Last Train (bridge)
In the card game bridge, "Last Train" refers to a specific defensive play designed to prevent declarer from establishing a long suit and cashing out efficiently, typically late in the hand. It involves deliberately refusing to win a trick at a point where taking the trick would force the defenders to lead from a weak suit or concede control to declarer. By "ducking" the trick, the defender hopes to either:
- Force declarer to lead from the suit the defender wants to protect, disrupting declarer's planned sequence of play.
- Maintain the defender's own control in the critical suit, preventing declarer from running the suit out later on.
- Create a situation where declarer will be end-played, forced to lead into a defender's strength.
The effectiveness of a Last Train maneuver depends heavily on the specific hand, the bidding, the declarer's known holdings, and the overall board situation. It requires careful analysis and anticipation of declarer's plans. Recognizing the appropriate moment to execute a Last Train play is a crucial skill for advanced bridge players. Failure to execute the play correctly can lead to declarer making their contract when they otherwise wouldn't have.