Leading Master Cards

example 1

If you lead the ♥ A, it will win the trick. There are no higher hearts, so when the trick is complete your ace will be the highest played card in the suit led – the winning card. (Always assume that if I don't mention trumps, there aren't any.) The ♥A is called the master card in the heart suit because it's not possible for anyone to play a higher heart.

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example 2

With this holding, you can win a trick by leading your ♠A. And after that trick is played, you will still have the lead and could win a second trick by leading your ♠K which at that time would be the highest unplayed spade. The ♠K becomes the master card after the ♠A is played.

Could you have still won two tricks with these cards if you had led the ♠K first, before playing the ♠A?

Yes   No

Sorry, you missed this one.

From your point of view, the ♠A and the ♠K are equal masters. It doesn't matter which one you lead first. Your opponents cannot beat either card. Whichever one you lead first will win a trick. Then you can lead the other one and win a second trick.

It might seem odd to call a card a master card when you have it, but not a master card when your opponents have it.

For example, when you hold the ♥A and the ♥K, you would consider the king to be a master card because it's the equal of your ace. However, you would not consider the ♥K to be a master card if your opponents hold it, because you could squish it with your ace.

Another example: If you hold the ♦Q, you would only consider it to be a master if you also hold the ♦AK. However, if your opponents can capture your honor with a higher honor, then yours is not a master.

example 3

With the ♠K in your hand, and the ♠AQ in the dummy, you can win three spade tricks. When you play the ♠K from your hand, which card do you play from the dummy?

♠A   ♠Q   ♠4   

There is no reason to play two of your masters on the same trick. It only takes one master to win the trick. Save the other masters for future tricks.

There is no reason to play two of your masters on the same trick. It only takes one master to win the trick. Save the other masters for future tricks.

• A master card is the highest unplayed card in each suit.
• When you lead a master card, it will win the trick.
• If you play a master card, the next lower card becomes the new master.
• When you hold equal master cards, the order you play them doesn't matter.
• Play only one master card on each trick.

example 4

Do these spades look familiar?

Yes   No  

Were you hibernating?  

Compare the spades in example 4 with example 3.

How many master cards do you have in spades and hearts combined?

1   3   5   6  

One? Sorry... Did you only count the ♥A?

Count your hand and the dummy combined. Dummy's ♥K is an equal master. And when you have both the ace and the king, you can also count the queen. Three masters in hearts.

Now count the spades.

Oops. Did you only count the master cards in your own hand? Count your hand and dummy's hand combined.

Not quite... I'd offer to help you by letting you count on my fingers, but I'm a stuffed bear and I don't have any fingers.

Your opponents lead diamonds, and you win the trick with your ♦A. How many tricks can you be sure of winning on this deal?

7   11   I Don't Know  

Oh-oh. Counting is required to become a good bridge player. You count masters, count tricks, count losers, count cards, count trumps, count points, and your partner has to be able to count on you. You won't learn where the honey is if you don't count carefully. But don't worry. It gets easier with practice, and we'll be practicing a lot.

Here is one possible layout of the cards where you must lead out all seven of your masters. If you make the mistake of leading clubs, your opponents will play one of their club masters to capture the lead, and switch to leading diamonds - seven more diamond leads.

Sadly, you will have to discard most of your good cards on West's diamond leads. When West is finished with leading out his masters, there will be only three cards left. You will end up will only four tricks instead of the seven you could have taken if you had led your own masters instead of leading clubs.

✓  Master cards are winners when you lead them.

✓  Master cards are winners when you follow suit with them.

✓  Master cards are losers if you have to discard them when another suit is led.

Go to the next topic:

Play the Honor From the Short Hand First