INTERMEDIATE BRIDGE COURSE                                                   

 DEFENSIVE PLAY OF THE HAND

 

LESSON 15-B

 

DEVELOPING DEFENSIVE TRICKS:    The methods by which defenders are able to secure all of the tricks in a suit to which they are entitled requires a cooperative and imaginative effort between the defenders since they are not capable of directly seeing their combined holdings in the suit in question.  They need, therefore, the ability to visualize what their partner holds from the bidding, the play, and partner’s signals.   Ultimately, defenders secure any tricks feasible by way of the same techniques as Declarer; namely, taking sure-tricks, and the promotion of additional winners through establishment of long suits, finessing, and trumping declarer’s winners.  

 

1.      Taking Sure Tricks:    Similar techniques used by declarer; namely, playing a high card from the short side first, and unblocking, and the added techniques of attitude and count signaling, comprise the methods by which a defending team can maximize the sure tricks to which they are entitled.   In each of the following holdings which card would be led by your partner against a No Trump contract, and how would you work along with partner in a cooperative effort to take all of the tricks in the suit?

 

1)         DUMMY            2)        DUMMY                      3)         DUMMY

           73                         64                         87

  PARTNER      YOU           PARTNER       YOU         PARTNER        YOU

   QJ104       AK2            KQ105        A72          AQJ92          K4 

              DECLARER                    DECLARER                  DECLARER

         9865                        J983                      10653

 

1) Q; Overtake with the   2) Q; Encourage with        3) Q; Overtake with the K            

       A or K, lead the          the 7                       leading back the 4

       second honor followed

       by a low card

 

        Conclusion:   Careful teamwork must be exhibited by the defenders in order to maximize their

               sure trick capabilities.  This especially includes avoidance in blocking of a suit via overtaking

               partner’s honor, or giving an encouraging signal so that partner can lead a small card over to

               partner’s high card.

 

2.      Promoting Tricks:   Usually the defenders do not have enough sure tricks to defeat a contract immediately from the outset but must, alternatively, develop additional tricks through promotion.   In the following holdings, against a No Trump contact, Partner leads the card indicated.   Which card will you play opposite Partner’s lead, and assuming that declarer wins trick one with the Ace, which card will Partner lead when he/she once again, regains the lead; and why?

 

1)         DUMMY            2)        DUMMY                      3)         DUMMY

           54                        A32                         75

  PARTNER      YOU           PARTNER       YOU         PARTNER        YOU

   QJ93        1072           QJ1065        K7          Q9832         J104 

              DECLARER                    DECLARER                  DECLARER

         AK86                        984                       AK6

 

1)   7;3                    2)  K;J(or 10)              3)  10;2

 

          Conclusion:  Defenders must work together in order to promote as many tricks feasible.   Each  

               must attempt to imagine what his/her partner holds from the cars played and the signals given. 

               Only then can they maximize promotion of their potential winners.

 

 

 

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3.      Establishing Long Suits:   Long suits are a wonderful source of tricks for both declarer and defenders, especially in No Trump contracts.   The following through with a continuation of the long suit led oft times leads to the development of the suit.  Towards this endeavor, it is many times necessary for the partnership to maintain an entry in their combined long suit so as to preserve communication between their two hands.   You are defending against a No Trump contract and partner leads the card indicated in the suit you have bid.    Assuming no outside entries, which card do you play to the first trick, and which card do you play to the second time the suit is led?

 

1)         DUMMY            2)        DUMMY                      3)         DUMMY

          QJ10                       QJ10                        KQJ

  PARTNER      YOU           PARTNER       YOU         PARTNER        YOU

    94       AK8632            A53        K9642         1082          A943 

              DECLARER                    DECLARER                  DECLARER

          75                         87                        765

 

1)   8;K (or A)             2)   9;2                   3)   9;3

 

    Conclusion:   Long suits provide an excellent source of tricks for defenders if (a) they be

                            persistent in promotion of the suit, and (b) they attempt to visualize the complete

                            layout of the suit , maintaining entries between the two hands, ducking when

                            necessary, taking losses early, and, in general, keeping the lines of communication 

                            open.

 

 

4.      The Defensive Finesse:   The thrill of success when taking a finesse can be just as rewarding to the defense as to declarer, because the two defenders cannot see each other’s hand, however, as declarer can see Dummy’s, they must exhibit some degree of optimism, watch each other’s signals, and constantly look for clues to guide their attempts to entrap declarer’s high card(s).   Against a suit contract, which card would you lead in each of the example layouts?   Which card would partner play to the first trick assuming a low card is played from dummy, and which defender must lead the suit next if the defenders are to take all the tricks to which they are entitled?

 

     1)           DUMMY          2)       DUMMY          3)      DUMMY

          A54                     732                    K65             

        YOU    PARTNER           YOU    PARTNER            YOU    PARTNER   

     KQ10     8762            QJ95     864           QJ107    A83      

        DECLARER                DECLARER                DECLARER        

          J93                     AK10                    942               

 

1)   K;2;Partner        2)    Q;4;Partner         3)    Q;8;You

 

  Conclusion:   The defenders are capable of utilization of finessing techniques just as

                            effectively as declarer.   To be most effective, however, they must both be alert

                            to each other’s signals and attempt to imagine what cards partner might have

                            that would have prevented him from continuing the suit if your signal prevents

                            him/her from continuation of the suit, even though you know he/she would like         

                            the suit continued.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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5.      Leading Through Strength:   In order to maximize the number of defensive tricks available in finessing situations, the defense must have the partner lead which is the singular one of the partnership which allows the lead to pass through the strength of declarer or Dummy.   In the following examples, will you or your partner need to lead the suit in order for the defense to secure all the tricks to which they would be entitled?

 

          1)           DUMMY          2)       DUMMY          3)      DUMMY

              753                    AJ10                    872             

            YOU    PARTNER           YOU    PARTNER            YOU    PARTNER   

         K842     J109             973     KQ64          AQ94    1063      

           DECLARER                 DECLARER                DECLARER        

                AQ6                      852                    KJ5

  

1)   Partner              2)    You                 3)    Partner

 

Conclusion:   To help visualizing finessing situations on defense, it helps to keep the guideline of leading through strength and up to weakness in mind.

 

 

6.      Trumping Declarer’s Winners:   Another way the defenders can produce tricks is to trump declarer’s winners.  Cooperation between the two defenders is essential so as to get more than one ruff.  In order to accomplish this, cooperation coupled with a suit preference signal is critical.  In the following hand notice which card partner returns after taking the opening lead of 3D against a 4-Spade contract. 

 

                        YOU                PARTNER

               J85                  3

                               10752                J84

               3                    A10962

               Q9865                A432

 

            Conclusion:   Defenders oft times need to cooperate when trying to ruff declarer’s winners.  

                                   Both need to remain aware as to what is going on and must effectively work

                                    together using entries available between the two hands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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