Tempo (bridge)

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In the card game of bridge, tempo refers to the advantage of being on lead, thus having the initiative of developing tricks for one's side.[1]

According to the rules of the game, the right to select the first card to play (the opening lead) belongs to the defenders; afterwards, the right to lead belongs to the hand who has won the previous trick. Being on lead generally presents an advantage, as it presents an opportunity to choose a suit and card which will develop a trick for the leader's side. However, in endplay situations being on lead certainly does not present an advantage—quite the opposite.

The tempo can be used for many purposes:[2]

  • Setting up tricks – for example, against notrump contracts, defenders will often lead the longest and strongest suit, to set up the tricks in that suit. Against trump contracts, lead of a short suit can set up a subsequent ruff before the declarer can draw trumps.
  • Pitching losers – for example, having x opposite AKQx, the declarer may discard cards from another suit on the honors, holding xxx opposite xxx if on lead; if the opponents were on lead, they can cash the tricks in the declarer's weak suit.
  • Taking tricks – the converse of pitching losers. Having the lead lets us take our tricks before the other side gets to pitch in the suit(s).
  • Trump promotion or coup en passant – if the other side had the lead, they could simply draw trumps; however, with our side on lead, an extra trump trick can be produced.
  • Killing entries – opponents can be forced to use entries in the wrong order.

Examples

Example 1 ♠A K Q J
♥x
♦x x x x
♣x x x x
♠x x x x

N

W               E

S

 ♠x x x x
♥x x x x ♥x x x x
♦A K Q J ♦x
♣x ♣A K Q J
♠x
♥A K Q J
♦x x x x
♣x x x x
In this extreme example,[2] whoever leads first will take the first 8 tricks, regardless of the denomination. That means that neither side can make any contract, and every contract will fail by at least two tricks—the advantage of having on opening lead makes a three-trick difference.
Example 2
South in 4♠		 ♠J 10 7 5 4 2
♥J
♦A Q 3
♣J 7 6
♠K 6

N

W               E

S

 ♠9
♥A K 8 4 ♥7 6 5 3
♦8 5 2 ♦K J 10 4
♣K 7 5 4 ♣10 8 3 2
Lead: ♥A ♠A Q 8 3
♥Q 10 9 2
♦9 7 6
♣A Q

Keeping initiative—gaining tempo—by not taking a finesse can be decisive to prevent the opponents from developing defensive tricks.

Against South's 4♠ west leads the ♥A (indicating the king) and continues with the ♦8. The opening lead, although natural, was unfortunate, as it gave the declarer a tempo to develop heart tricks for himself. However, it is now essential not to take the diamond finesse so as not to lose tempo. South must take the ♦A and play to the ♠A, again refraining from finessing. Now, the declarer can lead hearts for ruffing finesse and discard diamonds until West covers with the ♥K, then ruff and cross over to ♣A, again refusing to finesse. On the remaining hearts, all diamonds including the queen are discarded. In total, the declarer loses one trick in trumps, hearts and clubs each.

Note that a diamond opening lead sets the contract, as it doesn't give the tempo in hearts to the declarer: the declarer must lose a heart and two diamonds before he sets up the hearts for diamond discards; the trump king is the fourth trick for the defense.

References

  1. ↑ The Bridge World Glossary
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Thomas's Bridge Fantasia
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