DefenseThird hand high — as high as necessary.
Third Hand Play
Novice
12 min · single video
About this lesson
Defence is Lorna's favourite part of the game, and third hand play is where a good partnership comes alive. Part 1 builds the core idea: third hand high, and its refinement, "as high as necessary." There's much more to come in Part 2.
What you'll pick up
- Third hand high: playing your top card in third seat to win the trick or force out declarer's honours
- "As high as necessary" — winning with a lower honour so partner reads exactly which cards you hold
- Using partner's fourth-best lead to place the missing honours around the table
- Trapping declarer's queen so partner's small cards — and yours — grow into winners
- Bringing count and partnership trust together to cash the defence's tricks in a suit