Poor Defense #10-46

IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

To be an effective defender you must have good carding agreements and also pay close attention to the cards that are played. Here is a hand with a good lesson.

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)

#10-46
Dlr	W
Vul	E/W

	K103
	653
	Q76
	KQ43

	74
	KQJ87
	KJ842
	J

	AJ
	A2
	10953
	107652

	Q98652
	1094
	A
	A98

West	North	East	South
Pass	Pass	Pass	1
1NT	DBL	2	2

3 3 Pass Pass

Pass

BIDDING: South opened in fourth chair followed by West’s 1NT showing an unknown two-suiter. North doubled to show values, East ran to his longest suit, and South rebid his spade suit. The auction told West that his partner held a few good cards so he competed at the three-level showing diamonds and hearts. North closed out the auction.

PLAY: West led his singleton club. Declarer counted three heart losers along with the ace of trumps. He saw no way to avoid a club ruff so he won in his hand and led a spade to the king and ace. East returned a club for his partner to ruff. He led the ten as a suit-preference signal for a heart return. West ruffed the club and returned the king of hearts. Now it was time for East to wake up. If West had another spade it would be best for East to win the second heart and give his partner another club ruff. But if West had no more trumps, East must overtake the king of hearts and return the suit for West to cash two more tricks. He guessed wrong and ducked the first heart. He won the second round and returned a club but declarer won this trick and was able to discard his heart loser on a good club.

This should not have been a guess for East. First, it was unlikely South had rebid such a weak suit with only five and secondly, it is standard practice to play hi-low in the trump suit to show an odd number. West had played the four and then the seven showing an even number so East carelessly allowed South to get away with nine tricks.