Ducking Play

Quick Summary

Ducking means deliberately losing a trick you could win. It’s a key technique for maintaining communication and establishing long suits.

Why Duck?

1. Preserve Entries

Keep an entry to a long suit later.

2. Maintain Communication

Stay connected with partner/dummy.

3. Exhaust Opponents

Remove their small cards to isolate honors.

4. Rectify the Count

Get down to the right number of losers for a squeeze.

The Classic Duck

Dummy: AKxxx You: xx

Duck the first round!

Play low from both hands on trick one. Now AK can run 4 more tricks if 3-3 break, with an entry to cash them.

Without ducking: Cash A-K, then no entry to the remaining winners.

Hold-Up Play (Ducking in Defense)

Against 3NT, they lead ♠K:

Dummy: ♠xx You: ♠Axx

Duck twice! Win the third round. Now if LHO gets in, they have no spades left.

When to Duck

Duck when: – Need to preserve entries – Establishing a long suit – Want to cut opponent’s communication – Rectifying the count for squeeze

When NOT to Duck

Don’t duck when: – They’ll switch suits – You need the trick now – You have plenty of entries – Danger of ruff/promotion

Example: Establishing a Suit

Playing 3NT with:

Dummy: ♦AKxxx You: ♦xx

No side entry to dummy.

Correct: Duck first diamond, win A-K on rounds 2-3. Hope 3-3.

Wrong: Win A-K immediately. Stranded winners!

The Double Duck

Sometimes duck twice:

Dummy: ♦AKxxxx You: ♦xx

Duck trick 1. Duck trick 2. Win A-K on rounds 3-4.

Now if 4-2 break, you’ve established the suit!

Ducking on Defense

As defender, duck to: – Let partner win (better position) – Preserve a stopper (Bath Coup) – Cut declarer’s communication

Bath Coup

They lead ♠Q You have ♠AJx

Duck! If you win A, J is unprotected. Ducking keeps tenace.

Dangerous Ducks

Watch out for: – Shift to worse suit, They switch, you suffer – Entry-killing, They duck back! – Promotion, They promote a trump

Key Takeaways

Lose now to win later
Preserve entries to long suits
Cut communication on defense
Count your tricks before ducking
Consider risks of shift

See also: Hold-Up Play (specific ducking), Dummy Play (entry management)