JULIAN POTTAGE on DEFENCE possible to make three tricks in the suit, but that makes your opponent work harder. Note also that if West could hold a singleton nine or king, or if South holds K-9-x-x and intends to play the king, Second East would fare better playing low. Which Card Hand From Equals? You may have noticed that I have purposely avoided saying which of Play II touching cards you should play (when you have decided not to play low). When you lead from a sequence, you lead high, n the last issue of BRIDGE we (1) and North’s in (2) make it necessary whilst when you are in third seat, you considered what to do when the to play the ace and king respectively to play the lowest card of equals; which Ideclarer (or the dummy) led a small be sure of winning a trick. rule do you think you should follow card and you were second to play to the If West ducks, South can the here? Expert opinion is slightly divided trick. You may recall that the normal second round in layout (1) and North the on this issue, but I would say that if you rule in this situation is to follow with a third round in layout (2). Playing high want to make sure partner is aware of low card. However, life is not always as may not actually gain a trick because your strength, you should play your simple as that. declarer may have a useful discard to take highest card. Normally, however, when later, but it can hardly lose when your declarer attacks a suit, the information Safety First holding is this good. about how the suit lies will help your opponent more than partner, so you Bridge is a bit like driving. The normal should play randomly from equals. rule in the UK (and in many of the Layout 3: countries in the world that used to be ♦ A J 7 4 3 Layout 5: coloured pink on maps) is to stick to the N left. Despite this, in a one-way street, or ♦ K Q 9 W E ♦ 10 6 2 ♣ 3 2 S a dual carriageway, or if you are turning N right, or overtaking, or the left-hand lane ♦ 8 5 ♣ K 6 5 W E ♣ Q 10 7 S is obstructed, it might be correct to move to the right. The key to safety on ♣ A J 9 8 4 the road, and to defensive success, is Layout (3) also represents a side suit. If knowing the normal rule and being West ducks the first round, North’s jack aware of the circumstances in which wins and declarer may well be able to Can you see how the defenders might you might deviate from it. set up the suit with a ruff, making four make two tricks in this suit in a no- tricks and not losing any. contract even though declarer has If West plays high on the first round, sufficient entries to lead twice from the Layout 1: something known as splitting honours, North hand? If East plays low on the ♥ K 9 5 2 the defenders come to a trick. first round, declarer will presumably

N follow the percentages and the ♥ A Q J 6 W E ♥ 10 8 4 3 nine. By playing the queen on the first S Layout 4: round, East gives declarer the losing ♥ 7 ♣ 6 3 2 option of imagining that the layout

N actually looks like this: ♣ 8 5 W E ♣ Q J 10 7 S

Layout 2: ♣ A K 9 4 Layout 6: ♥ Q 7 ♣ 3 2

N N ♥ K J 9 2 W E ♥ 8 6 4 3 In layout (4), in which we are now ♣ 10 6 5 W E ♣ K Q 7 S S looking at East’s play, let us say that ♥ A 10 5 there are now no trumps. On the lead of ♣ A J 9 8 4 a low card from North, East normally does best to play an honour. This will Layouts (1) and (2) show side suits and prevent declarer from scoring a cheap Of course, some declarers will be aware you can see why West does best to play trick with the nine on the first round. of this tactic, but unless West is short it high if South leads low. In both cases True, if declarer can lead twice more costs nothing to try. the opposing shortage, South’s in layout from the North hand, it will still be Continued on page 13 ‹

Page 12 POTTAGE ON DEFENCE continued from page 12 If you play low, South dummy’s ten and East faces an unenviable choice: and lose the defensive diamond Sitting under dummy four clubs. To avoid this, take the ace of trick, or win and allow the suit to run. spades and continue with a low heart. Putting up the king changes the position The time has come to consider some full In our next example declarer is in a radically: declarer can make one diamond deals to see other reasons for playing suit contract, but the defensive strategy trick by taking the ace but may prefer to high in second seat. Please start in the could equally arise at no-trumps: duck the first round and finesse on the West chair. second, playing you for K-Q-x – then you get the contract two down. ♠ 6 4 2 ♠ Q J 7 ♥ 9 5 3 Sitting over dummy ♥ A6 ♦ A J 10 7 6 ♦ 10 9 2 ♣ Q 6 Now please move across to the East seat. ♣ K Q J 5 3 ♠ 9 7 5 ♠ A9 2 ♥ K 10 6 N ♥ K 10 8 5 3 ♦ K 9 3 W E ♠ Q 5 N S ♦ J 6 5 W E ♣ J 10 8 2 ♥ A 9 7 2 ♣ 9 7 S ♦ Q 10 6 5 ♣ AQ 8 West North East South ♠ 10 3 2 After a simple sequence, a weak 1NT 2♠* ♥ 10 8 4 N from South raised to game by North, you Pass 2NT Pass 3♠ W E ♦ A9 4 lead the five of hearts. Dummy plays low Pass 4♠ End S ♣ 10 9 7 4 and partner’s nine forces the queen. At * trick two, declarer leads a small spade from hand. What do you do? You lead the jack of clubs, covered by the South opens a weak 1NT and North To conserve the to your long queen, king and ace. South draws trumps raises to 3NT. West leads the ♠6 and hearts it may seem natural to play low, in three rounds (East following once and dummy’s queen wins, South playing the but this would be a mistake. If partner discarding two low clubs), then leads a eight. At trick two, declarer leads a low has the king of spades, declarer can low diamond. What are your thoughts? diamond off dummy. What do you do? probably make nine tricks by way If partner has a singleton queen of For two reasons you should grab your of two hearts, two diamonds (possibly diamonds, it will be necessary to play ace. For one thing, you want to conserve with the aid of a finesse) and five clubs. low, but this is a most unlikely position. A partner’s possible entry with the king of In any case, there is no need to save an better reason for playing low is the fear diamonds until the spades are established. entry. The play to the first trick marks that declarer has a singleton diamond. If For another, if declarer has the ace-jack South with the jack of hearts (East so, putting up the king would expose of spades left, partner cannot safely would not play the nine from J-9-x), so partner’s queen to a ruffing finesse. continue the suit. This is the full deal: you are only ever going to be able to run However, if South’s shape is 6-3-1-3, the hearts if East has three (or four) you stand little chance of defeating the hearts. The danger in ducking is that contract. In addition to the king of clubs ♠ Q 5 partner has the ace of clubs rather than and queen of diamonds, partner would ♥ A 9 7 2 the king of spades. Look at the full deal: need the ace and jack (or ace and queen) ♦ Q 10 6 5 of hearts, leaving South too little for a ♣ AQ 8 strong-two opening. Your best bet is to ♠ K 9 7 6 4 ♠ 10 3 2 ♠ Q J 7 play South for a doubleton in both ♥ Q 6 5 N ♥ 10 8 4 W E ♥ A6 minors, a layout something like this: ♦ K 2 S ♦ A9 4 ♦ 10 9 2 ♣ 6 5 3 ♣ 10 9 7 4 ♣ K Q J 5 3 ♠ AJ 8 ♠ A9 2 ♠ 8 6 5 3 ♠ 6 4 2 ♥ K J 3 ♥ K 10 8 5 3 N ♥ 9 4 2 ♥ 9 5 3 ♦ J 8 7 3 W E ♦ J 6 5 S ♦ Q 7 4 ♦ A J 10 7 6 ♣ K J 2 ♣ 9 7 ♣ A8 2 ♣ Q 6 ♠ K 10 4 ♠ 9 7 5 ♠ 8 ♥ Q J 7 ♥ K 10 6 N ♥ Q 8 4 2 Note that if you did not have the nine of W E ♦ A K 8 3 ♦ K 9 3 S ♦ Q 8 4 diamonds your decision would be slightly ♣ 10 6 4 ♣ J 10 8 2 ♣ K 7 5 4 3 trickier. In that case, declarer might have ♠ A K Q J 10 3 a two-way finesse against the jack of ♥ AJ 7 diamonds, which going in with the ace With a spade trick in the bag, South could ♦ 5 2 would resolve, but it would probably still switch to clubs and make nine tricks – one ♣ A9 be right to take your ace. spade, two diamonds, two hearts, and Continued on page 14 ‹

Page 13 POTTAGE ON DEFENCE continued from page 13 WADDINGTONS can only arise in a suit contract: TWINS ♠ A 9 8 4 2 ♥ AK ♦ J 7 2 ♠ 9 ♣ J 9 4 ♥ 7 3 2 ♠ K 10 7 ♦ 10 8 5 3 2 ♥ 10 6 4 ♣ A K J 3 N W E ♦ K Q 10 3 ♠ J 8 7 5 3 S ♣ Q 7 3 ♥ A 10 9 5 N W E ♦ K 7 S ♣ 9 4 West North East South Nelson and Wellington 1NT Pass 2♥ * Pass 2♠ West North East South Pass 3NT End 1♣ * Transfer to spades 1♥ 3♣ 3♥ 3♠ Pass 5♣ End West leads the queen of hearts to the ace. What do you do when declarer leads a West leads the king of hearts, which is low spade off dummy? ruffed. Declarer draw trumps in two The ‘normal’ play with this spade rounds, West discarding a small heart on holding is low. If partner has Q-x, going the second, then cashes the ace, king and Wallace Collection in with the king would cost a trick. queen of spades. Declarer throws two However, it would be unusual for South hearts from dummy, ruffs the fourth to choose to play in 3NT rather than 4♠ round of spades, West discarding a heart, with three-card spade support and little and leads a diamond off dummy. Are you semblance of a heart stopper, so you can going to play the king or the seven? reasonably place West with three spades. Even if you cannot foresee what would If South is the one with Q-x, it will prove happen if you played low, a simple count vital to go in with the king and knock of tricks tells you what to do. Your side out dummy’s remaining heart entry. needs three tricks to defeat the contract and all three must come from diamonds. This means West must hold A-Q-x or Paisley (and red) Casino (and red) ♠ A 9 8 4 2 A-J-x, making it perfectly safe to rise ♥ AK with the king and return the suit. ♦ J 7 2 ♣ J 9 4 ♠ J 5 3 ♠ K 10 7 ♠ 9 ♥ Q J 9 8 2 N ♥ 10 6 4 ♥ 7 3 2 W E ♦ 5 4 S ♦ K Q 10 3 ♦ 10 8 5 3 2 ♣ 10 6 5 ♣ Q 7 3 ♣ A K J 3 ♠ Q 6 ♠ 10 6 2 ♠ J 8 7 5 3 ♥ 7 5 3 ♥ K Q J 8 6 4 N ♥ A 10 9 5 W E Elizabeth and Essex ♦ A 9 8 6 ♦ AJ 6 S ♦ K 7 ♣ A K 8 2 ♣ 6 ♣ 9 4 ♠ A K Q 4 De Luxe ♥ As you see, this play leaves the spades ♦ Q 9 4 Quality Cards blocked. Declarer can eventually reach ♣ Q 10 8 7 5 2 dummy by playing a club to the nine and The cards have a light later crossing to the jack but, by that time, plastic-coated surface your side will have scored three hearts, Can you see the result of ducking the and are packed in one spade and one club. In practice, your diamond? West wins declarer’s finesse of opponent is more likely to cash the ace the nine with the jack and returns a low beautiful gold-foil and king of clubs in the hope the queen diamond to your king, but then you are boxes with drop lids. falls, but this does not work either. stuck. You have only major-suit cards left Our final example is slightly more and must lead one of them. This allows £11.95 including postage complicated, as your decision comes later declarer to discard a diamond from hand from the Mail Order Service in the play, and it involves a position that and ruff in dummy to score the rest.

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