Ducking a trick is a necessary evil when playing bridge. A ducking play in a suit that has an inevitable loser allows you to keep your controlling cards (the ace and the king) so that you can use them in a late rush of tricks.
When you duck a trick and then play the ace and king, you wind up in the hand that the small cards belong to — just where you want to be.When you have seven cards between the two hands
The cards in this hand show how successful ducking a trick can be:
You have seven cards between the two hands with the ♠AK in the dummy — a perfect setup for ducking a trick. You can only hope that your opponents’ six cards are divided 3-3. To find out, you have to play the suit three times.
You know you have to lose at least one spade trick because your opponents hold the ♠QJ10 between them. Because you have to lose at least one spade trick, it’s better to lose the trick right away.
After you concede the trick with the ♠2 from your hand and the ♠4 from the dummy, you can come roaring back with your big guns, the ♠K and the ♠A, when you regain the lead. Because your opponents’ spades are divided 3-3, that little ♠6 in the dummy takes a third trick in the suit — neither opponent has any more spades.
When you have eight cards between the two hands
If the dummy has a five-card suit headed by the ace and the king facing three small cards, you can usually take two extra tricks with a ducking play. In this image, you make a ducking play, and then watch the tricks come rolling in.
The opponents have five spades between the two hands, including the ♠QJ. You have to lose a spade trick no matter what, so lose it right away by making one of your patented ducking plays:
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Lead the ♠2. West plays the ♠9, you play the ♠3 from the dummy, and East plays the ♠8.
West wins the trick. Not to worry — you’ll soon show them who’s boss!
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The next time either you or the dummy regains the lead, play the ♠K and ♠A, removing all of your opponents’ remaining spades.
You have the lead in the dummy, and the dummy remains with the ♠64, both winning tricks.