Beginners
Lesson 17
Defender Play in No Trumps
Defender Play in No Trumps
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The hardest part of Bridge
Declarer knows all his cards
And all the defence’s cards
(This should help!!)
Each defender knows his own hand and
dummy’s
But must try to work out how the others
are placed
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Defence have control of trick 1
Opening lead is very important
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Defence need to communicate
Signalling with cards played is also key
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We will consider
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Opening Leads
Signals
Opening Leads against NT
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Rules:
If partner has bid lead partner’s suit
unless you have a VERY good reason
Otherwise lead longest suit
With equal length suits lead strongest
Bidding may affect lead
Lead through strength not to strength
Means you can lead what dummy has bid
but not what declarer has bid
Standard Leads
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Top of an honour sequence
4th down from a suit headed by an honour
3rd down from 3 card suit headed by an honour
2nd down from a suit not headed by an honour
MUD (middle, up, down)
NB Honours are AKQJ and T
Highest from a doubleton
Leading Top of an honour sequence
AKxx
KQxx
QJTx
JT9x
T98x
Lead
Lead
Lead
Lead
Lead
AKxx
KQxx
QJTx
JT9x
T98x
Top of Internal Honour Sequence
AJTx
AQJx
KJTx
KT9x
Lead
Lead
Lead
Lead
AJTx
AQJx
KJTx
KT9x
From suit headed by honour(s)
Hxxx
Hxxxx
Hxxxxx
Hxx
Lead
Lead
Lead
Lead
Hxxx
Hxxxx
Hxxxxx
Hxx
From a doubleton whether headed by an
honour or not always lead high - low
Suit with no honours
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xxx
xxxx
xxxxx
xx
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Lead 2nd highest
Then play highest
Then lowest
MUD
Shows shape
But note doubleton is
always high - low
Leads
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Top of Honour Sequence
4th Highest from suit with honour(s)
MUD
High – Low for doubleton
Leading suits bid by dummy is OK
Leading suits bid by declarer is dangerous
Try not to lead away from tenaces
i.e AQxx or KJxx
It gives a trick away
The Rule of 11
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Most leads against NT are 4th down
When partner leads use this rule
Subtract the card led from 11
Subtract the cards in your hand above the
card led
Subtract the cards in dummy above the
card led
Result is how many cards above the card
led are held by Declarer
Rule of 11 example
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Partner leads

7
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Your hand
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7
5
2




A
J
6
5




J
7
6
5
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

7
5
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Dummy
11-7 = 4
-2 in dummy
-2 in hand
Declarer has
0 cards above
7!
Cover what is
played from
dummy
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

Q
T
9



Q
8
3




A
8
4
3



K
T
6
Rule of 11
Partner leads
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Dummy
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


Q
8
2
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You hold
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

A
T
3

7
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2 is played
from dummy
Which card
do you play?
3
Declarer has
no cards
above 7
Rule of 11
Partner leads
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
5
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Dummy
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


Q
9
7
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You hold
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


A
J
8
2
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Dummy plays 7
Which card do you
play?
8
Declarer has no cards
above 5
Then play A
Then J to unblock
Partner may have 5
cards in the suit
Defensive Signals
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The Key to Good Defence
We need to play as a TEAM
Do NOT just play your hand
Consider what Partner may have as well
To help in this we employ signals
Using the cards we play we can sometimes tell
partner about our hand
The only method allowed!
On Partner’s Lead
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If Partner leads Low:
Play Highest card necessary – Sacrifice
your K if necessary!
If Partner leads High:
Tell partner if you like the suit
A card above 6 is encouraging
Below 6 is discouraging
Use the highest or lowest you can afford
Partner leads K. From A987 play ?
A987
You Hold
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A
T
3
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Partner leads
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
K
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What do you play?
Partner has the Q
Play T (I Like this!)
Partner should next
play low to your A
You return the 3 to
Partner’s Q
Partner should have a
4th 
You Hold
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7
5
2
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Partner leads

K
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What do you play?
Partner has the Q
Play 2 (No thanks!)
Partner can decide
whether to play on in
this suit or switch to
another knowing you
have little support
You Hold



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Q
9
2
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Partner leads
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
A
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What do you play?
Partner has the K
Play 9 (I Like this!)
Partner should next
play low to your Q
You return the 2 to
Partner’s K
Partner should have a
4th 
You Hold
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
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K
9
4
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Partner leads
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
Q
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What do you play?
Partner has the J & T
Play 9 (I Like this!)
Partner should next
play low to your K
If you get in you play
4 to Partner’s J
Partner should have a
4th 
Lead Signals
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Always make appropriate signal if you can
Signal each time a new suit is led
Do NOT waste useful cards!
Signals are not perfect. Often you don’t
have a suitable card to use
When Opponents Lead
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We show count to help partner
Playing High – Low shows an even
number of cards in the suit
Playing Low – High an odd number
You Hold
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Opponents lead an A
What would you play
from each suit?
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
7
5
2
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


J
7
5
2
2
5
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Odd
Even
J
7
6
5
2


2
7

7
Odd
Singleton
Count Signals
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Knowing how many cards partner holds in
a suit tells you how many declarer holds
Count your’s, partner’s and dummy’s
How many are left?
Useful in planning your defence
Declarer is trying to retain control
You are trying to take control away
Discard Signals
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When a suit is played and you have no
cards left in it you play a card from
another suit – a discard
You have choice from any cards left in
your hand
Great opportunity to tell partner which suit
you would like led
The first discard is the one that counts
Various methods
Simple Discard Signalling
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HELD
High – Encourage ; Low – Discourage
This means:
Below 6 – I don’t want this suit
Above 6 – Please lead me this suit
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Works fine if you have a spare card to use
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Better Discard Method
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McKenney
I do not want the suit I am playing
I do not want the suit led
Above 6 – lead higher of other 2 suits
Below 6 – lead lower of other 2 suits
6 is non committal
McKenney Example 1
You hold
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A
K
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
4
3
2
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
8
6
2
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Lead is
A
With HELD you
cannot be precise
With McKenney
play

8
McKenney Example 2
You hold



9
8
2


A
Q



T
9
7
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Lead is

A
With McKenney
play 
9
McKenney Example 3
You hold


Q
4



9
6
5


A
K
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
Lead is
A
With McKenney
play

or 
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5
4
McKenney Example 4
You hold
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

9
6




K
Q
J
8


T
7
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
A
Lead is
With McKenney
play

9
McKenney Example 5
You hold


7
3



T
4
2
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

6
2

A
Lead is
You have no
preference
With McKenney
play

6
McKenney Example 6
You hold


8
2



K
Q
8


9
3
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Lead is

A
With McKenney
play


or
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8
3
Leads and Signals
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Both add greatly to your defensive play
Agree system with partner beforehand
Use correct leads
Use Rule of 11
Make Signals
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Notice what partner is doing!!
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