In the card game of contract bridge, to hold up means to play low to a trick led by the opponents, losing it intentionally in order to sever their communication. The primary purpose is to give as many tricks to opponents as needed to exhaust all the cards in the suit from one of their hands. If that hand regains the lead, it will not be able to put the partner on lead to cash its tricks. Hold up is one of basic techniques in play.
While mechanically identical,[1] a hold up is in a suit played by the opponents while a duck (or ducking) is a manoeuver in one's own suit.[2] Nevertheless, the terms are used interchangeably[3] with duck or ducking more common.