How to Play Deceptively

Examples of how declarer can attempt to mislead or deceive the opponents

[@d95mback]

At 16:48, when you debate whether to bid 3H or 4H, there is also the alternative (which was dismissed) to bid double. Partner would respond 3S and then you'd be forced to bid 4H in this instance. But partner could have had diamonds, bid 3D and then you can bid 3H showing a stronger hand than bidding 3H initially.

[@prakashsardar7942]

Great lesson, the deceptive play on the last board was amazing but West can still make it right bc after winning the K of diamond he could play K of spades hoping for unblocking by East, since he also has the 10, after that when it doesn't happen he can sift to clubs

[@andrewwebb4635]

I love your quiet analytics! Regarding the ‘third player plays high’, I’ve sometimes found this isn’t best in NT, particularly when dummy is a little short and declarer will have to lead from their own hand. You put up a Jack, say, instead of your king. You might later get the lead with your higher card and develop your own suit in defence. It’s really a version of holding back to stop declarer developing a suit in Nt. it’s only in NT that this will ever work. Do you have any comments on this idea, please?

[@TonyStawBridgeClass]

There are a very few situations where you should not play 3rd hand high. But if you are defending in No Trump, and have the K and J and partner leads a low card, you you should *definitely* play K, unless the Q is in dummy. It's quite possible your partner has something like A 10 7 6 3 - so playing the J will give declarer an underserved trick with the Q. I recommend amzn.eu/d/28q68Sv by William Root for a more in-depth look at this topic, including a few situation where 3rd hand should not play their highest card.

[@archiewoosung5062]

In that second hand, overcalling 3C with a seven card hearts suit; could you get to the right level (4H) by considering that you have only five losers?

[@TonyStawBridgeClass]

Yes, I think that is a good way to decide what to bid. If your partner has a few points (about 7), this would typically be a 9-loser hand, so you should have no more than 5 losers to bid 4H.

[@archiewoosung5062]

Even if it's unethical to re-sort your cards when it isn't necessary, presumably it isn't if you don't re-sort them when you might normally (i.e. having played the last of a suit)?

[@TonyStawBridgeClass]

I would say that if you re-sort your hand during the play because you have just played the last card of a suit, that is unauthorised information to your partner. So you should not do this, either. Your partner should avoid drawing any inference if you do re-sort your hand, but it is much better to never re-sort your hand during the play.

[@SmileyEmoji42]

@@TonyStawBridgeClass Doesn't apply here because partner is dummy