1. ELIMINATION PLAY ================ It involves stripping an opponent of all unwanted suits and throwing him in to force him to concede a ruff and a discard or to lead to declarer's tenace. (i) NORTH S:K 5C by S: Lead DK H:Jxxx ---------------- D:Axx C:Qxxxx Contract depends on position of HA, but W -------------- can be thrown in by DQ by stripping all WEST |||||||||||||| EAST suits. Therefore, take out trumps, SK, back S:xxxx |||||||||||||| S:Qxxxx in hand with C, discard a D on SA and exit H:AQ |||||||||||||| H:xxxxx with a D. Now W is forced to concede a ruff D:KQ10xxx |||||||||||||| D:xx and discard. C:x |||||||||||||| C:x -------------- SOUTH (D) S:AJx H:Kx D:Jx C:AKJxxx (ii) NORTH S:Q10xxx 4S by S: Lead CK H:AKx ---------------- D:942 C:xx W had overcalled 2C and therefore, must hold -------------- DK. There are 2D and 2C losers. After WEST |||||||||||||| EAST cashing 2C, W plays a H. There is no chance S:x |||||||||||||| S:Jx but to find W with DKx or DQx. Therefore, H:xxxxx |||||||||||||| H:QJx take out trumps, eliminate H i.e. HAK and D:Kx |||||||||||||| D:Q1086 and a ruff and play DA and another. Now W C:AKQxx |||||||||||||| C:xxxx is forced to lead a C or a H giving ruff -------------- and a discard. SOUTH (D) S:AKxxx H:xx D:AJ53 C:xx (iii) NORTH S:Qxx 4S by S: Lead HK H:Axx ---------------- D:K106 C:xxx 3C and a D are loser's. D loser can be saved, -------------- and DQ and J are split with E and W and they are WEST |||||||||||||| EAST forced to lead a D or to give a ruff and discard S:xx |||||||||||||| S:x Therefore, eliminate H i.e. HA and a ruff, SQ H:KQJxx |||||||||||||| H:xxxx and a H ruff. Now another S and exit with C. D:Q542 |||||||||||||| D:J83 After cashing 3C, E-W must give a ruff and a C:Q9 |||||||||||||| C:AKJxx discard or lead a D. -------------- SOUTH (D) S:AKJxxx H:x D:A97 C:xxx (iv) NORTH S:AKx 6H by S: Lead SQ H:J10xx ---------------- D:Axx C:Jxx W had overcalled 2C. There are 2C losers. -------------- Therefore, proceed to eliminate D and S, by WEST |||||||||||||| EAST ruffing in hand. Now play low C towards J and S:QJ109 |||||||||||||| S:xxxxx W is thrown in, either to concede a ruff and H:x |||||||||||||| H:xx a discard or to play C from hand when CJ D:QJx |||||||||||||| D:xxxxx makes C:KQ10xx|||||||||||||| C:x -------------- SOUTH (D) S:x H:AKQxxx D:Kx C:Axxx (v) NORTH S:Qxxxx 4S by S: Lead DK H:Axxx ---------------- D:Q C:xxx W then plays a H. S can see that there may be -------------- 2C, 1S and 1D loser and prepares for eliminat- WEST |||||||||||||| EAST ing H and D, cashing SA in between. Now he S:KJ |||||||||||||| S:---- exits with S and W is either forced to lead H:Qxxx |||||||||||||| H:KJxx from CAJ losing a C trick or else lead a D D:AKJx |||||||||||||| D:xxxxx for a ruff and discard. C:AJx |||||||||||||| C:xxxx -------------- SOUTH (D) S:Axxxxx H:x D:xxx C:KQ10 (vi) NORTH S:Qxx 6S by S: Lead DK H:AKQ ---------------- D:Jx C:KJ9xx Instead of guessing in C, take a chance of -------------- throwing in W, but to get a ruff and a WEST |||||||||||||| EAST discard, one S will have to be retained in S:xx |||||||||||||| S:Jxx dummy. Hope for W to have only doubleton in H:xxx |||||||||||||| H:J10xxx S. Therefore, SQ, SK, HAKQ discarding a D, D:KQ109 |||||||||||||| D:xxxx and exit with aDJ, putting W on lead. He has C:Qxxx |||||||||||||| C:x to play C or give a ruff and a discard. -------------- SOUTH (D) S:AKxxx H:xx D:Axx C:A10x (vii) NORTH S:J10x 4H by S: Lead low S H:A10xx ------------------- D:KQx C:Q72 E had opened 1S. Third S is ruffed and HAK -------------- played. Now already there are 3 losers, SAK WEST |||||||||||||| EAST(D) and HQ. C will also be a loser unless E holds S:Qxx |||||||||||||| S:AKxxx K10xx. It is better to force W to lead C. H:Qxx |||||||||||||| H:x Therefore, eliminate D by cashing AKQ and D:xxxx |||||||||||||| D:Jxx exit with a H putting W on lead. He is forced C:1063 |||||||||||||| C:K854 to lead C or give a ruff and a discard. -------------- SOUTH S:xx H:KJ9xx D:Axx C:AJ9 (viii) NORTH S:KJ8 6D by S: Lead S10 H:AQx ----------------- D:Q10xx C:732 There may be 2C losers. If H's break 3-3, one -------------- C is discarded and there is no problem. WEST |||||||||||||| EAST Otherwise, C finesse shoud work or after S:1097xx|||||||||||||| S:AQxxx eliminating S and H, C2 is led and if E is H:xx |||||||||||||| H:Jxxx careless and plays 4, you put up the 6 D:xx |||||||||||||| D:x throwing in W. Still, as S9 is likely to be C:KJ95 |||||||||||||| C:1084 with W, he can be thrown in with S9. Therefore, -------------- prepare for throw in. S10 covered by J and Q SOUTH (D) and ruffed. Take out trumps, HAKQ and H ruffed. S:--------- Now SK covered by A and ruffed. H:Kxxx D:AKJ9xx C:AQ6 NORTH S:8 Now position is as shown. Now S8 is played and H:--- C6 discarded and W is thrown in. Thus throw-in D:--- may be planned in advance. C:732 -------------- WEST |||||||||||||| EAST S:9 |||||||||||||| S:4 H:--- |||||||||||||| H:--- D:--- |||||||||||||| D:--- C:KJ9 |||||||||||||| C:1084 -------------- SOUTH (D) S:--- "THIS IS END_PLAY NOT ELIMINATION" H:--- D:9 C:AQ6 (ix) NORTH S:J10xxx 4S by S: Lead HJ H:Kx ---------------- D:AQ103 C:Ax Obviously E has HAQ and contract depends on -------------- W holding either K or J of D. To avoid WEST |||||||||||||| EAST finding K or J both with E, prepare for throw- S:xx |||||||||||||| S:x in by ducking Hj. W switches to D and you kae D H:J109xx|||||||||||||| H:AQxx A. Now take out trumps and eliminate C and play D:9xx |||||||||||||| D:KJx H outting E in. Now E has to give a ruff and C:Q10x |||||||||||||| C:Jxxxx a discard or a D trick. -------------- SOUTH (D) H:xx D:8xx C:Kxx (x) NORTH S:A72 4S by S: Lead D H:Q752 --------------- D:Qxx C:xxx As E had opened the bidding with 1D, play low. -------------- E takes DA and plays CQ. You take CA and DJ. WEST |||||||||||||| EAST(D) E plays CJ, you play SQ, overtake with SA and S:654 |||||||||||||| S:K9 ditch a C on DQ. Now you should try a throw H:1064 |||||||||||||| H:K83 in playing S2. E has to play H or give a ruff D:Kxxx |||||||||||||| D:A10xx and discard. Even if he has a third S and C:xxx |||||||||||||| C:QJ10x plays back, you get entry with S7 and still -------------- finesse and hope for doubleton HKx. SOUTH S:QJ1083 H:AJ9 D:Jx C:AKx (xi) NORTH S:K10x 5C by S: Lead H H:AJ10x --------------- D:AQxx C:K10 You have to guess in three suits viz. S, D and -------------- C, You can avoid the guess by playing H10 and WEST |||||||||||||| EAST not A. E is thrown in at the very first trick S:xxxx |||||||||||||| S:Qxx and whatever he plays, you gain a trick. H:Qxxxx |||||||||||||| H:Kxx D:J9xx |||||||||||||| D:Kxx C:---- |||||||||||||| C:Qxxx -------------- SOUTH (D) S:AJx "THIS IS END PLAY NOT ELIMINATION" H:x D:10x C:AJ9xxxx (xii) NORTH S:A9xx 6S by S: Lead HJ H:AQ ---------------- D:A94 C:AKQx If D is 2-2 there is no problem, but to take -------------- care of 3-1 distribution, eliminate H and C WEST |||||||||||||| EAST and two rounds of trumps. Now play low D S:x |||||||||||||| S:xx putting 9 if W puts 8 and ducking if W puts H:J109xx|||||||||||||| H:Kxxxx K or J. Whether E or W get a trick, they are D:KJ8 |||||||||||||| D:Q thrown in. You either get D10 or a ruff and C:xxxx |||||||||||||| C:J9xxx a discard. -------------- SOUTH (D) S:KQJ10xx H:x D:107xxxx C:------ (xiii) NORTH S:AQxxxx 5S by S: Lead HK (E-W had bid 5H) H:------ ---------------- D:Kxx C:xxxx Don't play C without eliminating H and D. -------------- Therefore, HA discarding a D, ruff a H with A WEST |||||||||||||| EAST back a S, ruff nect H, back a S, DKA and S:xx |||||||||||||| S:x ruff a D and now a low C from dummy. W is H:KQJxxx|||||||||||||| H:xxxx forced to concede a C or give a ruff and D:xx |||||||||||||| D:QJ10xx discard. C:AK10 |||||||||||||| C:9xx -------------- SOUTH (D) S:KJ10x H:Axx D:Axx C:QJ8 (xiv) NORTH S:AQ73 4S by S: Lead DJ H:AQ9 ---------------- D:Qxx C:Qxx You want to keep W out of the lead so that -------------- he cannot lead H. Therefore don't cover with WEST |||||||||||||| EAST Q. Take DA and eliminate C by entering dummy S:6 |||||||||||||| S:5 thrice with SA, Q and 7. Now play H and put H:J82 |||||||||||||| H:K10xx up 9(if W puts up J, cover with HQ) and now D:J1098 |||||||||||||| D:Kxx E is thrown in. He has to concede either a C:Kxxxx |||||||||||||| C:AJxxx D or a H trick or give a ruff and a discard -------------- by playing C. SOUTH (D) S:KJ109842 H:643 D:Axx C:---- (xv) NORTH S:AKx 6H by S: Lead D H:Q1087 ---------------- D:AKxxx C:J W had overcalled 1S on S's 1H. CA is placed -------------- with him, otherwise you could think of E WEST |||||||||||||| EAST having CA and play J and discard a S on CK. S:Q109xx|||||||||||||| S:x Now you establish D by ruffing twice, discard H:xx |||||||||||||| H:xx a C from hand on last D and now exit with CK. D:xx |||||||||||||| D:QJ10x Now W has either to give a ruff and a discard C:AQxx |||||||||||||| C:xxxxxx or play S. -------------- SOUTH (D) S:Jxxx H:AKJ9x D:xx C:Kx (xvi) NORTH S:Qxxx 6S by S: Lead D H:AQ10xx --------------- D:Ax C:Kx E had bid 2D). Eliminate D and C discarding -------------- 2H on C. Now play low H and put 10 from WEST |||||||||||||| EAST(D) dummy. E is thrown in and must give you HAQ S:xxx |||||||||||||| S:x or a ruff and a discard if he plays D. H:xx |||||||||||||| H:KJx D:xxxx |||||||||||||| D:KQJ10xx C:xxxx |||||||||||||| C:xxx -------------- SOUTH S:AKJxx H:xxx D:x C:AQJx (xvii) NORTH S:AJxx 4S by S: Lead C H:J8x --------------- D:AQ C:Kxxx If D finesse goes wromg, you will have to -------------- guess for H10 and may lose 3H. Therefore, WEST |||||||||||||| EAST eliminate C, take DA and exit with the S:xx |||||||||||||| S:x Q giving a free trick. Now E or W will be H:A7xx |||||||||||||| H:K103 thrown in. You will either get a H if they D:Kxxx |||||||||||||| D:J10xxx play H or a ruff and a discard. C:QJx |||||||||||||| C:109xx -------------- SOUTH (D) S:KQ10xxx "GIVING A FREE TRICK AFTER ELIMINATION H:Q9x TO AVOID GUESS IN ANOTHER SUIT" D:xx C:Ax (xviii) NORTH S:AKJ 4H by S: Lead C H:A109x --------------- D:xx C:xxxx Contract depends on SQ with W or DA with -------------- E, but SQ with E maybe even be doubleton. WEST |||||||||||||| EAST Therefore, eliminate C, play SAK and exit S:Qxxx |||||||||||||| S:xxx with J. If W has SQ contract is always making. H:xx |||||||||||||| H:x If it is with E, original position stands viz. D:AQ10x |||||||||||||| D:J9xx you have to depend on E to hold DA. All that C:AKx |||||||||||||| C:Qxxxx you have done is to safeguard against SQx with -------------- E. SOUTH (D) S:xxx H:KQJxxx "PLAYING FOR AN EXTRA CHANCE - ELIMINATION" D:Kxx C:x (xix) NORTH S:Axx 4H by S: Lead C H:Qxx --------------- D:10654 C:Axx There are 2 D and 2 S losers. Try elimination. -------------- Play only HAK and elominate C and exit with WEST |||||||||||||| EAST S. W who has doubleton H has to concede a S:KQJx |||||||||||||| S:9xx ruff and a discard or play D, promoting a D H:10x |||||||||||||| H:xxx trick. D:K92 |||||||||||||| D:Q83 C:Q10xx |||||||||||||| C:J9xx -------------- SOUTH (D) S:10xx H:AKJ9x "IMPERFECT ELIMINATION: WITH A TRUMP STILL OUT" D:AJ7 C:Kx (xx) NORTH S:xx 5C by S: Lead SK H:Kx ---------------- D:J9xxx C:KJxx There are 2 D and 1S loser. Try elimination. -------------- Eliminate H and S, Play DA and exit with D. WEST |||||||||||||| EAST If either E or W is holding Kx or Qx doubleton, S:KQxxx |||||||||||||| S:AJxxx they now have to concede a ruff and a discard. J10xx |||||||||||||| H:xxxx D:Qx |||||||||||||| D:K10xx C:xx |||||||||||||| C:xx -------------- SOUTH (D) S:x H:AQx D:A8x C:AQxxx (xxi) NORTH S:---- 7D(Doubled) by S: Lead SK H:A874 ------------------------- D:Kxxxxx C:xxx E-W had bid 6S. If H is 3-2, you will -------------- lose 1H and 1C i.e. 2 down but if H is WEST |||||||||||||| EAST 4-1, you may lose 2H i.e. 3 down. S:AKxxxx|||||||||||||| S:QJ10xx Therefore, eliminate S and C and play H:J |||||||||||||| H:Q1092 H3 and duck HJ of W. If he has one D:x |||||||||||||| D:---- more H, there is no problem. But now he C:QJ9xx |||||||||||||| C:AKxx is forced to concede a ruff and a -------------- discard. If E overtakes HJ with Q, he SOUTH (D) will lose a H trick if he backs a H or S:xx he will have to give a ruff and discard. H:K653 D:AQJxxx "GAURDING AGAINST BAD BREAK" C:x (xxii) NORTH S:xxxx 4H by S: Lead S H:KJ98 --------------- D:AQ7 C:Kx E had opened 1S. There are 2 S and 2D losers -------------- One D can be saved if after elimination, a WEST |||||||||||||| EAST(D) low D is played and W is careless not to S:xx |||||||||||||| S:AKJ109 play D8, then play 7 from dummy. But better, H:xx |||||||||||||| H:xx eliminate S and C and play last S from D:10832 |||||||||||||| D:KJ6 dummy, throwing a D(loser on loser). Now C:Qxxxx |||||||||||||| C:Jxx E has to play to DAQ or concede a ruff and -------------- a discard. SOUTH S:Qx H:AQ10xx "LOSER ON LOSER THROW-IN" D:954 C:Axx (xxiii) NORTH S:xxxx 6H by S: Lead CJ H:KQxx ---------------- D:Axxx C:x W had overbid 1S and as he has not led S -------------- E is known to have SQ. Therefore, plan on WEST |||||||||||||| EAST throw-in. Eliminate C and D and lead low S:KJ9xx |||||||||||||| S:Q spade from dummy, ducking SQ to E who is H:xx |||||||||||||| H:xx forced to give a ruff and discard. If W D:xxx |||||||||||||| D:QJ10x overtakes Q with K, it does not help as he C:J109 |||||||||||||| C:Kxxxxx will have to lead to SA10 or give a ruff and -------------- discard. SOUTH (D) S:A10x H:AJ109x "THROW-IN IN A SINGLETON HONOR AFTER D:Kx ELIMINATION" C:AQx (xxiv) NORTH S:Kxxx 4S by S: Lead HK H:xxx ---------------- D:A962 C:Q8 Losers are 1H, 1D and 2C. Try to create -------------- an impression of elimination. Eliminate S WEST |||||||||||||| EAST and H and play CJ, W taking K and playing S:x |||||||||||||| S:xx another C. E takes the A and will think you H:AKxxx |||||||||||||| H:QJxx are playing for ruff and discard and may D:Q83 |||||||||||||| D:J75 lead D. If E is alert and counts 6S, 2C and C:K9xx |||||||||||||| C:A10xx 1H with S, he will know that S has 4D in -------------- which case ruff and discard will not help SOUTH (D) S. He should therefore, still play C and S:AQJxxx not D. H:x D:K104 "PSEUDO ELIMINATION" C:J72 (xxv) NORTH S:xx 6H by S: Lead SQ H:KJ10x ---------------- D:A10x C:Kxxx Avoid guess in D finesse. Eliminate H and -------------- C and exit with a S. E-W must now give WEST |||||||||||||| EAST automatic finesse or a ruff and discard. S:QJ10xx|||||||||||||| S:K9xx H:xx |||||||||||||| H:x D:Qxx |||||||||||||| D:xxxx C:Jxx |||||||||||||| C:Q10xx -------------- SOUTH (D) S:Ax H:AQxxxx "TO AVOID GUESS IN A FINESSE" D:KJx C:Ax (xxvi) NORTH S:Qxxx 4H by S: Lead DQ H:AKxx ---------------- D:Ax C:Kxx Nothing is lost by ducking a D. W then takes -------------- CA and plays another C. Now HAK shows bad WEST |||||||||||||| EAST break and C's are eliminated and SA and a S:x |||||||||||||| S:J109x low played towards Q, which again shows bad H:Q108 |||||||||||||| H:x break in S. Now W is thrown in with HQ D:QJ10xx|||||||||||||| D:K10xx and he has to give a ruff and discard. C:AJxx |||||||||||||| C:Q10xx -------------- SOUTH (D) S:AKxx H:J9xxx "TO GUARD AGAINST BAD BREAK" D:xx C:xx (xxvii) NORTH S:Ax 6H by S: Lead DK H:Kxxx ---------------- D:Axx C:K987 -------------- To guard against bad break in C, plan for WEST |||||||||||||| EAST throw in S. Therefore take out trumps, S:xxxx |||||||||||||| S:KJ10xx ruff 2 D, CA, SA and exit with a S. E H:J10x |||||||||||||| H:--------- is now forced to give a ruff an discard. D:KQ |||||||||||||| D:J10xxxxx Even if E was holding J1054 of C, he will C:J1054 |||||||||||||| C:6 still have to concede the extra trick. -------------- SOUTH (D) S:Qx H:AQxxxx "TO GUARD AGAINST BAD BREAK" D:x C:AQ32 (xxviii) NORTH S:98xx 4S by S: Lead DJ H:A9xx ---------------- D:Qx C:A10x S had openend 1S and W had doubled. 2S and -------------- 1C are losers and H loser is to be avoided. WEST |||||||||||||| EAST Therefore, plan on throw in. Take DA and S:K |||||||||||||| S:Ax duck CQ to W. Ruff DK return and CA and H:Q10xx |||||||||||||| H:8 a ruff. Now a S to W with SK. W is forced D:KJ10xx|||||||||||||| D:xxxxx to lead a H, S getting J. H is still a C:KQ9 |||||||||||||| C:Jxxxx loser. Now play HK. E has to ruff and -------------- give a ruff and discard. If E refuses to SOUTH (D) ruff, he is next thrown in with SA. S:QJ10652 H:KJ73 D:A "TO AVOID A FINESSE" C:xx (xxix) NORTH S:Ax 4H by N: Lead SK H:K9xx ---------------- D:AKxx C:Qxx SA taken and HAK played. Now guess of CK is -------------- to be avoided. Therefore, play 3 rounds of D, WEST |||||||||||||| EAST and exit with SJ. Now it does not matter S:xxxx |||||||||||||| S:KQxxx whether E or W has the CK. H:Q10x |||||||||||||| H:xx D:xxx |||||||||||||| D:xx C:Kxx |||||||||||||| C:J10xx -------------- SOUTH (D) S:J9 H:AJ8x D:QJxx C:Axx (xxx) NORTH S:x 4H by S: Lead SJ H:A9xx ---------------- D:AKQJx C:Axx E takes SA and plays C10. Now there are -------------- 2C losers and no entry in hand for H WEST |||||||||||||| EAST finesse which is a must. Therefore hope for S:J109x |||||||||||||| S:AQxxx W to hold doubleton D and hope to throw W H:Kxx |||||||||||||| H:xx with a C. Take second C with A, play DAK and D:xx |||||||||||||| D:xxx exit with a C. Now S must get an entry. C:KQxx |||||||||||||| C:109x -------------- SOUTH (D) S:Kxx H:QJ10x D:xxx C:J8x