Defence in bridge can be either a routine affair or a shrewdly inspirational one. Almost all bridge experts are however, unanimous in their verdict that defence in bridge is its most difficult facet and one, which either draws a high-lament of missed opportunity or a sigh of contentment and thrill at having pulled out of the ordinary, a memorable defence to beat the declarer's contract.
But mostly defence is a mixture of both routine and a bid of intelligent handling of cards. The ability to foresee the declarer's plans and make proper appraisement of the key cards is a defender's forte. But sometimes while the defence sets off on the right track, it gets jumbled up in a fog of uncertainty and the more apprehensive the defenders get, the more clouded their judgements become. The most anxious and terrible moment, for any bridge player is the one where at the critical point of defence, he is faced with the choice of making the right move which can favour the defenders and avoid the pitfall of failure which triggers panic and leads to ultimate disaster.
Some players are very good defenders. They have the capability of making intelligent opening leads that can only be termed deadly and dynamic in as much as they open the door to break the declarer's armour. But defence also means proper communication and understanding between the two partners who are defending. Unless and until the partners have a tacit understanding of their signalling and attitude of defence they would not be on the same wave length to really flourish triumphantly.
Too often one has seen the defence beginning on a highly favourable opening but changing course for the worse because either one defender could not read the other's mind or was too confused in his own apprehension and uncertainty of his partner's and declarer's holding. It is in such a context that the most significant and primary duty of a defender needs to be fulfilled in a manner where the other defender is left with no choice but to follow the lead set by the other defender. That is what is called defence rapport in the true sense of the word.
Let us now present our defence hand by showing you west's hand and declarer's dummy along with the bidding and west's opening lead. The bidding was sweet and simple. South opened 1S and north raised him to 4S. West's natural and most killing lead, of course was the AC. When the dummy was exposed, west was most anxious to find the first clue that his partner would give for the switch. He waited anxiously for his partner's card on the first trick. It was a low 5C, which looking to dummy's 4, 2 of clubs was the second lowest card.
The declarer followed with the 8C. It did not take west a second more to read his partner's suit preference signal of a low club as switch for the lower of the two remaining suits - obviously diamond. West's 2D was the automatic choice in both the rooms on National US Championship held in Missouri, in 1973, wherein one defender in the closed room took the second trick with JD and immediately cashed the AD to book the declarer. The critical point of defence was reached.
Two questions plagued east. Was the 2D from a three carder honour or was the AC a singleton? Should he lead the club for a setting ruff or give partner the KD as the winning defence. Perhaps partner initially had led from AX of clubs and on looking at the dummy went for the diamond switch.
In a shroud of uncertainty and fear he led a diamond and the defence collapsed. In the open room west was none other than Bobby Wolf the celebrated American World Champion. How different was east's reaction there?
For east in a flash gave Bobby Wolf the much sought after club ruff to down the contract. Can you see how? Wolf threw his KD under partner's AD knowing he was not alone in defence.
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West North
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1072 K954
J9842 7
K1052 Q85
A KQ1042
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