Neither vulnerable. North deals.

Neither vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xA K 7 4 2

uA Q J

v8 4

w9 4 2

WEST EAST

x10 9 8 xQ J 6 5

u10 3 u5

v10 9 5 3 vA Q J 7 6 2

wK 10 6 5 wA Q

SOUTH

x3

uK 9 8 7 6 4 2

vK

wJ 8 7 3

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1x 2v 2u 4v

4u 5v 5u Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Ten of v

How you should play card combinations is vital to expert defense. Consider this deal from a team match at the recent ACBL Fall North American Championship in Boston.

The auction is simple enough up to the point where East bid five diamonds. Had South passed, North would probably have doubled, giving South the option of defending or bidding on. Five diamonds doubled would have been defeated at least two tricks with a defensive spade ruff.

At the other table the contract was four hearts. At both tables the lead and play were identical — West led a diamond to East’s ace, East cashed the ace and queen of clubs, which held, and no matter how the defense continued now declarer had 10 tricks.

Obviously, even four hearts can be defeated if West overtakes the queen of clubs with the king and returns a club for East to ruff. But that would be a silly play if East had A Q x of clubs. How can West know?

Correct defense with A Q x of clubs would be to cash the ace of clubs and continue with a low club. That makes it easy for West to win the king and continue with a club. Therefore, when East leads the ace and follows with the queen of clubs, it must be a doubleton, so West should overtake and give partner his ruff for one down!

2009 Tribune Media Services