e-Vil Files 03

Continuing with our No Trump discussion. Let’s take another look at the deal.
Dealer N Nil Vul

765
742
743
AKT7
983
AQ85
AQ6
864
KJ4
T93
KT852
J2
AQT2
KJ6
J9
Q953

Deep Finesse will tell us that NEITHER South nor West can make 1NT, yet every South, at the time this deal was played, made at least 1NT. And when I tested this deal with a group of players in a tutorial session and made WEST the dealer, every West made at least 1NT as well. What does that tell us? That being declarer is easier than defending? Why should that be the case?

There is in fact every reason why both South and West should FAIL in 1NT. The main reason is that the defenders have the first say, with the opening lead. Therefore, in an even contest, they should have the advantage by being able to choose how they are to play, in other words, to shoot first.

Defence is not only about taking as many tricks as you can get from the word go, it is about planning and executing a plan that is based on the circumstances. These circumstances should be based on the contract, the level of the contract, and the information you have obtained from the bidding. Even an opening bid of 1NT passed out will contain a great deal of information. Let me explain what I mean about the 1NT opening that is passed out. Let’s take a look at WEST playing in 1NT first.

North should have no problem in deciding on the SUIT to lead and can lead either ‘fourth highest of longest and strongest’ or start with the ACE of clubs. With only four clubs, it is best to lead the ace, which asks for ‘attitude’: encourage or discourage. There is little chance of the suit being blocked if partner has precisely Qx. So, North leads the ace of clubs. Most Souths will now ENCOURAGE, because that is what you do when partner makes a lead that you like. The queen in South’s hand is a card that North wants to know about, isn’t it? Well, of course.

But defence is about thinking, communication between partners, and working to a plan, not just taking tricks. Defending against 1NT is different to defending against 3NT or 6NT. Paradoxically, the higher the contract, the less elaborate a plan you need to defend against it. In 1NT, both declarer and defenders will be trying to take seven tricks.

When North starts with the ace of clubs, South can see that there are four probable club tricks unless North has led the ace from a three card suit. But those are not the only tricks that will defeat 1NT, or even hold declarer to only 1NT. South can see another source of tricks, so must try and get North to cooperate in the defence, and South can get North to cooperate, by NOT cooperating himself. South should DISCOURAGE when North leads the ace! If North sees dummy and works out that the best switch is through dummy’s strength and that declarer will have to work for his seven tricks, North will indeed switch to a spade immediately. So, at trick two, when South discourages a club continuation, North switches to a spade, the SEVEN. South wins whichever spade is needed to beat dummy, and THEN, to North’s surprise, emerges with the queen of clubs! When South then leads another club, North takes the next two clubs and returns back to spades, knowing that South will win the trick and hoping South may have more, which South does have.

The defence has thus scored seven tricks from, as it happens, the moment the opening lead was made. If the defenders had done the ‘obvious’ and taken the first four tricks in clubs, only two more tricks would have been available and declarer would have made 1NT. I repeat: defence is about forming a plan and following it through, with cooperation by BOTH partners. Get YOUR partner to read this, as well as the coming files, because unless your partner is willing to cooperate you may as well defend on autopilot and just take any tricks you can and hope for the best.

Dealer N Nil Vul

765
742
743
AKT7
983
AQ85
AQ6
864
KJ4
T93
KT852
J2
AQT2
KJ6
J9
Q953

And now, make SOUTH declarer in 1NT and see what might happen and what SHOULD happen. The next issue will be quite an eye opener! Can you guess why, having seen all four hands?

Replay this board by clicking here.