DEFENSIVE PROBLEM #1

North dealer
Both sides vulnerable

	NORTH (dummy) ♠ Q 3 ♥ A 10 7 ♦ J 10 8 7 5 ♣ A Q 10
		EAST (you) ♠ K J 8 7 6 5 ♥ J 6 ♦ A 4 3 ♣ 8 7

SOUTH	WEST	NORTH	EAST
—	—	1 ♦	1 ♠
2 NT	Pass	3 NT	(All Pass)

West leads the spade four.

Plan your defense.

Solution

	NORTH ♠ Q 3 ♥ A 10 7 ♦ J 10 8 7 5 ♣ A Q 10
WEST ♠ 4 2 ♥ K 9 5 3 ♦ Q 6 ♣ 9 6 4 3 2		EAST ♠ K J 8 7 6 5 ♥ J 6 ♦ A 4 3 ♣ 8 7
	SOUTH ♠ A 10 9 ♥ Q 8 4 2 ♦ K 9 2 ♣ K J 5

KEEP IN TOUCH. East, reading the four-of-spades lead as a singleton or a doubleton, should realize that the contract cannot be set unless West started with a doubleton spade and a quick entry, such as the queen of diamonds. If East withholds the king and jack of spades from the first trick, West will have a spade left to lead when in with his entry card (the second spade lead clears the suit, so East can run the suit when in with the ace of diamonds). If North releases the king or jack of spades on the first trick, declarer should make the contract bid by ducking the first spade lead and winning the second.

(Based on a deal and analysis from the 1963 National Industrial Recreation Association Par-Hand Bridge Tournament by William S. Root and Lawrence Rosler.)

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