The End Play

Based Upon the Bookmark Series

Audrey Grant
Declarer’s Plan – A B C
 Assess
 Browse the Extra Trick
Checklist
 Consider the Order of Play
Assess
 Remember the bidding
 Count your winners
 Identify the danger hand
 Evaluate the lead

Do you fall short on

tricks?
Browse the Extra Trick Check
List
 Ruff losers
 Promotion
 Length
 Finesse
 End play
Consider Order of Play
 How to use trump
 Entries to dummy
 What defenders might do

Look for more than one

option
to solve a shortfall in tricks !
A Problem Suit
Dummy

x x
Declarer

A Q
QJ963 Example A
54
AK9
AQ5

Declarer

AKT75
AQ
753 Contract 6S
KJ7 Q Diamond Lead
 QJ963 Example A
54
AK9
AQ5
842 --
K872 JT963
QJT 8642
963 Declarer T842
AKT75
AQ
753 Contract 6S
KJ7 Q Diamond Lead
Get ready !
 J9 Example A
54
--
--
-- --
K872 JT9
-- --
-- Declarer T
T7
AQ
-- Contract 6S
-- Q Diamond Lead
 Time to deconstruct the End
Play
The End Play in 5 Steps
End Play in 5 Steps
1. Declarer’s Plan
2. Recognize suit best led by
opponents
3. Identify exit card
4. Eliminated defender’s other
options
5. Put defender on lead
#1 Declarer’s Plan
 Assess
 Browse the Extra Trick
Checklist
 Consider the Order of Play
#2 Suits Best Lead by Opps

Missing the Ace

x x x
K x
…..Suits Best Lead by Opps

Missing the King

x x
A Q
….Suits Best Lead by Opps
Missing the Ace + King
Q x x
J x x
Often called a “frozen suit”
….Suits Best Lead by Opps
Missing the King + Queen

A J x
T x x
….Suits Best Lead by Opps
Two Way Finesse Not to Take

A J x
K T x
Step 3: Find the Exit Card
Exit card = losing trick = throw-in

Exit card might be:

o an Honor
o a low card
o part of the dangerous suit !
 QJ96 Example B
Q54 Exit Card ?
AKJ
AQ5
84 532
AT7 K986
T642 Q98
9632 Declarer T84
AKT7
J32
753 Contract 4S
KJ7 Deuce Diamond Lead
 QJ96 Example B
Q54
AKJ
AQ5 Exit Card

Declarer

AKT7
J32
753 Contract 4S
KJ7 Deuce Diamond Lead
 J Example B
Q54
--
--
-- --
AT7 K986
T --
-- Declarer --
T
J32
-- Contract 4S
-- Deuce Diamond Lead
#4 Eliminate Defender’s
Options
 Not always possible to force
defenders to break a suit
 Sluff – ruff is another option
 Worse case, fall back to
finesse
#4 Eliminate Defender’s Options

1. Pull trump
2. Strip side suits
3. Throw in
 QJ96 Example C
654 Elimination
AK6
A85
84 53
AQ8 JT97
QJT9 842
Q963 Declarer JT42
AKT72
K32
753 Contract 4S
K7 Q Diamond Lead
QJ96 Example C
654 Elimination
AK6
A85 Exit card

Eliminate
by ruff before exit
Declarer

AKT72
K32
753 Contract 4S
K7 Q Diamond Lead
 QJ Example C
654
--
--
-- --
AQ8 JT97
J --
Q Declarer J
T7
K32
--
--
#5 The Throw-in
 Some end plays require a specific
defender to be on lead
 Thoughtful play may increase your
chances
The End Play – Practice Boards
End Play in 5 Steps
1. Declarer’s Plan
2. Recognize suit best led by
opponents
3. Identify exit card
4. Eliminated defender’s other
options
5. Put defender on lead
 KT63 Board 1
543
A5
AJ53
95 J42
A86 QJT7
KQT9 75432
T742 Declarer 8
AQ87
K92
J8 Contract 4S
KQ96 K Diamond Lead
 T Board 1
543
5
--
-- --
A86 QJT7
QT 7
-- Declarer --
8
K92
J Contract 4S
-- K Diamond Lead
 AK6 Board 2
AJ96
976
J86
Q84 T952
4 72
K85 JT432
AKQ752 Declarer T3
J73
KQT853
AQ Contract 4H
94 A Clubs Lead
 6 Board 2
J9
976
--
Q T9
-- --
K85 JT43
75 Declarer --
J
QT8
AQ Contract 4H
-- A Clubs Lead
 J984 Board 3
KJ54
J64
Q5
62 3
86 Q972
8753 QT92
JT974 Declarer K632
AKQT75
AT3
AK Contract 6S
A8 Jack Club Lead
 J9 Board 3
KJ54
--
5
-- --
86 Q972
87 QT
T97 Declarer 63
QT7
AT3
-- Contract 6S
8 Jack Club Lead
 Your Homework Assignment

 Audrey Grant Bookmark Series

 7 Additional Practice Deals
Alternative Homework
Assignment

Join me on a Seabourn Cruise

in 2016
for additional practice !