Setback and Pitch Strategies
Some Basic Strategies
If your partner has bid, generally you let him have the bid unless:
- Never, ever, lead the jack on the first trick unless:
(1) You have A, K, Q;
(2) You were forced to bid and your best suit is J, 2 - Always go for low. This is the easiest point to throw away. If you are bidding and don't have it, you should generally continue playing trump until you get it. Of course, good judgment should be used here: in almost all circumstances, you don't look for the 2 with the 3. If the dealer does not play trump on the second trick, he generally holds low in his hand. You should use this to your advantage.
- Playing last is a great advantage. Knowing when to lose a trick is an important part of the game. Playing last allows you to take low on a non-trump trick, and allows you to decide who wins it. If you can trap the bidder between you and your partner, you can often squeeze out low because he will be forced to play it eventually.
- If you are bidding first, you can afford to be a little more liberal in bidding. Bidding first with the suit of your choice blocks opponents out or makes them go to the much more risky 3-level.
If your partner has bid, generally you let him have the bid unless:
- You feel that your trump suit is far stronger and overall would be a much better choice
- You have a very long trump suit including J, 2, and you feel partner's strength would assure you game
- At that point in the game, it is crucial that an opponent (assuming you are bidding third) not get an easy overbid.