First, I need to tell you something. We never say 'partie'. We say 'deal'. A bridge deal. If you say 'partie', you're immediately exposed. And you don't want that.
Defense is very important because you spend half your bridge life there. You need to try to communicate information to your partner to understand what the declarer has and find how to really annoy them.
Let's start at the beginning: how to make an opening lead, so which is the first card to put on the table?
Against a No Trump contract
Lead your long suits (suits where you have at least 4 cards and the longer it is, the better!). The reason: the attacking side is usually stronger in points when they play, so you won't have enough with your Aces and Kings to beat them. You'll need to make small cards. So you need to establish a long suit and cash it. So you might as well start establishing it by leading it right away!
Which card to lead if the contract is No Trump?
- If you have 3 honors, lead the highest in sequence (AKQ52).
- Otherwise, lead the 4th highest card (Q1072).
Against 3NT, you have chosen to lead Hearts with QJ1093. Which card do you lead?
Against a trump contract
This time, you won't be establishing a long suit, since the opposing side will be able to ruff. So to make the most of your hand beyond the Aces and Kings you were lucky enough to receive, you'll need to either establish honors or ruff.
Which card to lead if the contract is at trump?
- If you have at least 2 consecutive honors (a 'sequence'), lead the highest (the 'top of sequence'): AK7 or 109732 because yes, it also works with the 10.
- If you have a singleton (only one card in a suit), it's often good to lead it.
- Otherwise, lead a small card, preferably in a suit where you don't have a high honor (and never under an Ace).
Against 4, you decide to lead Diamonds where you have AK6. Which card do you lead?
Against 4, you lead your only Club, the 7. Later, partner gets the lead and leads Clubs again; you have Spades left. How do you now take advantage of your singleton lead?
That's it. If you want to know a little more, look here (1).
Learn more: here
- With an odd number of cards, lead the smallest (Q9742 or 1087).
- With an even number of cards, lead a higher one then play the smallest on the next round of the suit (9863 or 102)
Knowing this, your partner will often be able to guess how many you have, and therefore how many the declarer has (the defenders' ultimate goal: to know what the declarer has!).
Go! You're going to play a bit on defense: you'll see, it changes the perspective.
Deal 1 Deal 2Your progress
0/3 quizzes · Saved in this browser only, no account needed.