[Walddk]

Scoring: IMP

S: 4S
Lead: DA

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Defence is arguably the most difficult part of the game. Spectacular when you get it right, ugly when you screw up.

South opened 1♠, and North responded 1NT (some would have raised to 2♠ but that's beside the point). Now 2♥ from opener and 2♠ by North, raised to 4♠. End of auction.

You lead ♦A and continue with the king, ruffed by declarer. He cashes ♠K and leads a small to dummy's ace, your partner following small and jack, and you discard a club. Next he advances ♥J, losing to your queen.

You go into the tank, or do you? At least declarer doesn't claim. What now?

Roland

[flytoox]

Just throw H or D out and wait for your tricks. Declarer rates to have CA, he may have CT as well. Your tricks wont escape, so just sit back and wait. If declarer has 6511, you can still wait.

[kgr]

I return a ♥
♣ return will make it easy for declarer if he has AT.
♦ return allows declarer with:
Kxxxxx
AKxx
x
Ax
To ruff ♦, cross to ♥ 10, ruff another ♦ and exit with ♠ to East's Q forcing East to lead from ♣Kxxx
With a ♥ return by West, declarer will not have the necessary entries to North to ruff the ♦

[flytoox]

kgr, on Feb 17 2005, 01:46 PM, said:

I return a ♥
♣ return will make it easy for declarer if he has AT.
♦ return allows declarer with:
Kxxxxx
AKxx
x
Ax
To ruff ♦, cross to ♥ 10, ruff another ♦ and exit with ♠ to East's Q forcing East to lead from ♣Kxxx
With a ♥ return by West, declarer will not have the necessary entries to North to ruff the ♦

Yes, u r right. Need to be careful with D return.