Vil Gravis's blog

Defending low level contracts is something few defenders seem to pay much attention to, despite the fact that there are many match points to be gained in these situations. 1NT is such a case in point, because usually the defenders will have as many, or even more, combined high card points, as declarer.

Defending low level contracts is not just a matter of taking what tricks you can and hoping declarer is not smart enough to take all that can come declarer’s way. An astute partnership on defence can create just as many, or more, tricks as declarer could given the same two hands. That is because the astute defenders can ‘see’ all four hands whereas declarer can see only two!

Board 2 from Tuesday 13/12/22
Dealer East NS Vul

	962 KJT KT54 953
Q84 AQ8 872 T762		K73 532 AJ3 AQJ4
	AJT5 9764 Q96 K8

This week, a real fun as well as educational deal that has something for everyone.
Board 12 from Wednesday 23/11/22
Dealer West NS Vul

	Q2 Q987654 K652
K94 J AQ92 QJT84		AT8765 KT876 A9
	J3 AKT32 J543 73

This deal gave our declarers the opportunity to match Deep Finesse in the play, once again just by following best declarer play recommendations without the need to see through the cards, as Deep Finesse can do.

Board 17 from Tuesday 15/11/22
Dealer North Nil Vul

	QJ874 K3 AK853 7
AK Q52 QT94 AJ32		T63 AJ764 7 KQ85
	952 T98 J62 T964

The general rule of thumb when playing a No Trump contract is that you play on your longest suit to develop tricks in it. Here, West had two long suits with many potential tricks, but only two stoppers in an outside suit, one of them having been removed on the opening lead, and the other certain to be
removed when the defence win their first trick, which was bound to happen. How then should West as declarer proceed after a spade lead from North?

Board 17 from Tuesday 8/11/22
Dealer North Nil Vul

	QJ843 863 J J542
K9 A54 32 AKT863		A5 KQ9 AT98765 9
	T762 JT72 KQ4 Q7

Our X-Clubs readers may be interested in this issue of “Vil’s Corner” from the Hutt Club’s regular newsletter “Finesse”. Entries with answers to the final poser are welcome from members of other clubs and there will be a special prize for the perfect answer. Last month’s posers proved a bit of a challenge. Thanks to “Peter and Dale” who gave two very good, though not perfect, answers.. Well done, and thank you for your contribution. Here are my suggested answers to the questions:

1. Dealer West All Vul

AKQ KQT5 KQJ84 4

J86542 A92 AT AK

Playing basic NZ Bridge Acol, how should the bidding go to arrive at the optimum contract?