What is "endplay"

n. (context bridge English) A tactical play in which a defender is put on lead at a strategic moment, and then has to make a play that loses one or more tricks vb. (context bridge English) To make an endplay

An endplay (also throw-in), in bridge and similar games, is a tactical play where a defender is put on lead at a strategic moment, and then has to make a play that loses one or more tricks. Most commonly the losing play either constitutes a free finesse, or else it gives declarer a ruff and discard. In a case where declarer has no entries to dummy (or to his own hand), the defender may also be endplayed into leading a suit which can be won in that hand.