DEFENSIVE PROBLEM #13

North dealer
North-South vulnerable

	NORTH (dummy) ♠ 10 9 ♥ A Q 4 ♦ A Q 10 9 7 4 ♣ A 5
		EAST (you) ♠ A 8 2 ♥ 7 6 3 ♦ K 6 ♣ J 10 9 8 3

SOUTH	WEST	NORTH	EAST
—	—	1 ♦	Pass
1 ♠	Pass	3 ♦	Pass
3 NT	Pass	Pass	Pass

West leads the heart jack: four, three, king. Declarer leads the diamond jack: five, four, ?

Plan your defense.

Solution

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

BEHIND THE 8-BALL. It should be clear to East, when he wins the diamond king, that three notrump will make unless the defense takes four spade tricks immediately. (Declarer, upon regaining the lead, will have three hearts, five diamonds, and one club.) By leading the spade eight, East can get four spade tricks for the defense if West holds spades at least as strong as king-jack-seven-small. In contrast, if East leads the spade deuce, declarer may play so that the suit becomes blocked. Regardless of the card of East's shift, it should be clear to West to return the spade lead. West also can see that declarer has nine tricks after any other return.

(Based on a deal and analysis from the 1964 National Industrial Recreation Association Bridge Tournament by William S. Root and Lawrence Rosler.)

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