Defense, Chapter 4

I this series of articles I will write about important matters on defense. If you missed the previous ones, see Defense: Chapter 1; Chapter 2 and Chapter 3.

Chapter 4: Count

What is count? When to give count?
Count is a very important signal in bridge. Defenders should use it as 2nd or 4th hand, when declarer is trying to establish his long suit.

Note that if you are 3rd hand, and dummy or declarer played the ace as 2nd (or partner started with ace) - it's best to give an attitude signal (encourage/discourage: See my previous article on 3rd hand) . Being 2nd or 4th to play to the trick means that declarer has initiated the suit (unlike 3rd hand, when partner is initiating it).

However, there is a way for partner to ask you to give count also when you are 3rd (I will mention it later).

So... what is count? Count is when you are signaling to your partner how many cards you have in the suit played.

You need to agree with your partner what kind of system you want to play to signal it: Standard, Upside Down Carding (UDCA) or REO.

• Standard carding: Low card and later higher card = You have an ODD number of cards in the suit (3 or 5). High card and then a lower card = You have an EVEN number of cards in that suit (2 or 4).
• Upside Down Carding: Low and then high = EVEN. High and then low = ODD.
• REO: Odd card (3, 5, 7, 9) = Odd number of cards. Even card = even number of cards. You always give the lowest odd or even card to signal it. If you have an odd number of only even cards (like 842) or an even number of only odd cards (like 9753), you throw high and then low. So when partner sees the 9 and then the 3, he realize you have even (else you give the 3 first).

All 3 systems above are good, but agreeing with partner the preferred one is extremely important. It doesn't matter too much which system you choose, as long as you and partner are playing the same thing.

In all the examples bellow I will use standard carding, which is the most common one:

Example a)

	♣KQJ107
♣A83		♣2
	♣6

Declarer played the ♣6 in a no trump contract. There are no further entries to dummy. You played low, declarer played the ♣10, and your partner gave the ♣2. Declarer continued with the ♣K, partner playing the ♣5 and declarer the ♣4. Do you win with the ♣A or hold up once more?

Example b)

	♣KQJ107
♣A83		♣9
	♣6

Declarer played the ♣6 in a no trump contract. There are no further entries to dummy. You played low, declarer the ♣10, and your partner gave the ♣9. Declarer continued with the ♣K, partner playing the ♣5 and declarer the ♣4. Do you win with the ♣A or hold up once more?

These could have been the full deals in 3NT (let's say the auction went 2NT - 3NT)

Solution to Example a)


You lead the ♠Q and South won with the ♠A. Let's count winners and losers.
- Declarer has 7 tricks in his hand.
- He needs 2 more, and must try the clubs.

As he opened 2NT, it's easy for you to duck the Ace on the first round of clubs (you know he has at least 2, unless he opened with a singleton club!), but as cards lay, if you play low again (..."just in case South has another club"..), you will give declarer his 9th trick. You must play the Ace on the last club in declarer's hand.

Partner helps there, by giving you count: He played the ♣2 first and then followed with the ♣5, meaning he has an ODD number of clubs in hand: he has 3 cards. That leaves 2 cards for declarer. Take the ♣A NOW! Declarer is left with 8 tricks.

Solution to Example b)


You lead the ♠Q and South won with the ♠A.
- Declarer has 6 tricks in his hand.
- He needs 3 more, and must try the clubs.

As he opened 2NT, it's easy for you to play low on the 1st round of clubs, but as cards lay, if you win the 2nd club, you don't cut declarer's entry to dummy and he will now make 10 tricks: 4 clubs, 3 diamonds, 1 heart and 2 spades. You must play the Ace on the last club in declarer's hand.

Partner helps by giving count: He played the ♣9 first and then followed with the ♣5, meaning he has an EVEN number of clubs in hand. Partner has 2 clubs (if he had 4, declarer would have just 1, not likely from the 2NT opening). That leaves 3 cards for declarer. Hold up once more and take the ♣A on the third round of clubs. Declarer is left with 8 tricks (only 2 clubs now).

Remember! You want to take the ace on the last card of the short hand, to cut declarer's transportation!

Sometimes, you are on lead and you want to know how many cards your partner has in a certain suit. I highly recommend you to agree with your partner to play as follows:

Ace (or Q) lead asks partner (who is 3rd to play to the trick) to give attitude (encourage/discourage). In standard carding, a high card from partner encourages you to continue and a low card is discouraging.

Example 1)

	♥543
♥AKJ6		♥2
	♥7

You are defending 4♠. You lead the ♥A and partner gave the ♥2. That means he doesn't have the ♥Q nor does he have ♥xx (he knows you are almost certain to hold the ♥K too, so with a doubleton he will play high to encourage.

So... switch to another suit at trick 2 and try to put partner on lead. He will play a heart back when he gets the hand, and the defense will score 3 tricks in that suit.

This is the full layout:

	♥543
♥AKJ6		♥982
	♥QT7

King lead asks partner to give count (you can agree that it also asks partner to unblock the suit when defending NT)

Example 2)

	♥543
♥KQJ6		♥9
	♥A

You lead the ♥K and partner played the ♥9. What does that mean?
- Partner is showing an EVEN number of hearts in his hand (2 or 4).
- Declarer showed on the bidding a 12-14 points balanced hand, with 5 carder spades.

If partner has ♥9x , that would place 4 hearts in declarer's hand – Not likely: With 4 hearts, declarer would rebid 2♥, not 2NT.
So... Partner has 4 cards and declarer's shape is 5-2-3-3 (2 hearts), meaning you can cash only one heart trick (declarer has ♥Ax).

The full layout:

	♥543
♥KQJ6		♥9872
	♥A10

Example 3)

	♥10543
♥KQJ6		♥9
	♥A

On the same bidding as above, partner signaled the ♥9 (even number of cards). Now you can conclude that partner has ♥9x and declarer has ♥Axx, so your ♥QJ are sure tricks, if you manage to cash them fast enough.

The full layout:

	♥10543
♥KQJ6		♥92
	♥A87

Example 4)

	♥10543
♥KQJ6		♥2
	♥A

Now you know that partner has an ODD number of hearts. That means he has ♥xx2 and declarer has ♥Ax. So when you get the hand, cash only the ♥Q. Don't try to cash the ♥J too, as it will get ruffed by declarer and also will promote his ♥10 as another trick.

The full layout:

	♥10543
♥KQJ6		♥972
	♥A8

What do you lead with ♠AKQ32?
Always lead the ♠K (if agreed that is asks for count). It is obvious that partner has no high honor, and if you lead the ♠A, he will always discourage, so he will play low either from 10xx4 or 10x4 and you will not be able to know when declarer will ruff.

But also in NT ...

Example 5)

	♠J8
♠AKQ32		♠4
	♠9

You lead the ♠K and partner gave the ♠4.

It's so easy: Partner has an ODD number of spade cards (the ♠4 is partner's lowest card as you hold the ♠32) and you can easily cash 5 spade tricks to set declarer.

The full layout:

	♠J8
♠AKQ32		♠654
	♠1097

Example 6)

	♠J8
♠AKQ32		♠7
	♠9

You lead the ♠K and partner gave the ♠7.

It's not so easy now: Partner has an EVEN number of spade cards (the ♠7 cannot be partner's lowest card so he surely has an even number of cards) So... he can have
- either ♠7x or
- ♠7xxx.

Both seem possible. If partner has ♠7x , then declarer has 4 cards and by playing ♠AKQ you will promote a spade trick for him. What to do?

Remember the bidding! Declarer denied a 4 card major. That means partner has ♠7xxx and declarer has ♠xx. So play all spades off top?

NOT SO FAST! Here's the full layout:

	♠J8
♠AKQ32		♠7654
	♠109

You must be careful to not block the suit. Play the ♠A at trick 2 but continue with a LOW spade at trick 3. Partner will win it and when he plays the 4th spade, overtake it with your ♠Q and cash the 5th spade to set.

Defense, Chapter 3

This series covers important matters on defense. See Defense: Chapter 1 and Chapter 2.

Chapter 3: Second Hand

1. Second hand plays low, if first hand (declarer) played low
2. If first hand played an honor, we need to cover with our honor

Example:


1. Second hand plays low:
If declarer starts with the ♠4, we need to play low, as declarer's intention is to play high from dummy. By that we guarantee a trick:
- Either declarer plays the Ace and our ♠K becomes high, or
- He tries the ♠10 and partner's ♠J wins.

2. Cover an honor with an honor:
If declarer plays the ♠Q, we need to cover with our ♠K, and partner's ♠J will get promoted.

However, there are some exceptions regarding both rules:

A. Is it always right to cover? When to cover or not to cover an honor with an honor

Example 1. Declarer played the ♠Q. Do you cover?

	Dummy ♠A43
You ♠K2
	Declarer ♠Q

Yes. You must cover and there is a chance to promote a trick for partner. For instance:

Case (I)

	♠A43
♠K2		♠9876
	♠QJ105

You have promoted partner's 9 by covering.

Case (II)

	♠A43
♠K2		♠1095
	♠QJ876

You have promoted partner's ♠10.

So, always cover if your hand is shorter or same length as dummy and if you see a chance to promote a trick for you or for partner.

Example 2. Declarer played the ♥Q. Do you cover?

	Dummy ♥A4
You ♥K32
	Declarer ♥Q

No. Declarer can finesse only once. So your ♥K is sure to win a trick later, while if you cover you risk promoting a long suit for declarer.

	♥A4
♥K32		♥765
	♥QJ1098

Don't cover if you are ahead of dummy, when dummy is shorter than you, and there is a chance for declarer to promote all his tricks. On the above example, if you play low, declarer cannot deny you a trick with the ♥K if he continues with hearts.

Example 3. Dummy played the ♦Q. Do you cover?

	Dummy ♦Q3
		You ♦K54

Yes. There is a great chance to promote a trick for partner.

Case (I)

	♦Q3
♦1062		♦ K54
	♦AJ987

You will promote partner's ♦10 if you cover (Q-K-A-2, J-6-3-4 and now partner's T is high). If you don't cover, declarer wins a trick with the ♦Q, then he will finesse again to the ♦J, cash the ♦A and your partner's trick will fall, allowing declarer to score 5 tricks.

Case (II)

	♦Q3
♦9762		♦ K54
	♦AJ108

Here, you promote partner's ♦9 if you cover. If you don't cover, declarer's ♦Q wins the trick and declarer will finesse again to the ♦J to score 4 tricks.

Example 4. Dummy played the ♦Q. Do you cover?

	Dummy ♦Q3
		You ♦K654

No. Declarer can finesse you once more, but after he cashes his ♦A, your ♦K is high. There is a chance, of course, that if you cover, you promote something with partner, but it's more likely to find:

Case (I)

	♦Q3
♦92		♦K654
	♦AJ1087

Case (II)

	♦Q3
♦972		♦K654
	♦AJ108

On (I) and (II) you promote all declarer's diamonds if you cover. If you don't cover, your ♦K will take a trick if declarer continues playing the suit.

So... Don't cover if your suit is long enough to protect your honor.

Example 5. a Declarer played the ♣J. Do you cover?

	Dummy ♣AK1062
You ♣Q983
	Declarer ♣J

Yes. You lose to the ♣AK10 , but your ♣9 is promoted. If you don't cover, declarer will run his ♣J, finesse to the ♣10 next, and win all the tricks.

Example 5. b Declarer played the ♣J. Do you cover?

	Dummy ♣AK1062
You ♣Q543
	Declarer ♣J

No. This time, do not cover. There is no chance for you to promote a trick for yourself or for partner. Play low and hope that declarer will not finesse or that he has a stiff ♣J.

Example 6. Dummy played the ♣Q. Do you cover?

	Dummy ♣QJ93
		You ♣K85

No. Do not cover the Q, but cover the J if declarer plays it next. With length, always cover the last touching honor!

	♣QJ93
♣1064		♣K85
	♣A72

If you cover the Q directly, declarer wins with the ♣A, and can finesse to the ♣9 next, making all his tricks. If you don't cover, the ♣Q will win, but when declarer tries the ♣J next – You cover and promote partner's ♣10.

Example 7. Dummy played the ♣Q. Do you cover?

	♣QJ54
		♣K8

Yes. With doubleton – always cover.

	♣QJ54
♣1072		♣K8
	♣ A963

If you don't cover, declarer can play low next, and your ♣K will drop to declarer's ♣A, who will make 4 tricks. Cover – and a trick is promoted for partner.

Example 8. Dummy played the ♣J. Cover or not?

	Dummy ♣J1063
		You ♣Q95

No. Let's see why:

	♣J1065
♣K84		♣Q95
	♣A72

If you cover, declarer wins and plays a low club to dummy's T, scoring 3 tricks in the suit. He only gives the ♣K to West. If you wait with your ♣Q, partner will win the ♣K and later on, when you cover the ♣10 with your ♣Q - Your ♣9 will get promoted. With length, always cover the last touching honor.

Example 9. Cover the ♣J or not?

	Dummy ♣J103
		You ♣Q7

Yes. With doubleton always cover.

	♣J103
♣9854		♣Q7
	♣AK62

If you cover, you promote partner's ♣9. If not, declarer can play low next, scoring 4 tricks.


B. Second hand plays low. Is this always true? When to play low or not

Normally, we are taught that second hand plays low. But there are some exceptions.

Example 1. Declarer opened the bidding with 2NT and dummy raised to 3NT with his 5 points as shown below.

1.a. Declarer played the ♣4 from hand. Do you play high or low?

	Dummy ♣AJ1093
You ♣KQ2
	Declarer ♣4

Play low. Let's see why:

	♣AJ1093
♣KQ2		♣765
	♣84

- If you play an honor, declarer will let you win the trick and later on will play his 2nd club, finessing your remaining honor and thus scoring 4 tricks in this suit.
- If you play low, declarer will win cheap with the ♣9 but can cash only 1 more trick because he doesn't have another entry to the dummy.

1.b. Declarer played the ♣4 from hand. Do you play high or low?

	Dummy ♣AJ1093
You ♣K52
	Declarer ♣4

Play high! Declarer is not playing a low card from ♣Q4. So, he either has ♣Qx4, and then he always makes 5 tricks or, more likely, he has ♣x4.

	♣AJ1093
♣K52		♣Q76
	♣84

Play the ♣K and the suit is dead because your partner's ♣Q will block dummy. It is also possible that declarer will allow you to hold the trick (hoping you played the ♣K from ♣KQx), and then try to finesse the ♣J next, losing to your partner's ♣Q, in which case he will take 0 tricks in clubs! If you play low, declarer will play the ♣9, and if partner (likely) wins the ♣Q, declarer can take 4 tricks in the suit, by finessing again to the ♣10.

Example 2. Dummy played a spade (say in NT contract). Do you play high or low?

	Dummy ♠543
		You ♠K2

Consider playing high, for the same reasons as in Example 1.a. above.

To be continued... In the next chapters we will discuss Count and Smith

Oren's Handplay Problems - 4

This is the 4th hand in a handplay problem series from Oren Lidor. This is a defensive play problem. The solution will be published the following week, along with a new problem. Have fun!

Defensive Play Problem 4


West lead the ♦2 to your ♦J and South's ♦K. At trick 2 South played a spade to the ♠9 (West played the ♠8).

How do you defend (playing standard carding, 4th best leads)?

Oren's Handplay Problems - 3

>This is the 3rd hand in a handplay problem series from Oren Lidor. This is a declarer play problem. The solution will be published the following week, along with a new problem. Have fun!

Declarer Play Problem 3


West lead the ♠4 . You tried the ♠Q, but East covered with the ♠K.














Solution:




West lead the ♠4. You tried the ♠Q but East covered with the ♠K. Make your contract.

The lead should tell it all!

Why didn't West lead a club?
Why did he lead spade from a weak suit to the ♠J?
With ♣AK or ♣KQ he would surely prefer a club lead. So he must have ♣AQ if he avoided leading away from it. That places the ♣K with East and all the other high cards with West, else he would not have enough values to open.

So, play accordingly: Win the ♠A, play a diamond to the ♦10, cash ♦A, come back to hand on the ♥A and throw a spade from dummy on the good ♦K.

You are safe now, you will lose only two clubs and the ♥K.

Perfect Misunderstanding

Most experts are heavily discussing their system with their partner in order to avoid any sort of misunderstandings.

On this important session in the league, a player was ill, and a sub was called to fill in. They had a long talk agreeing the conventions, carding and whatever else they could, including puppet, Bergen , DONT, 0314 and more. When they reached the issue of 2♣ openings they agreed that it should be game forcing in general except for the 2♣ - 2♦ - 2NT sequence where:
"2NT is 23-24, and you may pass with 0-1 points," said one.
"So, with balanced 25-27 we need to jump to 3NT," said the other.

Thinking they covered all their options here, they moved on to discuss other issues.

During the play, this hand appeared, on which they were the only ones to bid and make the following slam:

Dealer South, all vulnerable.


Dear readers, do you understand the bidding above? No? Don't feel too bad about it as it seems that the players themselves didn't get it either... Actually they both got it so wrong that they found the perfect way to a perfect contract, due to a perfect misunderstanding. Playing with screens, they were asked to explain their own bids and their partner's bids, and here is what they came up with:

Opener:
2♣ - Strong, artificial.
2♦ - 0-7 points, artificial.
4NT - 28-30 points ("Yes, we just agreed that 2NT is 23-24 and 3NT is 25-27, so 4NT is definitely 28-30.")
5♣ - Puppet, stayman.
5NT - No 5 or 4 cards major.
6♣ - Partner prefers slam in clubs.
Pass - OK by me

Responder:
2♣ - Strong, artificial.
2♦ - 0-7 points, artificial.
4NT - asking Aces, 0314.
5♣ - 0
5NT - asking Kings.
6 ♣ - 0
Pass? - "I wonder ... He cannot pass here."

As you can see, 6♣ is unbeatable: Having 11 top tricks, declarer just needs 1 diamond ruff in dummy. On a spade lead, he played ♦AK, ruffed a diamond with the ♣2, cashed ♣QJ, entered hand to cash the ♣AK and claimed 12 tricks, giving up 1 diamond in the end. All other pairs were in 6NT, going 1 down.

So... how do you think the bidding would have gone with his regular partner? ...

Oren's Handplay Problems - 2

This is the second hand in Oren Lidor's handplay series. This time, a defensive problem. Solution will be published the following week, along with a new problem. Have fun!

Defensive Problem


Your partner lead the ♦T. How do you defend to set 4♥?













Solution:




You are playing 4♥. Your Partner lead the ♦10.

Win ♦K and play the ♥4. Whenever you get the hand again with ♦ or ♥, play ♥A, ♦A and give your partner a ♦ ruff.
If You play ♦AK and a 3rd ♦, Partner will ruff with the ♥6 but declarer will overruff , play 3 rounds of clubs and throw his 4th ♦.
Also not good to play ♥A and another ♥. Declarer wins, draw 3rd trick. He is able now to throw 1 ♦ on the 3rd cl and to establish a ♦ trick, losing 2 ♦ and 1 ♥ only.

Declarer Play Problem - 1

This is the first hand in a declarer play problem series from Oren Lidor. Each hand will be labeled with a difficulty level. Solutions will be published the following week, along with a new problem. Have fun!

Declarer Play Problem - 1

Difficulty level: Hard


You are playing 6♥. North lead the ♠T.

How do you play the hand?













Solution:




You are playing 6♥. North lead the ♠T.

Win in hand and finesse clubs.

If it fails, play heart to the J to capture the ♥Q in North: this works whenever North has ♥Qxx, ♥Qx or...if the ♥Q is singleton (in that case win with the ♥K, play the ♥J and finesse to ♥9). ♥A and low to the ♥J will not help against ♥Q singleton with South as you lose to T8xx with North.

If the club finesse works, play ♥K, return to hand, and continue with a heart to the ♥J. That will ensure 4 heart tricks against any 4-1 split.

Stay tuned for more such problems in the following days.

Defense, Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Third Hand Plays High (?)

Third hand plays high. This is the basic rule, and we all know it. That is, of course, if hands 1 and 2 have played low. However, there are some exceptions:

1. If you hold a sequence, play the lowest card from the sequence:

A)

	♠643
♠K9752		♠J
	♠A

You lead the ♠5. Partner played the ♠J and declarer won the ♠A. Where is the ♠Q?

It has to be with partner, else South would have won the trick with the ♠Q.  So, when you win next trick, play low to avoid knocking partner's ♠Q or to avoid blocking the suit.

Full position:

	♠643
♠K9752		♠QJ
	♠AT8

Here's another variation:

	♠43
♠KT752		♠Q
	♠A

You lead the ♠5. Partner played the ♠Q and declarer won the ♠A. Where is the ♠J?

It has to be with South, else, with ♠QJ, partner would have played the ♠J. Third hand plays LOW from a sequence. By playing the ♠Q, partner denied the ♠J!

So... When you get the hand, think about playing another suit. Try to put partner on lead so that he will continue spades through declarer. If you continue spades yourself, you will promote opponent's ♠J.

The full position:

	♠43
♠KT752		♠Q86
	♠AJ9

B)

	♥AJT
♥972		♥Q
	♥3

During the play you lead the ♥7. Partner played the ♥Q which won the trick. Where is the ♥K?

It has to be with partner, else declarer would win with the ♥K. So if you get the lead at some point, play another heart to set up your partner's ♥K.

How about now?

	♥AJT
♥972		♥K
	♥3

You lead the ♥7, but this time partner played the ♥K as 3rd hand, which means the ♥Q is 100% with declarer (else, with KQ, partner would have played the Q).

C)

	♦93
♦Q8652		♦T
	♦A

Partner doesn't have the ♦K, else he must play it – 3rd hand plays HIGH. But partner has the ♦J! Else declarer would win the trick with the ♦J. So, when you get the hand, play the ♦2. Partner's ♦J will knock out declarer's ♦K (or win the trick), and your suit is promoted.

The full position:

	♦93
♦Q8652		♦JT4
	♦AK7

Now let's think about this case:

	♦93
♦Q8652		♦J
	♦A

This time it is clear that declarer has both the ♦K and the ♦T , as partner didn't play either.

The full position:

	♦93
♦Q8652		♦J74
	♦AKT

D)

	♣43
♣AJ652		♣8
	♣Q

This time you can figure out ALL the cards:

Declarer won partner's ♣8 with the ♣Q. That means
- ♣K is with declarer (else partner would play it)
- ♣T9 is with partner (who played low from the sequence), else declarer would win with a cheaper card
- ♣7 is with declarer, else partner would play the ♣7 from ♣10987.

If you get the hand, play another suit, and try to put partner on lead so that he will play the ♣T or ♣9 to your ♣AJ through declarer's ♣K7.

The full position:

	♣43
♣AJ652		♣T98
	♣KQ7

Another variation:

	♣43
♣AJ652		♣7
	♣Q

As explained in the previous example, we can figure out that declarer has ♣KQ and partner ♣T987. Think about it, what is the danger here?

When you win a trick, play the ♣A to drop declarer's ♣K (let's say partner has played the ♣T to that trick) and play a LOW club next, to avoid blocking the suit! Partner wins with the ♣8, continues the ♣9 which you overtake with the ♣J and cash the last club in your hand too.

The full position:

	♣43
♣AJ652		♣T987
	♣KQ

2. Dummy completes the sequence

A)

	♠543
♠2		♠KJT
	Declarer's hand

Partner lead the ♠2. You hold ♠KJT. Which card will you play?

Play the ♠K. Third hand plays high, and you have only one high card.

Here's the full layout:

	♠543
♠A762		♠KJT
	♠Q98

If you don’t play the ♠K, declarer will score his ♠Q. If you play high, declarer will not make any spade tricks.

B) Now let's consider this situation:

	♠Q43
♠2		♠KJT
	Declarer's hand

Partner lead the ♠2 and dummy played low.

This time, you have to play the ♠T. You can see the full sequence with your hand and dummy combined. Or, in other words, your ♠T is high enough. High enough for what? High enough to win the trick if partner has the ♠A, or high enough to knock out the Ace if it is with South.

And if the ♠T wins, what should you continue?

Well, that depends on partner's opening lead. What did partner lead?

- If it's a low card, which promises an honor (the Ace here), continue with the ♠K and a 3rd spade to partner's ♠A. In this example, partner lead the ♠2, which means he wants you to continue the suit:

	♠Q43
♠A762		♠KJT
	♠985

- If it's a relatively high card (2nd high card in his suit denies an honor), switch to another suit. Let's say partner lead the ♠7.

	♠Q83
♠9762		♠KJT
	♠A54

You were allowed to win the trick with the ♠T but you can figure out that the ♠7 cannot be 4th best (because only the ♠A and the ♠9 are higher than the cards you can see – you can use the Rule of 11 too). It is best to switch to another suit, and next time partner wins a trick he can continue spades through dummy.

Here's another example where you can see which card is high enough from your hand and dummy combined:

	♠QT3
♠2		♠KJ9
	Declarer's hand

Partner leads the ♠2. If dummy plays low, you can play the ♠9, because it is high enough to win the trick if partner has the Ace, or high enough to knock out declarer's Ace if he has it.

If dummy doesn't have the ♠T though:

	♠Q53
♠2		♠KJ9
	Declarer's hand

This time, you have to play the ♠J if dummy plays low.

3. If dummy has an honor and you hold a higher honor, usually (but not always) you should duck your honor to avoid setting up dummy's high card
   
A)

	♠Q43
♠2		♠KT97
	Declarer's hand

Partner lead the ♠2 and dummy plays low. Which card to play?

Play the ♠9. Why? Partner has at least one of the two missing honors (♠A and ♠J).

• If partner has both spade honors, your ♠9 will win the trick. But if you play the ♠K, dummy's ♠Q will get promoted:

	♠Q43
♠AJ62		♠KT97
	♠85

• If partner has the ♠J, declarer has ♠A and you play the ♠K, then declarer scores 2 tricks:

	♠Q43
♠J652		♠KT97
	♠A8

By playing the ♠9 you will knock out declarer's Ace while your ♠K still can win dummy's ♠Q next time partner plays spades. Thus declarer scores only one trick in the suit, instead of two.

• If Partner has the ♠A and declarer the ♠J, declarer will always score a trick, so your ♠9 will lose to the ♠J but your ♠K will capture his ♠Q later on:

	♠Q43
♠A652		♠KT97
	♠J8

B) What will you do now?

	♠Q4
♠5		♠KT97
	Declarer's hand

Your partner lead the ♠5 and declarer played low. Which card do you play?

If you are thinking the ♠9... You are wrong!

Try to imagine declarer's cards:
- If he has no honor in hand, he would surely play the ♠Q in dummy, hoping that West had lead low from AKx5 (vs NT).
- If declarer had the Ace and your partner the ♠J, declarer will surely try again for the ♠Q, hoping West has the ♠K, and the ♠Q will cash.

Declarer played a low card. That means he has the ♠J. So your partner has the Ace. Play the ♠K and continue with the ♠T to avoid blocking the suit:

	♠Q4
♠A8652		♠KT97
	♠J3

Your partner will win the next trick with the ♠A, play the ♠2 to your ♠9, you will continue with the ♠7 to partner's ♠8 and he will be able to cash his ♠6 too.

4) Lead of the Ace asks 3rd hand for attitude (encourage/discourage)

In standard carding, if you play a high card as 3rd hand when your partner has lead an Ace, or if partner lead a low card and dummy played the Ace - this is encouraging partner to continue playing that suit. (Some players play upside down attitude, where a low card is encouraging. Others plays odd/even, where an odd card is encouraging. Agree with your partner what carding and signals you play).

5) When defending a notrump contract, lead of the King asks partner to unblock if he has an honor, or else to show count. In std carding: a low card followed by a higher card shows an odd number of cards. A high card followed by a smaller one shows an even number of cards in that suit.

A)

	♥43
♥KQT76		♥2
	♥8

You lead the ♥K against 3NT. Your partner played the ♥2 and declarer the ♥8. You have agree to play standard carding.

The ♥2 from partner means he doesn't have the ♥J, nor the ♥A (else he must unblock), and he has an odd number of cards in hand. So, partner must have 3 cards and declarer also 3, headed by the ♥AJ. If you continue the suit, you will set up declarer's ♥J.

This is the position:

	♥43
♥KQT76		♥952
	♥AJ8

The correct play from declarer is to duck the lead if the heart suit is one he is worried about.

B) The bidding went (opponents bidding, you and partner pass throughout):

1NT	Pass	2♣	Pass
2♦	Pass	3NT	Pass
Pass	Pass

	♥T9
♥AKQ32		♥7
	♥8

You lead the ♥K. Partner plays the ♥7 and declarer the ♥8. How do you continue?

You decide to continue with the ♥A, partner played the ♥6 and declarer the ♥J. Now what?

Partner showed an even number of hearts in his hand. He could have either a doubleton, or 4 cards in hearts. How can you know which it is?

Think about the bidding. Partner must have 4 cards, because declarer denied holding a 4-card major major during the bidding.

Pay attention to the spot cards! At trick 3 you must play a low heart. Partner wins with the ♥5, continues with the ♥4 to your ♥Q and you will be able to cash the ♥3 too.

If you play the ♥Q at trick 3 you will block the suit, because your remaining cards are ♥32 and partner still has the ♥4...

To be continued...

An easy prey

It's so wonderful when even after 60 years of marriage, you still have the same love look in your eyes. Moses is already 87, and his memory is not like what it used to be (nothing to do about it...). He used to own a huge company, with thousands of workers. His wife, Rebecca, was his secretary. And so, for many of years they used to live together, work together and play bridge together. Bridge is just entertainment to them, and success or failure in the game are accepted with the same smile by both.

"What day is it today, dear?" asked Moses.
"It's Monday, and we are going for our weekly bridge play in the club," said Rebecca.

On this hand they were facing two young players who thought they caught an easy prey.

Dealer South, all vulnerable.


As you can see, the contract is far from optimal... West, who "smelled blood" was in a hurry to double, and lead the ♦8.

"What are we playing?" asked Moses.
"4 hearts," answered Rebecca, and threw her husband an adoring gaze.
"Doubled," shouted West a reminder.

Moses won the ♦A, played the ♠AK, ruffed a spade, played ♣AK and ruffed a club. Now he played a heart and won with the last trump, the ♥A, that remained in dummy. 8 tricks are already "in the bag".

He continued with the ♦Q and when East covered with the ♦K, he "ruffed"... with the ♠8.

"What are we playing?" he asked again.
"4 hearts doubled. Heart is the trump, not spade," answered East viciously.

However, East's wide smile quickly disappeared when his partner, having only trumps in hand, had to ruff his winner and play a heart into Moses' ♥KJ.

"We got a top due to your brilliant play," said Rebecca , and wrote 790 for N-S.
"Give me a break!" puffed East without humor.

But the couple didn't pay attention to that remark and were already busy getting boards for the next round.

Later at home, Moses told his wife: "You know, you are as pretty as in the day we met. Do you feel like going to bed now?"
"What is it with you? You said the same thing to me half an hour ago, and five minutes ago we got out of the bed," said Rebecca with a wide smile.
"That's how it is, dear. I guess my brain is no longer what it used to be..."