Pitfalls in the form of false leads, false carding and clever underplay should be dug for your adversaries at every opportunity. Whenever they can do the same thing, the adversaries will not scruple to place them for you.
There are hands in bridge which may be said to play themselves. One holding all the winning cards could scarcely be expected to lose. That, however, is purely primary. As the player himself recognizes, it is something that could scarcely have been avoided. On the other hand, when some well-planned ruse has found the opposition with no sentries posted, and their camp is thrown into confusion by the clever capture of a trick or two which they never had dreamed it possible to lose, you may feel the elation that is a part of bridge when the game is played to the full measure of its theory.
Frequently a hand is picked up at the bridge table which on its face may be read as hopeless, unless, by some means, the adversaries can be induced to blunder. Never exercise charity in a case of that kind. Make it a point to tempt them not only to blunder once, but again and yet again. It is surely far more strategic for a weak hand to take a strong hand prisoner than it is for the strong hand to capture the weak hand.
Subjoined are a few “ifs” that are well to be remembered, for all too frequently the situation arises where one of them may become most effective if you have retained its significance in your memory.
If you find that in some suit a certain number of tricks will go to your adversaries, and that to lead from your best suit is disadvantageous, throw the lead and see what will happen.
If you wish to make four tricks in a suit with but three in sight, give the adversaries a chance to discard a card or two before you show your strength.
If you are anxious to know which of your adversaries holds the Queen of the suit in which you hold the Ace, King, Jack, force a discard and see how kind they will be to you. If no discard can be forced, then give the adversaries the lead and let the suit come up to you.
If you are reasonably certain of winning all the tricks but one, lead out your remaining trumps. You cannot lose and, if your adversaries are uncertain about their discard, the extra trick may be gained.
If you hold the Queen and two small cards of a suit, with small cards of the same suit in dummy and the adversary opens with the King, keep your lowest card. The leader may be tempted to believe that his partner is echoing, and he will establish your Queen by leading the Ace. Do not attempt this play however if you hold length in the suit.
If the King is led and you have length as well as strength in the suit, play your highest card on the King, for if the adversary continues with the Ace, the younger hand will probably ruff the third round and you should therefore endeavor to frighten your opponents from the suit.