Defense in bridge is never easy. Some players are born defenders and can work out the declarer's weak spots and the possible honours he holds almost to the last spot card. It is an art that is not everyone's, forte and therefore such defenders are tough cookies as opponents.
Today's illustration is of one such tough cookie who put up a striking performance in defence that was as polished as could be.
Let me give you the full hand first.
The bidding went as under:
The actual hand was played in the highly prestigious Cavendish Invitational Pair Championship, which is the highest stake championship in which players in partnership as a pair are auctioned. The 2010 Cavendish had $12,500 for each pair as its opening bid. To give you an idea of the stakes, highest auction money of $62,000 was paid for the pair Bobby Levin and Steve Weinstein who had won the 2009 Cavendish. The total pot money was a staggering $853,200 the first prize being a whopping $201,200.
There were 23 tables in play with the worlds finest pairs invited to take part. The system of scoring was such that game and slam deals earned big swing points. At both table west led KD followed by low diamond.
The declarer, played on hearts putting east on lead. The crucial point of defense had been reached. As east what would you switch to?
Well, at the first table east led a diamond, west cashed both tricks, exited with a heart. But now the declarer could cash his top spades, getting the bad break, then cross to dummy with a heart to take the club finesse and hop in with his 9 tricks.
But our hero of the deal, Geoff Hampton was brilliant in defense. In with KH he shifted to the club 10 knowing his side could only make 3 diamond tricks and could well visualize declarer's hand down to the club jack.
This club shift put declarer on the spot. If he finessed and it lost, he would go down losing one heart, 3 diamonds and the setting club trick, with the thought that perhaps shapes were breaking 3-3 all along.
The shift was excellent and well timed because the declarer at that point had better options to choose from fishing for his ninth trick. The declarer, a National Champion, fell for the bait and played the ace of club. As such, from then on, there was no turning back for the declarer. The defenders had the last laugh.
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North West East South
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953 82 J1076 AKQ4
KJ53 874 A10 Q962
QJ8 AK106 9754 32
Q42 8653 K109 AJ7
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West North East South
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- - - 1NT
P 2S Pass 3C
(Transfer (max)
to Clubs)
P 3NT All Pass All Pass
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