Endplay

In bridge, an endplay forces a defender to lead away from a disadvantageous holding. It is also known as a strip-and-endplay, elimination play, or "throw-in" play. The most common example involves a defender being forced to lead into a tenace:

		Dummy
		AQ
		2
West		--		East
98		--		K5
3				A
--		South		--
--		T4		--
		6
		--
		--

South is on lead and needs two more tricks. If he takes the spade finesse (or cashes the ace and leads the queen), East will win the king and cash the heart ace. Instead, declarer should "endplay" East by leading a heart. Upon winning the ace, East is forced to lead away from his K and must concede two spade tricks.

		Dummy
		AQ94
		873
West		JT5		East
876		A65		KJ32
94				KQJ652
64		Declarer		3
Q98732		T5		JT
		AT
		AKQ9872
		K4

West Pass Pass All Pass

North 2 4

East 1 Pass Pass

South Dbl 3 6

North-South manage to bypass 3NT and reach the small slam in diamonds. West's opening lead is the 9, won by South. Two rounds of diamonds draw the missing turmps.

Given East's opening bid, South should realize that the spade finesse will probably fail. The good news is that West's 9 suggests a doubleton, so East can possibly be thrown in with a heart later. Accordingly, South eliminates clubs by playing three rounds (ruffing the third in hand). After seeing East show out on the third round, South knows that East's original distribution was either 4-6-1-2 or 3-7-1-2.

Next, South rattles off his remaining trumps. On the last diamond, the situation is:

		Dummy
		AQ9
		8
West		--		East
876		--		KJ
4				KQ
--		Declarer		--
--		T5		--
		T
		2
		--

When South leads the 2, East discards the Q. South then plays the T to endplay East for the 12th trick.

An endplay can also force a defender to concede a ruff and sluff, as in the following hand.

		Dummy
		KQJ5
		QJ2
West		AJ5		East
4		T87		72
983				AK76
Q8743		Declarer		KT96
KJ62		AT9863		543
		T54
		2
		AQ9

South reaches 4. West tries the lead of the 9. This is won by East, who takes the top two hearts and plays a third round to dummy's queen.

South might draw trumps and attempt two club finesses, bemoaning his luck when West produces both the king and jack. However, a better line is available. At trick 4, South cashes the A and ruffs a diamond. Next, a spade is led to dummy and another diamond ruffed. At this point, the hands are:

		Dummy
		QJ5
		--
West		--		East
--		T87		7
--				6
Q8		Declarer		K
KJ62		AT9		543
		--
		--
		AQ9

Now South crosses to dummy's Q, drawing the last outstanding trump. The T is then floated around to West's J. West is now endplayed in the minor suits. A club return gives South two club tricks, while a diamond return allows South to ruff in either hand and discard a club loser.

Helen Sobel Smith, perhaps the greatest woman player ever, had this to say about her first endplay:

¹ Sobel, Helen (1950). Winning Bridge.