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A Common Conundrum – for less experienced players and others.

It would not happen to you, would it? However, it does happen rather often to others. So, this article is for their benefit not yours! However, to be sure, to be sure, just cast an eye over it!

 

South opened a 12-14 1NT. North showed 5 hearts via a transfer and then 4 spades (2). South showed a maximum but no interest in the majors by jumping to 3NT. West leads J. Plan the defence.

Not much to go on, you might say. You know South has got at least four cards in one of the minors, maybe both. You also know that dummy’s tasty looking heart suit will not set up for four tricks without your side taking one trick first. You also know that with only 25hcp and no great fit between declarer’s and dummy’s hands, that it may not be a very easy ride for South.

Is that what you were thinking about when you saw dummy? Declarer called for a low card and being fairly happy with your partner’s lead, you follow with 5.

If that is what happened and that did happen, then it was pretty much the end of a successful defenc

 

What East did not consider was West’s opening lead. It could have been from just JTxx (might they lead low from that holding?)but as can be seen, it might be from something rather more hopeful for the defence.

What happened?

South ducked the opening lead and when West continued with a low club, South ducked again. East switched to T with declarer inserting Q and West winning the trick with K, playing a third round of clubs. This third round gave East a nasty choice of discards. They chose a diamond.

Declarer then played four rounds of hearts losing the lead to East who was now powerless. Back came a diamond but South had four heart tricks, two spades, A and two (actually more than two) diamond tricks to make their contract.

What should have happened

Just in case it mattered, East should play Q at trick 1. South will duck this and the club continuation with West playing a third round of clubs. Notice that East is not squeezed at this point and can throw a diamond, indeed the only safe suit to discard.

South will have 9 tricks if there was an even heart break. However, when there is not, they not only have to lose the lead to East but also need either a second trick in diamonds (i.e. take the finesse) or a very lucky fall of QJ in two rounds. As you can see, neither of the above works and the contract will likely fail by two tricks (4 clubs, K and a heart).

East could argue that West should have played K at trick 2 to produce the winning defence. This is certainly true though why hope your partner will find that card when the normal play from Q doubleton after the jack is led is to “unblock” your queen on the first round? Make life as easy as possible for your partner. That is the mark of a good defender and a good partner.

Effectively, when East failed to produce Q at trick 1, West could surmise that the club lay-out was not as it actually was.

 

helping a friend

Occasionally, you cannot help but block a suit led by your partner. There are even some occasions when you cannot afford to “squander” your doubleton honour. (Even here had South held 4 clubs headed by AK8. If that was South’s club holding, it is unlikely that the defence would beat 3NT, and, as we said above, West may have started with a low club.). Yet, do not create unnecessary blockages and then hope your partner will rescue the defence. Defence can be really hard at times: get the less hard parts right.  

A Chance to shine.

There is no opposition bidding and you, South, hold the following:

 

Your sequence has been a little artificial up to this point but after partner’s 1 opening (5+ hearts) and your response which showed game interest in hearts with three- card support, your partner made a slam try showing 1 club along with a control, presumably the king, in diamonds. That control was their last bid, 5.

You have already shown a diamond and a spade control. What would you bid next and why?

Richard Solomon

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