Defence Problem

Another quiz on defence. The contract is 3NT. Declarer opened the bidding 1♦, Dummy bid 1♠, Declarer bid 1NT and Dummy bid 3NT. Neither you nor your Partner bids. Partner leads the 2♥.

Auction:

Declarer	Dummy
1♦	1♠
1NT	3NT

Contract:3NT Lead:2♥.

	Dummy ♠KQJ4 ♥75 ♦AJ8 ♣KT52
Partner's Lead		Your holding
2♥		♠8753 ♥AT6 ♦762 ♣763

Question A: What card will you play when Declarer plays low from Dummy?

Question B: If you win the A♥, what card will you return? Be specific.

Show Answer

You MUST play the A♥ at trick one. If you do not, Declarer will make their contract.

You also must return Partner's suit. But in order to defeat the contract you must return the T♥. If you return the 6♥ Declarer can make the contract.

Here are the four hands.

	Dummy ♠KQJ4 ♥75 ♦AJ8 ♣KT52
Partner ♠962 ♥KJ92 ♦T43 ♣A94		You! ♠8753 ♥AT6 ♦762 ♣763
	Declarer ♠AT ♥Q843 ♦KQ95 ♣QJ8

Let's look at this from Declarer's point of view. How many winners does Declarer have?
♠ 4 winners
♥ 0 winners
♦ 4 winners
♣ 0 winners

Declarer has 8 winners. They need 9 tricks. They can easily get another trick by letting the Opponents in with the A♣. This will set up 3 more winners for Declarer. BUT the problem is the OPPONENTS (that is YOU and your Partner) can take the first FIVE tricks.

Well they CAN if the ♥ suit is played correctly.

Try this out at home to see what will happen.

If you win the A♥ and return the T♥ what can Declarer do?

If Declarer plays LOW, Partner can play low and you will win your T♥. Then you can just return your 6♥ and Partner will get two tricks no matter what card Declarer plays from their hand.

If, on the other hand, Declarer plays the Q♥ then Partner can win the K♥ and their J♥ and 9♥ are both winners. That is four ♥ tricks plus the A♣.

Now imagine you win the A♥ and return the 6♥. Declarer can just play a low card from their hand. Partner can win the trick with their 9♥ but now you are no longer able to take the first four ♥ tricks. If Partner now returns a ♥ Declarer will win a ♥ trick. Doesn't even matter what ♥ Partner plays. Declarer will win a ♥ trick either then or later on.

So Partner can no longer play ♥. They must play something else.

But then Declarer can win and play a ♣. This sets up enough winners for Declarer to make their contract.

And again Partner is stuck. If they win the A♣ and play a ♥ Declarer will get a ♥ trick. If they don't then Declarer has the rest of the tricks. Either way, Declarer makes their contract.

This illustrates several KEY points to any good Defence.

1) Third hand HIGH

2) Return Partner's suit

3) With two cards in a suit, lead the HIGHEST card