Defense is perhaps the most difficult part of this great game, but
sometimes common sense is all you need. Here is a hand where a
defender knew what to do but failed to follow through.
Scoring: Swiss Team (IMPs)
Hand #26
Dlr
W
Vul
N/S
KQ93
J5
AQ1065
109
74
QJ843
987
A87
65
AK6
432
QJ432
AJ1082
1092
KJ
K65
West
North
East
South
Pass
1
Pass
1
Pass
2
Pass
4
Pass
Pass
Pass
BIDDING: North-South had
a routine auction to game.
PLAY: West led the queen
of hearts and East followed with the six expecting his partner to
continue the suit. After declarer played the deuce, West thought
his partner was discouraging hearts and, worried about the good diamond
suit in dummy, switched to the ace of clubs. This was fatal to
the defense, a point quickly made by East. However, it was East
who erred. It should have been clear the defense needed club
tricks along with the two heart tricks. He should have overtaken
the queen of hearts to put the club queen on the table. The
defense would quickly wrap up four tricks leaving declarer very
sad. Instead when they compared results with their teammates,
they had to say "Lose twelve IMPs".
When you know what is right, don't depend upon partner to see it
also; just do it!
