Play
for the Least
by
Matthew Granovetter
| |
North
 A 3 2
 Q 10 7
 7 2
 K J 10 7 2 |
| |
West
6 5 4
A
5 4
Q
J 10 4 3
8
6 |
 East You
J 9 8
7
3
2
A
8 6 5
A
4 3 |
| |
South
K Q 10
K J 9 8 6
K 9
Q 9 5 |
|
South
1
2**
3NT
|
West
pass
pass
pass
|
North
1NT*
3
4
|
East
pass
pass
all pass
|
*forcing
**could
be three clubs
Opening lead: Q |
|
When
I have to make a decision early in the hand on defense and there
are no clear clues which way to go, I use the following rule of
thumb: I play my partner for the least he can hold to defeat the
contract.
On
this deal, there were a few clues, but nothing conclusive. South
showed three or more clubs in the auction. When South suggested 3NT,
he probably had only three clubs (else he'd have a more
distributional hand). Partner did not lead a club, so he was unlikely
to hold a singleton club. These clues added up to the fact that West
held a doubleton club. Still, a spade shift might be right. Declarer
could hold queen-third of spades and the AK of trump. If partner held
the K-10-x of spades, a spade shift is necessary to defeat the
contract.
Another
way to defeat the contract is to lead a low club at trick
two. If West holds the ace or king-third of trump, he'll get the lead
and return a club for a club ruff. How does East know which defense
is the winner?
If
you use the rule of thumb above, you return a low club. This
requires the king-third of trump from partner. The spade return
requires the king-TEN-third. That's another card he needs, so you go
with the play that needs the lesser holding.
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