scoring |
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.
| A 5 4 3 2 | |||
| Play the Ace | |||
| Q J 10 9 8 7 |
| A 5 4 3 2 | |||
| Play the Finesse | |||
| Q J 10 9 8 |
| A J 4 3 2 | |||
| Play the Finesse leading an honour | |||
| Q 9 8 7 6 |
| K J 10 9 8 7 | |||
| Finesse against the Queen | |||
| 5 4 3 2 |
| A 5 4 3 2 | |||
| Take the first trick with the King to avoid the possibility of East being void | |||
| K Q 10 9 |
| A 5 4 3 2 | |||
| Take the first trick with the Ace to avoid the possibility of West being void | |||
| K Q 9 8 |
| A K 10 | |||
| Play the Ace. If no honour falls play the King otherwise take the Finesse (Principle of Restricted Choice) | |||
| 7 6 5 4 3 2 |
| A Q 10 9 8 7 | |||
| Finesse with the Queen | |||
| 4 3 2 |
| A Q 10 9 8 7 | |||
| Play the Ace and then lead to the Queen (use the same play for split honours) | |||
| 4 3 2 |
| A 4 3 2 | |||
| Guess between playing the Ace, hoping for a singleton King, or playing the Queen, looking for West to hold a singleton Jack | |||
| Q 10 9 8 7 |
| 5 4 3 2 | |||
| Best percentage play is to Finesse twice | |||
| A J 10 9 8 |
| K J 10 9 8 7 | |||
| Do not play the King. Finesse for the Queen with the Jack | |||
| 4 3 2 |
| A 4 3 2 | |||
| Take two Finesses. Start with the 10 to protect against a void in East's hand | |||
| Q 10 9 8 |
| 3 2 | |||
| Play the Ace and the Finesse with the 10 | |||
| A K 10 9 8 7 |
| 3 2 | |||
| Play for the double Finesse | |||
| A K 10 9 8 7 |
| A 4 3 2 | |||
| Play the King and then play small and Finesse the 10 with the 9 if necessary | |||
| K J 9 8 7 |