It is an established fact that of all three departments of Bridge play, bidding and defense, the last of three is the most difficult for the simple reason that while in play, you have 26 cards to choose from, while in defense you need to decipher your partner's crucial holdings to set a plan for defense that can out beat the declarer and prevent him from making his bid contract. More over there is the peril of the opening lead that if made favourably for the defense can cost them enormously and help the declarer make his otherwise shy contract.
The bidding does help the defense in making conjectures and assumptions about the possible holding of the declarer and consequently that of the partner. At the table of course there is always a pressure building up as the sequence of plays unfold. Those who are comfortable in all three facets of Bridge rely on the general requirements laid down for good defense -aggressive when the opponents are hesitant in bidding, docile against strong bidding and having the table presence to visualize and conceive the possible tricks required to beat the contract. The bidding pattern suggests many clear cut inferences helpful for the defense. For example if declarer has shown a massive two suiter hand, strong in high card points too as well as the distribution, the defense needs to be active, quick in taking their tricks in the remaining suits before the declarer takes over and establishes his strong side suit advertised for free discards of his remaining losers. In case the bidding suggest a more balanced distribution of the declarer, the defense should be docile and neutral, not opening new suits for the declarer and neither allowing him the luxury of the free finesse that becomes marked on a defender's thoughtless opening of a suit.
In the light of above, our example for today is a problem in defense that needs to be resolved with care, table presence and proper visualization. North south are 4S on the following with the bidding proceeded as under with the opening lead of club 4 to see the following dummy:
The bidding has proceeded as under: The opening lead is not in doubt at all with west hoping for at least one ruff to add to his 3 solid tricks held as under: Having led the club 4 and viewing the dummy spread before the declarer takes the 4 clubs in hand with KC, partner giving the 7 and declarer plays now the ace of trump and back a trump to your king. The crucial point of defense has been reached quickly.
How as west do you find the additional trick to beat the contract? Of course just cashing 2 red aces will not do unless partner has a trick up his sleeve which could then be his possible entry to give you a ruff in clubs to make the declarer down 2. But building castles in the air are of no use in Bridge. You require solid inferences to visualize the whole hand and plan your defense accordingly.
Many defenders in this position would naturally take resource to the laying down of the ace of diamonds for a hopeful signal from the partner. The temptation to lay down the AD is tremendous to look whether partner discourages or encourages. You see if you receive discouragement, one can them try under leading the ace of hearts to sneak an entry to partner with a possible king of hearts. For on the face of the bidding south has promised just an opening hand against north's game going bid which could stretch from 11 to 12 leaving partner with just a bare margin of 3 to 4 HCP which could well include a red king. On the other hand if the ace of diamond receives a positive signal for KD, the defense could be thwarted in their plans if the declarer has a singleton diamond. For one look at the bidding suggests a 5 card spade and at least a 3 to 4 card clubs leaving him with 4 to 5 red cards which could well be split adversely for the defense as 4 hearts and a singleton diamond.
If you ask how? Look again at the bidding. When west over called 2H, his partner did not encourage which clearly suggests that he could not be holding more than a doubleton heart. Where does that lead the defense? Obviously then declarer would be holding 4 hearts and consequently a singleton diamond.
Finally what about the partner's possible signal in clubs? He did give the 7 which could be from a holding of 7x or 76x or low from J87. The declarer did not take the 7 of clubs with the 8 but the KC. So 8C lies with partner who surely has 3 cards. Therefore, 7C was a suit preference for the lower of the remaining 2 red suits ie diamonds. Again, partner did not echo in trumps from the 10 4, giving the 4 as a clear signal for the diamonds. There you have it - diamond but with declarer's singleton almost marked, your only hope is for partner to hold KD as was the actual case and underlead your diamond ace for a club ruff to beat 4S and feel proud at Bridge.
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North (Dummy)
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Q82
8
QJ10
AQ10952
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South (Hand in Concealed)
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W N E S
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- - - 1S
2H 3C Pass 4C
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Pass 4S All Pass
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West
KJ3
AJ 9642
A84
4
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