Tactical Defense

As West or East, answer each question about the defense.

1.	A J 10 6 5 3		West	North	East	South
Both vul	—					1
	J 5 4		2	2	Pass	4
	K Q 3 2		Pass	Pass	Pass
Q 8 4
A 10 2
A K 10 9 7 6
9		4 South

You lead the K; partner plays the three, South the queen. Next lead? 

Everyone follows. Which suit do you lead next? 

Partner ruffs with the 7; South overruffs with 9 and leads J. Your play? 

2.	J 10 9 5		West	North	East	South
N-S vul	K Q 10 9					1 NT
	J 5		Pass	2	Pass	2
	K J 4		Pass	4	Pass	Pass
Q 4 3 2			Pass
6 4
K Q 10 9
9 5 2		4 South

You win the first two tricks with the K-Q as partner high-lows. What next? 

North ruffs and leads J; king, ace. South next leads the 6. Do you win? 

What will you lead when you win the Q? 

Quit

Top   Tactical Defense

3.	K 4		West	North	East	South
None vul	Q J			1	Dbl	1
	K Q 10 5 2		Pass	1 NT	Pass	4
	K 7 5 2		Pass	Pass	Pass
		A Q J 3
		A 4 3
		4
4 South		J 10 9 8 3

Partner leads the 2 and you capture North’s king with your ace. How many spades does South have? 

Which minor ace, if any, is partner likely to hold? 

Which card do you lead next? 

4.	J 10 9		West	North	East	South
E-W vul	K 8 7					1
	3 2		Pass	2	Pass	2 NT
	A K Q 10 5		Pass	4	Pass	Pass
		K Q 7	Pass
		9 6 5 3 2
		A 6
4 South		J 9 7

Partner leads the K. Which card do you play? 

Assume North ruffs the third round of diamonds. Do you overruff? 

Which card do you hope partner has to be able to set the contract? 

Quit

Top   Tactical Defense

5.	A 5 4		West	North	East	South
N-S vul	A 9 6 4		2	Dbl	Pass	3
	K 4		Pass	4	Pass	Pass
	A 9 7 6		Pass
		Q J 10 9
		10 7 3
		9
4 South		K Q 10 8 3

Partner leads the Q and North wins the king. How many diamonds do you think South has? 

How many hearts did South show in the bidding? 

At trick two North leads the  4. Do you ruff? 

6.	K J		West	North	East	South
Both vul	Q 4 3					1
	K 4 2		Pass	2	2	Pass
	A 10 9 5 4		Pass	4	Pass	Pass
		A Q 10 8 4 2	Pass
		A 5
		9 8 6 5
4 South		3

Partner leads the 7 and you win the first two tricks. What do you lead next? 

Partner discards the 3; North ruffs small, then the 4 is led. Your play? 

What will you lead when you win the A? 

Quit

Top   Tactical Defense

© 1995 Richard Pavlicek