Bridge - The Scotsman 01/10/12

Defending against a slam is quite different from defending against a game: you need just two tricks, but you need them fast.

Opponents’ auction often reveals how they expect to make twelve tricks. Against balanced hands a passive defence, waiting to make the tricks that are your due, is best. But most slams are not bid on power alone. The auction may suggest that 12 tricks will come from establishing tricks in a side suit: now you must attack, looking to create quick tricks. Mostly it pays to lead from a king or queen in an unbid suit, hoping that partner has the honour that will help you build a trick before declarer is ready to take a discard.

The most attacking lead you can make is an ace. Leading an ace may establish tricks for declarer, allowing him to discard losers; but not leading the ace may see declarer discard losers so that your ace never takes a trick. On the whole, as on this deal from the Northern Ireland Congress, it pays to make your ace and hope that another trick will appear, perhaps from the trump suit. Those who went passive, leading a safe-looking heart, regretted their decision. Declarer won, drew two rounds of trump, then crossed to the king of diamonds to throw three clubs on dummy’s hearts. He returned to hand with a club ruff to cash the ace of diamonds and ruff his losing diamond, and the only trick West made was the queen of trump.