More on good defence
Defence at its best
Perfect defence not only requires total cooperation between the defending partnership but also an accurate reading of the situation by both partners. Let me give you a bidding problem first, then talk about the defence. You are sitting South and with EW vulnerable and East dealer, the bidding has been as shown. You are playing in a match point session against reasonable opponents.
1. DEALER EAST EW VUL
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | 1 |
| Pass | 1NT | Pass | 2 |
| Pass | Pass | X | Pass |
| ? |
 875 |
| AT98 |
 K6 |
 QJ73 |
You (South) hold the above hand. What would you call?
Clearly you have three options: PASS, 2NT, and 3C. The question is: how confident are you in your ability to make either 2NT or 3C as declarer, and how confident are you in your defence? If 2H makes then passing will be a disaster, though nowhere as near as big a disaster as if you were playing teams. I suggest that at teams, a bid of 3C is quite clear cut, though at teams partner may not have been bothering to back in with a double. At match points, bidding 2NT allows for your side to still find a good part score of 120 when most pairs may be scoring 100 against a 2H contract down one. Bidding 3C allows for more possibilities, such as down one or two when 2H is a make, or making 3C against 2H down one when 2NT does not make your way. Against all that, you can score a real coup if you pass and defeat 2H and score +200, giving opponents the ‘kiss of death’. This is bound to be a top score for you.
Now a second question: IF you decide to go for the jugular and PASS, what will you LEAD?
Before you decide and I give you the full deal, let me pose another problem. You are South once more but this time it is partner who has made the opening lead and you have to find the continuation.
2. DEALER WEST EW VUL
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | 1 | Pass | 1 |
| Pass | 3 | Pass | 4 |
| Pass | Pass | Pass |
Partner leads the SEVEN OF CLUBS (your normal practice is to lead ‘fourths’ from four card suits). Dummy goes down with:
| AQ74 |
| T8 |
| 862 |
| QJ98 |
Declarer plays the eight from dummy and it is your turn. Clearly the diamond suit looks obvious, or does it? Well, what DO you do holding:
| KT62 |
| 763 |
| 73 |
| A432 |
The answer will be easier to find if you have complete faith in partner.
