Defense at Bridge is undoubtedly an arduous task, more so if it is a part score contract where the defense needs far more tricks and to ensure them, a far sighted vision is essential to know how and where from can the tricks be conjured. Of course the basic guidelines are underlined for knowing as to what the contract calls for active or passive defense - whether to go for a ruff or make the declarer short in trump for trumps promotion. As for a NT contract, the defense narrows down to either leading 4th best from your long suit or attack in you shorter suit hoping partner has enough length and strength in it to beat the contract. The opening lead in a NT contract is therefore, half the battle won-if it is a killing one and a lost cause if it gives declarer the boost he needed in the making of the contract.
Today's illustration is a NT contract that is not a game contract. Both NS and EW being vulnerable, south opens with 1NT strong (15-17) and west's double is basically not a penalty double but promises some sort of a takeout showing in this case, spades and another suit. But after north passes, east the partner of the doubler converts it into a penalty double and when west plays his 4th best 4S from the following holding:
=========
A J 9 4 2
7 6
K Q 4 3
8 2
=========
The dummy spreads out on his left as under with quite a helpful hand for the declarer:-
==========
North
==========
7 6 5
10 5 3
A J 9 2
10 6 3
==========
West is a bit crestfallen to see that his diamond honours would not be worth their gold now being under dummy's powerful holding of A J 9 2.
Partner it seems with border line values had hoped for a better hand hoped from west. Nevertheless now that the dice has been cast, can you in west's position salvage the maximum tricks to beat 1NT.
Your lead of 4S as west is not a bad one at all as east produces the 10 which is taken by the declarer's king leaving the spades open for you to take, once you find an entry into your partner's hand.
The vital issue for you to resolve is as to where lies partner's possible entry. Does it all come down to a guess or can you be more specific and confident?
Let us see what declarer plays next? There you have it, obviously the 6D, putting you to a test immediately. For suddenly this has become a challenge at the outset and a subtle one at that. You need to grab your only chance fast but how to proceed? Is it all in the dark or has there been any signal when you play the QD which declarer ducks playing the deuce with Partner following with the 5D. The situation is tricky and no doubt a bit confusing. The question you pose to yourself is how many diamonds does partner have, Well, partner has played his lowest diamond as you can see the lower diamond cards visible from dummy's holding. You know you have reached the critical point of defense. You are desparate to find as to where lies partner's entry - hearts or clubs?
Well, you partner is equally alert as to what is your dilemma? His 5D would therefore not be a count signal but a suit preference signal telling you as to which of the 2 suits to switch to. The 5D is a clue pointer to a switch in clubs. Did you get it right too? Well if you did and played the 8C, you have hit the jackpot for partner holds:
=========
10 8
J 9 4 2
7 5
A K Q 7 4
=========
He takes his 5 clubs tricks and then plays a spade for you to take 4 more spade tricks, making declarer 4 down for a massive 1100. Had you made a wrong guess, declarer was bound to make 1NT for + 180.
Declarer was trying his best to sneak up on you with an early guess by playing diamonds before cashing his hearts. But little did he know he would be pitted against too good a defense.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.