Defending 3NT

DEFENCE! Defence is VERY difficult. Too many things to keep track of and you have NO IDEA what Partner has! But we all have to defend at times. So it is best to get used to it. (Or bid more.)

Here is your hand:
♠73
♥A8
♦A964
♣Q7652

The contract is 3NT. You vaguely remember some sort of Stayman auction after LHO opened the bidding 2NT but Partner is on lead so you didn't pay much attention.

Partner leads the T♣.

Dummy comes down with:

	Dummy ♠QT98 ♥K65 ♦T64 ♣432
Partner T♣		You! ♠73 ♥A8 ♦A964 ♣Q7652
	Declarer ???

Declarer plays small from Dummy. What card do YOU play?

Show Answer

You SHOULD play third hand HIGH. Play your Q♣.

Is it really that big a deal if you don't? Partner is probably leading top of nothing.

True. Partner could be leading top of nothing in which case it doesn't matter if you play low and it doesn't matter if you play the Q♣.

But what card does Partner lead from:
♣AT9

or

♣KT9

That's right. The T♣.

If Partner lead from either of those holdings then you NEED to play your Q♣ or Declarer gets TWO ♣ tricks. Declarer only deserves one ♣ trick.

The ♣ holding was this:

	Dummy ♣432
Partner ♣KT9		You! ♣Q7652
	Declarer ♣AJ4

If you played low Declarer was allowed to win the trick with the J♣ and they still had the A♣ to win a trick with later on.

If you played your Q♣ then Declarer will not be allowed to score a trick with the J♣. Either now or later on.