bridge

bridge

North-South vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x8 4

uJ 9 7 4

v9 5 4

wA K J 4

WEST EAST

xJ 10 7 5 xK Q 9 6

uK 8 6 u5 3

vQ 10 7 3 v8 6

w9 3 wQ 10 6 5 2

SOUTH

xA 3 2

uA Q 10 2

vA K J 2

w8 7

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1NT Pass 2w Pass

2u Pass 4u Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Jack of x

As a likely defender, follow the auction and decide what each opponent is likely to hold for the bidding. When dummy comes down, you can then decide whether the hand is weaker or stronger than promised. That will give you an idea of your prospects on defense.

When dummy hits the table, the defenders can see that North was only good enough to invite game so, even if declarer holds a maximum no trump, the contract might fail if you do nothing to help the offense. Your club holding behind dummy is further grounds for hope

You get the defense off to a perfect start by overtaking partner’s jack of spades with the queen and ducked by declarer. Next, you shift to a trump to try to eliminate as much of dummy’s ruffing power as possible. Every time your side gains the lead, you should return a trump if you can.

That will limit declarer to one ruff in dummy and a total of nine tricks. Fail to do so and declarer will be able to score both a spade and a diamond ruff, for 10 tricks in all.

2011 Tribune Media Services