Bridge

Published on Thursday 2 July 2009 15:34

THERE IS A LOT TO THINK ABOUT in defence. You have to count points, tricks and distribution. You have to deduce the content of the hidden hands, and you have to set yourself realistic targets. How many tricks can you hope for here?

At Game All you opened 1D, but decided to give way gracefully when the auction returned to you at 4S. With no very attractive lead you chose your doubleton club. The eight was covered with the jack and partner helpfully produced the ace. He switched to the jack of diamonds. South played low, but you could see that it could not cost to overtake with the queen, just in case the jack was singleton. When you next cashed the ace partner discarded a club. What now?

You have taken three tricks, and can cash the ace of hearts to defeat the contract (unless declarer ruffs it). But this is a tight teams match, and +200 may be worth a few imps. Partner has all the outstanding trump, and another diamond will force dummy to ruff high, perhaps promoting a trump trick if his spades are 109xx or better; it might even promote a second trump trick for a stronger holding like Q1087. Are there any risks in playing a third diamond, planning to lead another one when you gain the lead with the ace of hearts?

There certainly are! When South has seven spades he can discard both his hearts on dummy's club winners and make his game. The deal, from a Camrose match, is reported, appropriately enough, in The Setting Trick by Ian McCance, one of Australia's top players. There are 100 real-life bridge problems where you can take on a declarer who may not play perfectly. Working your way through this book is sure to hone your thinking in defence.