[navit]

When playing NT contract when does one deck on first round?

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

the rule of 7 helps, number of rounds to
hold up = 7 - number of cards you have
in the suit, if the difference is 0 or negative,
dont duck.

Also you should not duck, if you fear, that they
may switch to another suit.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[ralph23]

♣♦♥♠

I think you mean, when does the declarer hold up (typically, assume anyway, holding the Ace and nothing else good in the suit that is led)? If that's your question, then here's how to think about it:

Have your opponents led from their long suit, so that after you collect your Ace, then they can regain the lead and cash their winners in that suit ? If so, think about how the enemy cards may be divided.

If they are UNevenly divided (or may be), then you want to take your Ace (generally) at the same trick that the opp with the FEWER cards in the suit runs out. For example, if one has 5♥ and the other 2♥, and you have 3 in each hand with the Ace and nothing else, when should you ideally take your Ace? Answer: At trick two. The short-♥ opponent will then be void, and if he gains the lead, cannot lead a ♥.

This is most important when you need to set up one suit (say, ♣) to make your contract but you are missing e.g. the Ace of ♣. You have all the other big cards. Your hope is that the short-♥ opponent has the Ace of ♣. If so, then you can win any return and claim.

If the long-♥ opponent has the Ace of ♣, then you are going down, but you played it correctly at least.

How can you tell the division of the enemy cards ? Maybe from the bidding .... e.g your LHO has opened 1♥ in first seat, and they play SAYC (5 card majors).

When is this kind of hold-up pointless ?

When the enemy suit is equally divided. This should be obvious. Neither opponent is more dangerous than the other.

When you must have a finesse, and you must take it into the opp with the long suit. Here, you know if you lose the lead, it will be to the long-suited opp.