All News
Share The Moment
Nice Defence
If defence is regarded as the hardest of the difference aspects of playing the game, then when it goes right, it can be the most rewarding.
Maybe we should find a dynamic defence to beat a cold slam or at least a cold game but the board being featured is a mere part-score hand. “Mere?” Add a few 5/6 imps to your total and they can have quite an impact on your match, either way!
| East Deals N-S Vul |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West | North | East | South |
| Andrew Tarbutt | Steve Boughey | ||
| Pass | 1 ♦ | ||
| 3 ♣ | Pass | Pass | Dbl |
| Pass | 3 ♥ | All pass |
The contract at both tables in a Teams match was 3
, once by North with the bidding as above and the other time by South. At the other table, the defence was less than inspiring. West, who had overcalled and rebid in clubs led the 
A. East guessed/ hoped that his partner held the queen and unblocked the king under the ace. A second round of clubs left both defenders feeling a little sick.
Even though declarer misguessed the spade position, with his trump and club losers restricted to one, he had no difficulty in securing 9 tricks.
However, with North declarer, Steve Boughey led the K and continued the suit. Andrew Tarbutt won and switched to the 
9! South inserted dummy’s jack…and now the contract was a certain 2 down. Steve won his queen and played a second spade. Andrew won with his ace to play a third round of clubs. Ruffing with the ace would mean two certain trump losers. North ruffed with the jack but Steve over-ruffed with his queen and played a third round of spades for Andrew to over-ruff dummy.
Down 2…6 imps in and a good warm feeling to defeat a “mere” part-score. Nice defence, boys.
Richard Solomon
Go Back View All News Items
