https://www.esther-bridge.com/q_DEC.html
LAST Updated: 3/15/26 06:00
Return to the Esther Bridge Lessons Website.
Return to the Esther Bridge 'Pop' Quizzes Website.
YOUR HOST: Esther
Klinktoast-Houstonhousen, a hypothetical Quintuple Emerald Gold Life Master (20+ million ACBL Masterpoints), who
vacillates between insisting on being called "Ms. Klinktoast-Houstonhousen," and "Esther, because I am so warm
and caring."
Esther
Bridge 'Pop' Quizzes:
Learn Duplicate Bridge Online
Bridge Play as
Declarer
Bruce Thompson
Esther says, "These simply ain't
yo' Momma's 'Drill-and-Kill' 'Pop' Quizzes!!!"
As advertised in the December, 2023 ACBL Bridge
Bulletin.
Also see the article about
Esther in the Winter, 2024 issue of the
the American Bridge Teachers' Association ABTA Journal, or the
article about Esther in the Summer,
2024 issue of the ABTA Journal.
The "Esther Bridge 'Pop' Quizzes" website includes a series of bridge quizzes developed by Esther. Each
brief quiz poses a bridge quandary or a series of bridge quandaries. Every Quiz also includes a Hyperlink to
Esther's suggested answer(s) to the quandary or series of quandaries on a given Quiz. These answers are
relatively detailed, and include references and links to related content on the "Esther Bridge
Lessons" website.
Unlike the "Esther Bridge Lessons" and the
"Esther Bridge Conventions Lessons", which vary in
levels of focus and difficulty, the "Esther Bridge 'Pop' Quizzes" are more uniformly targeted at
serving newer players. Enjoy! And please please tell all your Bridge Friends!!!
Esther Bridge 'Pop' Quiz" #103
is a very, very special "Esther Bridge 'Pop' Quiz"! This special 'Pop' Quiz
both tests and teaches. Quiz #103 covers (1) your knowledge about Bridge Scoring and (2) your
knowledge about how Duplicate Pairs MatchPoint and Total Percentages are computed. Would you start competing in
football or cricket if you did not really understand how the competition was scored??? To bid and compete
effecively in duplicate bridge you similarly must reasonably soon become facile in your understanding of how
duplicate bridge is scored!!!
PLAY AS DECLARER
Two Monster "Esther Bridge 'Pop' Quizzes"
Raising Several Basic and Important
Cardinal Principles for Declarer Play
Quiz #170: "Several Basic and Important
Principles for Playing 3NT Contracts as Declarer".
Quiz #171: "Several Basic and Important
Principles for Playing Suit Contracts as Declarer".
Structure of the "Play as Declarer
Esther Bridge 'Pop' Quizzes":
1. Generic Declarer Play Issues
2. Play as Declarer of NT Contracts
JUMP to Play as Declarer of NT Contracts.
3. Play as Declarer of Suit Contracts
JUMP to Play as Declarer of Suit Contracts.
1. Play as Declarer:
Generic Declarer Play Issues
Quiz #313: "A Cardinal Bridge Principal: As
Declarer Give Up Your Inevitable 'Losers' EARLY". For Beginners.
Quiz #240: "If an 'Elimination
Endplay' Can Help You as Declarer When You Are Facing a 'Danger Opponent', Can an 'Elimination
Endplay' Help You When You Are Playing a 'Dicey' Contract?"
Quiz #233: "When as Declarer You Face a 'Danger
Opponent': Another BBO Bridge Master Opportunity to Practice an 'Elimination Endplay'".
Quiz #217: "Counting HCPs During Play of the
Hand: As Bridge Declarer Listen to the Opponents' PASSes During the Auction to 'Place' Missing Honors".
Quiz #218: "Counting Cards During Play of the
Hand: As Bridge Declarer Listen to the Opponents' PASSes During the Auction to 'Place' Missing Honors".
Quiz #222: "'Listening' to the Auction When One
Opponent Bid So You Can 'Place' 'Missing' Honors".
Quiz #223: "'Listen' to the Auction When Both
Opponents Bid".
Quiz #207: "As Declarer Can You Count Points (1) From
the Auction and (2) During Play of the Hand So That You Can 'Place' Missing Honors?" Esther says, "Counting
both (1) cards and (2) points throughout the play of a Board is critically important when playing
duplicate bridge!"
Quiz #208: "More on As Declarer 'Listening' to the
Auction and 'Placing' Missing Honors".
Quiz #209: "When Playing as Bridge Declarer Identifying
and Coping With the 'Danger Opponent'".
Quiz #210: "When Playing as Declarer 'Placing' Honors
by Listening to the PASSes and 'Unblocking' the Dummy".
Quiz #215:
"'Unblocking' a 'Long' Suit Using Vehicles Other than Playing the 'Blocking'
Honors".
Quiz #216: "As Bridge Declarer Invoking the
'Principle of Restricted Choice'".
Quiz #196: "Running a 'Necessary' Finesse When You Know
Where the 'Missing' Queen Lies as Well as 'Dumping' Your 'Loser'".
Quiz #189: "Overtaking One's Own 'Winner' and Preserving Entries to the Other Hand".
Quiz #190: "Tip 11 from David Bird's 2005 Book,
'52 Great Bridge Tips on Declarer Play': Tempt Opponents to 'Cover an Honor with an Honor'".
Quiz #175: "As Declarer Running an 'Avoidance Play'
Against the 'Danger Opponent': Examples from Ron Klinger's 2005 Book, '52 Great Bridge Tips on Declarer
Play'".
Quiz #143: "A Lesson for
Beginners: Can You Make a 4S Game Contract When Your Partnership Holds Only 20
HCPs?: T is for Trump Cards and Transportation".
Quiz #147: "As Declarer, When You Have Few Entries to
Dummy, Can You Select the Optimal Finesses?"
Quiz #138: "As Declarer, 'Placing' Missing
Honors by Listening to (1) Which Opponent Bid, (2) Which Opponent Did Not Bid, and (3) What Your LHO
Opponent Led".
Sometimes even a Suit 2 can be the biggest card in the deck! Sometimes even a Suit A,K can be the 2
smallest 2 cards in the deck!
Quiz #122: "As Declarer, 'Placing' Missing Honors by 'Listening to the Auction' and What Opponents Do, and Do Not, Play”.
Quiz #118: "As Declarer, Exercise Thoughtful
Care in Formulating Your 'Line of Play'".
Quiz #117: "As Declarer, Think in Formulating Your
'Line of Play', in Making Your Card Selections, and in Placing Opponents' 'Key' Cards".
Opponents take 3 Tricks "off the top" against your 4S contract. Can you avoid the
unobvious error you must not make, and also correctly "place" the Opponent's "key" cards in order
to "make" your Game contract?
Quiz #116: "Play as Declarer of 1 Challenging
Suit Contract and 1 Challenging NT Contract".
Quiz #113: "Play as Declarer After Overcalling
Opponent's Preempt 2S Opening Bid".
Quiz #110: "As Declarer, Delay Play from Your
Tenace or Near-Tenace as Long as Possible".
Quiz #109: "Playing for the Drop vs. the Finesse as
Bridge Declarer: Ron Klinger's 'Even Suit Break Test'".
Quiz #44: "Sitting 4th on a Trick that Opponents
Will Win, Should You Play 'High' or 'Low'?"
Quiz #66: "An Esther 'Pop' Quiz 'Quickie
Quiz': As Declarer, Formulating Your Initial 'Line of Play'". Esther says, "Quiz #66 is
an excellent Quiz for BEGINNERS".
Quiz #68: "As Declarer, Estimating Opponents' HCPs (1)
During the Auction, and (2) Later During Play: Why This Is So Important".
Quiz #98: "Some Illustrative Decisions When You
Play as Declarer".
2. Play as Declarer of NT Contracts
Quiz #312: "As Declarer in a 3NT Contract Can
You Spot Unobvious Ways to Create 'Entries' Into Your Very Weak Declarer's Hand?"
Quiz #339: "Maintaining Essential Dummy
Entries When Dummy Holds a 'Long' Suit and You Are Playing a NT Contract as Declarer". For
Beginners.
Quiz #325: "As Declarer Playing a NT Contract
Do You Know (1) Larry Cohen's '3 Step System' for Playing NT Contracts and (2) How to Play a Suit in Which
Your Partnership Holds 7 Cards?" For Beginners.
Quiz #333: "As Declarer Playing a NT Contract
Your Primary Duties Include (1) Preserving 'Entries' and (2) Taking 'Winners' 'Off the Top', When You Can!"
For Beginners.
Quiz #334: "As Declarer Playing a NT Contract
When Your Partnership Holds (1) 8 'Winners' But Needs a 9th and (2) 7 Cards in a Suit So the
Opponents' 'Split' May be 3-3 and Thus Potentially You Can 'Promote' a 4th Card in 1 Hand You Control Into a
'Winner'". For Beginners.
Quiz #340: "Overtaking Your Own 'Winner': Sometimes
It's More About Placing the Lead in the Right Hand versus Taking Economical 'Wins'".
Quiz #331: "As Declarer Playing a NT Contract:
The 'Rule of 11', Always!, The 'Rule of 7, Sometimes!" For Beginners.
Quiz #345: "Playing a 6NT Contract as Bridge
Declarer: To Use or Not Use the Bridge 'Rule of 7'". For Beginners.
Quiz #338: "Protecting Against an Unfavorable 'Split'
When Playing a NT Contract as Declarer".
Quiz #342: "As Bridge Declarer When Should You Play
for (1) the 'Drop' versus (2) the Finesse?"
Quiz #348: "Creating Additional Necessary 'Winners'
When You Are Playing a NT Contract As Bridge Declarer".
Quiz #288: "Playing a Difficult NT Contract as
Declarer: Running an 'Elimination Endplay' as the Only Vehicle for Entering the
Dummy to 'Cash' Dummy's 'Winners'". Another opportunity to practice repeatedly
using the BBO Bridge Master website.
Quiz #248: "When Playing a Difficult Contract Sometimes
You Can Save Yourself by Running a 'Squeeze' Play to Give an Opponent a Hobson's Discard
Choice". Another opportunity to practice repeatedly using the BBO Bridge
Master website.
Quiz #316: "As Declarer in a 3NT Contract Do You
Know How to Execute a '1-Suit Squeeze Endplay'?"
Master website.
Quiz #252: "Playing a 3NT Contract as Declarer:
Correctly and Fully Interpreting LHO's Initial Lead".
Quiz #259: "Playing a 3NT Contract as Declarer:
Sometimes 'Unblocking' Is to Make More Tricks, Other Times 'Unblocking' is for 'Transportation'".
Quiz #231: "When Playing a 3NT Contract as
Declarer, Invoking the 'Principle of Restricted Choice': An Opportunity to Practice
Repeatedly Using the BBO Bridge Master Website".
Quiz #236: "When Playing 3NT as Declarer
'Ducking' on Trick #1 in Order to Save the Contract".
Quiz #237: "When Playing 3NT as Declarer
'Unblocking' Dummy on Trick #1 in Order to Save the Contract".
Quiz #239: "When Playing 3NT as Declarer Using
the 'Rule of 11' to (1) Determine How Many Higher Cards Your RHO Holds and (2) Sometimes How Many Cards
Your LHO Initially Held in the Suit".
Quiz #242: "When Playing as Declarer a 3NT
Contract: The Critical Necessity of 'Unblocking' 'Winners' and Protecting Necessary Entries to 'Promote'
Needed 'Winners'".
Quiz #234: "When Playing as Declarer 'Placing'
'Missing' Honors Where Those Honors Must Lie or Else Your 3NT Contract Will Fail".
Quiz #244: "When Playing a 3NT Contract as
Declarer: Identifying and Dealing With a 'Danger Player' and a 'Danger Suit'".
Quiz #267: "Playing a 3NT Contract as Declarer
When You Face a 'Danger Player' and a 'Danger Suit'".
Quiz #275: "Opening 2NT and Playing 3NT
as Declarer".
Quiz #276: "Opponents Opened 2S, You Overcalled
2NT and Partner Set the Final Contract at 3NT: Removing the 'Danger Player'
from the Lead".
Quiz #245: "YIKES!: Playing a 3NT
Contract as Declarer When Both of the Hands You Control Hold Singletons!"
Quiz #246: "Maintaining Every, Single Entry Into the
Dummy and Using an 'Elimination Endplay' to Help Defang a 'Danger Opponent'".
Quiz #262: "'BBO Bridge Master' Let's You
Repeatedly Practice the Bridge 'Squeeze Play' in the Context of a 3NT Contract".
Quiz #282: "Executing a Bridge
'Double Squeeze Play' When Playing a 4H Contract as
Declarer".
Quiz #284: "Executing a Bridge
'Strip Squeeze Play' When Playing a 6NT Contract as Declarer: Determining EAST's
Initial 'Count' So You Can Estimate Where 'Missing' Honors Lie".
Quiz #281: "Maintaining 'Entries' into the 'Closed'
Hand When Playing a 3NT Contract as Declarer".
Quiz #221: "Playing NT as Bridge Declarer in the
Presence of a 'Dangerous Player'".
Quiz #286: "Playing a Difficult 3NT Contract as
Declarer: When You Absolutely Must Finesse, Do So, and 'Place' Missing Honors Where They Must Lie If You
Are to Make Your Contract, and Protecting Against a 'Danger Suit'".
Quiz #332: "As Declarer Playing a 6NT Contract:
Finesse Only When You Must, But If You Must, You Must, Even Toward an Exposed Honor in the Dummy!"
Quiz #219: "Playing NT as Declarer in the
Presence of a 'Danger Suit' and Selecting the Better Suit for 'Promoting' Needed 'Winners'".
Quiz #224: "'Promoting' Winners as Declarer When
Playing What Appear to be Bleak 3NT Contracts".
Quiz #225: "'Unblocking' Your 'Long' Suit When as
Declarer You Are Playing a 3NT Contract".
Quiz #278: "'Listening' to the Auction When
Opponents (1) Opened 1NT, (2) Responder Bid Stayman, (3) Opener Bid 2H, and Responder
Sets the Final Contract at 3NT".
Quiz #227: "When Playing a 3NT Contract as Declarer Playing Safely When There May Be an Unlikely But Deadly Suit
'Split': The 'Distribution Safety Play'".
Quiz #228: "When Playing a 3NT Contract as Declarer, Exploring 'Splits' and 'Unblocking' Possibly-Necessary Finesses for Later Play, If Needed".
Quiz #229: "When Playing a 3NT Contract as Declarer and An Opponent Bid During the Auction, Sometimes It's Best to 'Duck' At Least Once When the Opponent's Bid
Suit is Initially Led".
Quiz #201: "When Playing a 3NT Contract as
Declarer: Do You Know How to Execute a 'Bath Coup'?"
Quiz #202: "When Playing a 3NT Contract as
Declarer Do You Know When to Abhor Both the 'Bath Coup' and the 'Rule of
7'?"
Quiz #203: "When Playing a 'Difficult'
3NT Contract And You Have 2 Unlikely But Necessary 'Lines of Play', You Gotta Do What You Gotta Do
If These Are Your Only Choices!"
Quiz #212: "Playing 3NT Contracts as Bridge
Declarer: What to Do When There is a 'Danger Suit'".
Quiz #204: "If the 'Rule of 7' or the 'Hold-Up Play'
Can Work When You as Declarer Are Playing a NT Contract Can the 'Hold-Up Play' Also Work When You Are Playing a
Suit Contract?"
Quiz #193: "As Declarer Playing a 3NT Contract When
You Have 2 Opportunities to Finesse, Consider that Your 2 Finessing Choices May Not Be Equally Appealing".
Quiz #199: "When Playing a NT Contract as Declarer
How Do You Select Between 2 Suits Both of Which Can Be 'Promoted'?"
Quiz #178: "Challenges When Playing 3NT Contracts as
the Bridge Declarer: What is the 'Danger' Suit and the Importance of 'Unblocking' the Dummy".
Quiz #187: "In Playing NT Contracts the Critical
Importance of 'Unblocking' Entry into the Hand Holding a 'Long' Suit with 'Low' Cards That Can be 'Promoted' into
'Winners'".
Quiz #191: "As Declarer Playing a 3NT Contract
When Taking Finesses is Essential to 'Making' Your Contract". When you as Declarer are
missing a Queen and your Partnership holds *8* cards in the Suit, what is the probability
that you can "drop" the missing Queen by playing A,K?
Quiz #195: "Playing a 3NT Contract as Declarer:
'Promoting' a 'Long' Suit vs Finessing". When you as Declarer are missing a Queen and your Partnership holds
*7* cards in the Suit, what is the probability that you can "drop" the missing Queen by
playing A,K?
Quiz #192: "As Declarer Playing a 3NT Contract
When One Opponent Made a Preemp Bid: You May Need to Use *ALL* the Tools in Your Declarer Toolbox".
Quiz #194: "As Declarer Playing a 3NT Contract When
an Opponent Overcalled Your 1NT Opening Bid".
Quiz #186: "In Playing NT Contracts as Declarer
Entries to Your 'Closed' Hand May Also be Vital: Protecting Entries to the Hand Containing 'Touching' Cards that
Can be 'Promoted' into Winners".
Quiz #174: "Playing NT Contracts as Declarer:
Running an 'Avoidance Play' Against the 'Dangerous Opponent' and 'Promoting'
'Winners'".
Quiz #142: "As Declarer Playing a NT Contract
(1) Beware the 'Rule of 7' and (2) Attend Closely to Your 'Touching' Honors Across Both Your Hand
and Dummy".
Quiz #165: "When Playing a NT Contract as
Declarer 'Protecting' Entries to the Hand Holding a 'Long' Suit".
Quiz #166: "Playing a 3NT Contract as
Declarer When An Opponent Bid During the Auction".
Quiz #167: "Playing a 3NT Contract as
Declarer When Both Opponents Were Silent During the Auction".
Quiz #168: "Playing a 3NT Contract as
Declarer When There Is a 'Dangerous' Suit, Along With a Dash of the 'Rule of 7'".
Quiz #161: "Playing a NT Contract as Declarer
When Opponents Were Silent During the Auction".
Quiz #153: "Beware the 'Rule of 7' When
Playing a NT Contract as Bridge Declarer".
Quiz #155: "Playing a NT Contract as Declarer:
Beware the 'Rule of 7' and Some Dangers to Consider".
Quiz #136: "As Declarer, the Critical
Importance of Protecting Against Extremely Unlikely But Possible 'Splits', and of Correctly Selecting
Sluff Discards in NT Contracts".
Quiz #125: "As Declarer, Ignore Intermediate
'Beef' 'Spot' Cards at Your Own Peril, Especially When Playing NT Contracts".
Quiz #120: "'Promoting' 'Winners' and Sorting Out
Finesses When Playing NT Contracts As Declarer".
Quiz #6: "Play as Declarer on a 3NT
Contract". Interpreting the lead, and making decisions about whether, and for how long, you should
"duck".
Quiz #70: "Correct Play of the Hand as Declarer in a
NT Contract".
Quiz #114: "Play as Declarer of NT
Contracts".
3. Play as Declarer of Suit Contracts
Quiz #264: "'BBO Bridge Master' Let's You
Practice Playing the Way You Must When There is Only One Way Albeit an Unlikely Way for You to Make Your
4S Contract".
Quiz #326: "As Declarer Playing a
6H Contract What is the Best Time to Give Up Your Inevitable Loser?"
For Beginners.
Quiz #336: "When Playing a Suit Contract as Bridge
Declarer What Is Your 'Primary Duty'?" For Beginners.
Quiz #347: "You Are Playing a Suit Contract in a Major As Bridge Declarer When Everybody Was Bidding During the Auction". It is important to always remember your
primary duty as Declarer in a Suit contract!
Quiz #337: "When Playing a Suit Contract as Declarer
(1) 'Placing' the 'Missing' Side Suit Ace and (2) Should You 'Duck' or 'Cover' in Your Vulnerable Side Suit?"
Quiz #328: "As Declarer Playing a
4H Contract After Losing 3 Tricks 'Off the Top' Which of Your 2 Suits 'Missing' Kings Should You
Finesse First?"
Quiz #344: "Playing a 4-Level Suit Contract in a Major
as Bridge Declarer When Your Partnership Has a 'Moysian Fit'".
Quiz #343: "As Bridge Declarer, Deciding Whether or Not
to Finesse and Finding a Parking Place for Your 'Losers'".
Quiz #293: "As Declarer Can You Protect Against an
Unlikely But Dangerous 'Split' by Executing a 'Distribution Safety Play'?"
Quiz #306: "Playing a 5C Contract as Declarer
With a 'Pessimistic Mindset' and Using a 'Safety Play'
to Protect Against a Possible 'Trump Stack'".
Quiz #292: "As Declarer Can You Make a 'Missing' Trump
Honor Held by Your Opponents 'Vanish'?: The Bridge 'Smother Endplay'".
Quiz #291: "The 'Elimination
Endplay' Can Help You as Declarer When You Face an Opponent With Most of the Defensive HCPs: What About an
Opponent Holding a 'Trump Stack'?"
Quiz #295: "Playing a 4S Contract as Declarer
When You and Your LHO Together Hold 92.5% of the HCPs and You and Partner Hold 10 Trump Spade Cards: Can a
'Strip Squeeze Endplay' Help You Deal With Your LHO?"
Quiz #314: "As Declarer in a 6S Contract Do You
Know How to Execute an Endplay 'Squeeze'?"
Quiz #320: "As Declarer Do You Know How to Execute an
'Entry Shifting Squeeze Endplay'?"
Quiz #322: "As Declarer Playing Against an RHO Who as
Dealer Opened 1NT Do You Know How to Execute a '3-Suit Squeeze Endplay'?"
Quiz #324: "As Declarer Playing a 7C Contract
Do You Know How to Execute a '2-Opponent Squeeze Endplay'?"
Quiz #298: "Does Your LHO's Pre-empt Opening Invite
'Endplaying' That Opponent in His Bid Suit and
'Squeezing' the Partner of the Pre-Empt Opener Who Holds a 'Trump Stack' Against
You?"
Quiz #302: "When Your LHO as Dealer Opened
1D and You Are Playing a 4H Contract, Guess Who You Gonna
'Elimination Endplay'?"
Quiz #309: "Bidding and Playing a Suit Contract As
Bridge Declarer When Your RHO as Dealer Opened With a 1NT Bid".
Quiz #308: "As Bridge Declarer Can You Capitalize on
the 'Principle of Restricted Choice' But Also Be Flexible in Executing Your 'Line of
Play', and What To Do About an Opponent's 'Trump Stack'?"
"When 1 Opponent Shows a 2-Suited Hand
Against Your Suit Contract..."
When 1 Opponent shows a 2-Suited Hand during the auction or play, you may face a 'Trump
Stack' versus the other Opponent, and a 'Trump Endplay' may be
required. There are various ways that an Opponent can "show" a 2-Suited Hand.
1. One Opponent Makes an "Unusual NT!" Overcall Bid
Note. Some Partnerships play the "Unusual 2NT!" Overcall bid as always showing a Hand
that is 2-Suited in Clubs and Diamonds with both Minors having good "Suit Quality". But as Esther recommends in her
"Esther Bridge Convention Lesson #8: Unusual
2NT!", other Partnerships by Partnership Agreement instead play an "Unusual 2NT!"
Overcall as showing a Hand that is 2-Suited in the 2 lowest unbid Suits!
Quiz #305: "When Your LHO Overcalled Your 2C
Bid as Dealer by Bidding 'Unusual 2NT', RHO Bid 4C and You Are Playing a 6H
Contract, What 'Line of Play' Should You Follow?" ["combinations"]
Quiz #303: "When Your LHO Overcalled Your 2C
Bid as Dealer by Bidding 'Unusual 2NT', RHO Bid 3D and You Are Playing a
6H Contract, Should You Expect a 'Trump Stack' Against You and Can an
'Elimination Endplay' Help?"
Quiz #310: "Does Each Opponent Holding a 'Long' Red
Suit Implicate the Advantage of You as Declarer in a Suit Contract Executing an
'Elimination Endplay'?"
Quiz #300: "When Playing a
4H Contract Executing an 'Entry Shifting Trump Squeeze Endplay'
When Your LHO Overcalled Your Initial 1H Bid With an 'Unusual 2NT' Bid: A
Tricentennial Esther Bridge 'Pop' Quiz".
Quiz #271: "Running an
'Elimination Endplay' Against an Opponent Who Bid 'Unusual 2NT' During the
Auction".
Quiz #250: "'Placing' 'Missing' Honors When an Opponent
Overcalled by Bidding 'Unusual 2NT' After You Opened 2C and You Are Playing a 6H
Contract as Declarer".
2. One Opponent Bids 2 Different Suits During the Auction
As illustrated by the bidding in "Esther Bridge Dialogue
Lesson #162" sometimes the auction can show in ways other than an Opponent's "Unusual NT!" bid that
1 Opponent clearly holds a 2-Suited Hand and thus that bidding Opponent's Partner likely holds a
'Trump Stack'.
3. One Opponent "Shows" a 2-Suited Hand During the Play of the Hand
Sometimes even when both Opponents are silent throughout the auction one Opponent early in play may reveal a Trump void
thus suggesting that this Opponent's Partner holds a 'Trump Stack'. In this case a
"Trump Elimination Endplay" may be quite helpful as suggested in
"Esther Bridge Dialogue Lesson #163".
Quiz #301: "When Playing a
6H Contract as Declarer Executing a 'Compound Squeeze Endplay'
Against Both Your Opponents".
Quiz #299: "When Your LHO Opened With a 'Weak-2'
Preempt 2H Bid and You Are Playing a 6S Contract, Does Your LHO's Opening
2H Bid Invite an 'Elimination Endplay' Against LHO in
Hearts?"
Quiz #261: "'BBO Bridge Master' Let's You
Repeatedly Practice the Bridge 'Elimination Endplay' Which Can Often Help You
Whenever Things Look Desperate for Your Suit Contract".
Quiz #294: "Can a
'Non-Elimination Endplay' Performed Early in Play Help You as Declarer When You
Are Playing a Difficult 6S Contract?"
Quiz #263: "'BBO Bridge Master' Let's You
Practice 'Placing' 'Missing' Honors by (1) Listening to the Auction and (2) Attending to Opponents' Play
of the Hand".
Quiz #318: "Can You Correctly Play This
Difficult Board Presented in Michael Rosenberg's Book, 'Bridge, Zia, ...and Me'?"
Quiz #270: "LHO DOUBLEd Your 1S Opening Bid,
Partner Made a 'Support' ReDOUBLE: Can You Avoid a Finesse in Playing Your 4S Contract as Declarer".
Quiz #277: "As Declarer, 'Listening' to the Auction,
Delaying 'Winners', and Discarding 'Blocking' Winners'".
Quiz #279: "'Listening' to the Auction When Opponents
Opened 4H and You Set the Final Contract at 4S". More on the
"Elimination Endplay".
Quiz #280: "'Listening' to the Auction and
Executing a Very Redemptive 'Endplay Squeeze'/'Squeeze Play' as Declarer in a
5H Contract".
Quiz #289: "Playing a 6H
Contract When You See 2 'Losers' If You Retain the Lead: Can a 'Strip Squeeze Play'
Save You?"
Quiz #290: "Your RHO Opened 1NT, and You Are
Playing a 3D DOUBLED Contract: Can an 'Elimination Endplay'
Placing the Lead in the 1NT Bidder's Hand Help?"
Quiz #296: "When Your LHO Opened
4H and You Are Playing a Dire 5C Contract Can You Both
'Endplay' Your LHO and 'Squeeze' Your RHO?"
Quiz #297: "RHO as Dealer Opened 1S, When You
Are Playing a 6H Contract Can You Take Advantage of RHO's Desperation to Avoid
'Endplaying' Himself?"
Quiz #249: "When Your Contract is in Danger, Executing
an 'Elimination Endplay' May Be Helpful".
Quiz #311: "As Declarer in a Suit Contract Do You Know
How to Execute a 'Dummy Reversal' Play?" ["combinations"]
Quiz #285: "Executing a 'Dummy
Reversal' Play When Playing a Suit Contract as Declarer".
Quiz #266: "The
'Loser-on-Loser Play' is a Cherished Bridge Play that Can Save the Declarer's
Bacon".
Quiz #253: "Playing a Suit Contract as Declarer: Can a
'Loser-on-Loser' Play Save Declarer's Day?"
Quiz #255: "Playing a Suit Contract as Declarer:
Another 'Loser-on-Loser' Play Opportunity".
Quiz #315: "As Declarer in a 5S Contract Do You
Know How to Execute a 'Loser-on-Loser Endplay'?"
Quiz #256: "Playing a Suit Contract as Declarer:
Necessary 'Unblocking' May Require 'Dumping' Your A,K,Q 'Side' Suit Holdings".
Quiz #257: "Larry Cohen Speaks with Bridge Wisdom:
Playing a Suit Contract as Declarer, Delay Finesses as Long as You Can".
Quiz #260: "This Time 'BBO Bridge Master' Let's
You Repeatedly Practice the Bridge 'Ruffing Finesse' Which Can Sometimes 'Save
Your Bacon'!".
Quiz #268: "Avoiding the 'Danger Player' When
You Are Playing a Suit Contract as Declarer".
Quiz #247: "When Playing a Suit Contract as Declarer,
Don't Underlove Your Low Cards Especially in the Trump Suit, and Don't Overlove Your High Honors,
Even Side-Suit Aces".
Quiz #251: "Playing as Declarer When in a 'Competitive'
Auction Both Opponents Bid Hearts and You and Partner Bid Both Clubs and Spades and Your Final Contract is
4S".
Quiz #243: "Playing a 4H Suit
Contract as Declarer After Your LHO Overcalled Your 1H Opening Bid By Bidding 1S".
Quiz #269: "Playing a 4S Contract as Declarer
When LHO Opened 1NT".
Quiz #241: "Your LHO Opens 3C, Partner PASSes,
RHO Bids 5C: What Would You Bid, How Would You Play?"
Quiz #232: "When Playing a Suit Contract as Declarer,
And You Face a 'Danger Opponent', Can an 'Elimination Endplay' Possibly Rescue Your Contract?"
Quiz #220: "Playing a Suit Contract as Bridge
Declarer: Sluffing 'Losers' on 'Sacrifice' Tricks".
Quiz #226: "When Playing a Suit Contract as Declarer
Is It Better to Play for the More Likely 'Split' or to Be Safe and Protect
Against the Unlikely 'Split'?: The 'Distribution Safety Play'".
Quiz #211: "The All-Important Task When Playing
a Suit Contract as Declarer: 'Dumping' Losers".
Quiz #213: "Creating Desperately Needed Entries Into
Dummy in a Suit Contract When Dummy Holds J,x and Declarer Holds A,Q,x,x in a 'Side' Suit, or Dummy Holds Q,x and
Declarer Holds A,J,x,x".
Quiz #177: "As Declarer on a Suit Contract Be Wary of
Taking a Trick #1 Finesse: Examples from David Bird's 2005 Book, '52 Great Bridge Tips on Declarer
Play'".
Quiz #179: "When Playing a Small Slam Suit Contract as
Declarer, Does the '8 Ever, 9 Never' Rule for Deciding Whether to Finesse When You Are Missing the Trump Suit
Queen Apply?"
Quiz #184: "To Draw or Not Draw Trump, That is the
Question!"
Quiz #185: "Formulating Your 'Line of Play' of a Suit
Contract as Declarer: More on Drawing Trump and Maintaining Entries to the Dummy".
Quiz #159: "More Sage Advice from David Bird's 2005
Book, 52 Great Great Bridge Tips on Declarer Play: 'Use the Entries to Dummy in the Trump Suit'".
Quiz #160: "Playing a Suit Contract as Declarer When
Dummy is Short of Trump and Has Few Entries".
Quiz #164: "As Declarer Playing a Suit Contract (1)
When Should You Draw Trump, and (2) How Can You 'Dump' 'Losers'?"
Quiz #162: "As Declarer, When You Are Likely to Lose
Control of Trump and an Opponent Ruff Is Threatened, What Can You Do to Improve Your Situation?"
Quiz #152: "As Bridge Declarer Can You Correctly
(1) Identify the Most Dangerous Card in Your Hand, (2) the Most Precious Card in Dummy, and (3) Decide
Whether to Finesse in Trump?: Drawing Trump in Suit Contracts".
Quiz #154: "Playing a Suit Contract as Declarer When
Dummy is 'Short' in Trump But Contains an A,x Doubleton".
Quiz #148: "As Declarer, Finding Creative Ways to
'Dump' Your Losers".
Quiz #151: "As Bridge Declarer Can You Correctly
Conduct a 'Postmortem' to Improve Your Bridge Play, and Do You Know the Cardinal Bridge Principle of
Playing Suit Contracts?"
Quiz #145: "A Lesson for
Beginners: As Declarer, Reading the Lead, Ruffing in the Hand Holding the Most Trump Cards, and
Finessing Only When You Must".
Quiz #133: "More on Developing Your 'Line of Play' As
Declarer in a Suit Contract".
Quiz #132: "Developing Your 'Line of Play' As
Declarer in a Suit Contract".
Quiz #131: "As Declarer in a Suit Contract, You Must
Decide (1) When to Draw Trump and (2) How Many Rounds of Trump Cards to Draw".
Quiz #124: "As Declarer, 2 Boards That Require You to
Choose Between a 'Ruff' versus a 'Sluff'".
Quiz #121: "As Declarer, Drawing Trump in a Suit
Contract, and 'Promoting' 'Winners' in a NT Contracts". Sometimes as Declarer it's all about
not "drawing" Trump!
Quiz #112: "Tips for Bridge Declarers: Even in Suit
Contracts Count Your 'Winners' to Help Formulate Your Best 'Line of Play'".
Quiz #13: "Drawing Trump When 5 Cards are Out, and
Missing the Trump Ace".
Quiz #25: "What 'Trump Card Count' Will You Most
Often Hold, and Which 'Trump Split' Is Most Likely for that 'Trump Card Count'?"
Quiz #29: "As Declarer You are Playing a 4S
Contract, Your LHO Leads the Ace of Hearts: What Do You Play When You Hold 'Touching Honor' Losers?"
Quiz #30: "Playing a 4S Contract as Declarer
Holding Only 20 HCPs in Your Partnership, and Identifying the Only Makeable 'Line of Play'".
Quiz #43: "Can You as Declarer Take All
Remaining 6 Tricks in the Infamous, Classic 'Whitfeld Six' Bridge Problem?"
Quiz #54: "You Hold A,K,Q,8,7 of Trump Clubs, and
Both Dummy and You Hold Singletons: What Is Your Initial 'Line of Play'?"
Quiz #55: "Your LHO Preempts
3D, Partner Holds Both Majors, You Set the Final Contract at 4H, and
Your RHO Leads the Spade 7: What Does Your RHO's Lead Mean, and What Is Your Tentative 'Line of Play'?"
Quiz #85: "When Playing a Suit Contract as Declarer,
as a Beginner Can You Avoid This Fundamental
Error?. As lagniappe Esther also discusses "How Badly Can a Single Low
Board Percentage Hurt Your Overall Total Percentage?" And as a lagniappe within the lagniappe
Esther also presents Mark Twain's report of his discovery of the word "lagniappe" in New Orleans in 1883. EVERY
New Orleans restaurant owner, and EVERY non-tourist New Orleans restaurant go-er, knows this important word,
"lagniappe".
Quiz #88: "Can You Correctly Play as Declarer When
Your Partnership Holds 5+3=8 Trump Cards and Both Dummy and Declarer's Hand Hold Singletons in
Different Non-Trump Suits?"
You may also be interested in "The Bridge World 'Learning Center' Bridge Quizzes". Click
"Bridge Play as Declarer Quiz #1" to
go to Declarer Play Quiz #1 of the 51 of these TBW Declarer Play Quizzes.
The Bridge World is the oldest continuously published bridge magazine. TBW was founded in 1929 and first
edited by Ely Culbertson, a very accomplished and famous bridge player. Culbertson also created the first company to
produce plastic playing cards. His books (e.g., the 1930 Contract Bridge Blue Book, the 1934 Contract Bridge Red
Book on Play, and the 1936 Contract Bridge Complete: The Gold Book of Bidding and Play) were extremely
influential.
Special "Esther Bridge 'Pop' Quiz"
In February, 2024 Esther added a new Special Quiz,
"Test Your Knowledge of the Plethora of Some of the More Exotic Bidding Conventions: A Special (and Challenging) Esther Bridge 'Pop' Quiz". ["con_quiz.pdf" =]
This Special Quiz involves a comprehensive overview of Conventions, but is not intended for beginners.
Esther says, "Even if you are not yet ready to play some of these more Advanced Conventions, it may help you
to (1) get a general 'lay of the land' about what your bridge future may eventually involve, and (2) have some (albeit vague) understanding of some of these Conventions in case you encounter Opponents who are bidding these Conventions!"
Click
"Esther Online Bridge Lessons" to return to the Esther Bridge
Lessons website.
Click "Bridge Bruce's Way ('BBW') Introductory (But
Sophisticated) Beginner Bridge Lessons" to go to the "BBW Lessons" website.