Good defense can be difficult but using good bridge sense will solve
many of
your problems. Here is a hand where a defender didn't give the
problem enough thought at trick one.
Scoring: Matchpoints (pairs)
Hand #51
Dlr
S
Vul
E/W
9874
QJ86
973
KQ
53
K9543
2
108543
A10
2
KJ10654
AJ72
KQJ62
A107
AQ8
96
West
North
East
South
1
Pass
3*
DBL
4
All Pass
*Constructive
raise: 7-9 points w/4 card spade support
BIDDING: North-South bid
aggressively to game after East made a lead-directing double
encouraging
a diamond lead.
PLAY: West obediently
led a diamond and declarer won the king with his ace. Next,
declarer led a high spade won by East. The big question for East
was whether his partner had led a singleton or the deuce from
Q82. If it was a singleton, a diamond ruff might be necessary to
defeat the contract. If declarer had the singleton diamond, East
must shift to a heart and hope partner held the ace and could follow
with a ruff. The problem was created at trick one. East
KNEW (see below) that declarer held the diamond ace so the only
question was who held the queen. East should play the diamond ten
at trick one to solve this puzzle. After declarer wins the queen,
when East regains the lead with the spade ace, he can confidently lead
a diamond for West to ruff. West will later score the king of
hearts for down one. If East shifts to a heart instead, declarer
will rise with the ace, draw trumps, and make the contract losing one
spade, one heart and one club. This type of "discovery" play
occurs frequently.
Note: If you find yourself with a partner who underleads an ace
in this situation, rush to the partnership desk as soon as you can.
*
