Monday, December 29, 2014

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.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

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