As a defender it is important to place the
opponents' high cards. Here East knew he could not count on his
partner for help so he defended accordingly. Take the East chair
and plan your defense.
Scoring: Swiss Teams
Hand #7
Dlr
S
Vul
BOTH
K6
J74
AJ1065
984
1054
1098652
32
52
AQ982
3
K9
AJ1076
J73
AKQ
Q874
KQ3
West
North
East
South
1NT*
Pass
2NT
Pass
3NT
All Pass
* 15-17 HCP
BIDDING: East had a nice
hand but when the
auction reached him, he realized bidding would be very dangerous.
South, holding a maximum 1NT opener, accepted his partner's invitation
to game.
PLAY: Holding such a weak hand, perhaps West should have
led a short suit in an attempt to find his partner's strength, but he
finally selected the ten of hearts. Declarer won the heart and
immediately took the diamond finesse. East won the king and
realized if South held the 16-17 points his 3NT promised, West was
broke. But, East saw a way to beat the hand...he led
a low spade. Declarer won the king in dummy and led a low
club. East jumped up with the ace and cashed four more spades to
beat the contract by two tricks. This was a team game and at the
other table, after winning the king of diamonds, East led a low
club hoping to find his partner with an honor. That South easily
made his contract with three hearts, four diamonds, and two clubs.
If declarer held four spades including the jack this defense would not
have worked, but East took the best chance he had. Note that East
must win the first club or declarer would have nine tricks.
Defense is sometimes difficult but in this hand, all East
had to do was some simple math.
