A Story Hand #Two
By Mike Lawrence

Opening Lead - King of Hearts

Defense is the hardest part of the game. This is a well known secret. When you play the dummy, you know exactly what your combined assets are at all times. When you are defending, you have to make do with partial information and a few good guesses. In order to let partner know what is happening, you have to be fairly liberal with your signals. Even though declarer is listening too, it is usually to your advantage to tell partner as much as possible.

The correct defense in this hand requires that East-West exchange information and then use it correctly. Take a look at the diagram - West starts with the two top hearts. How should the defense continue from this point and why?

West leads the two top hearts and sees East show out. What usually happens at the table in this situation is that West leads a third heart. That is the end of the defense Declarer will (or should) throw one of dummy's diamond losers. East will ruff and will take a diamond trick and that will be that.

Correct defense goes differently. On the second heart, East will signal with the ten of diamonds. West will know that East is showing the king since West holds the ace of diamonds. Winning defense is for West to lead a little diamond to East's king. East will return a diamond to West's ace, and now the lead of a heart will leave declarer with no escape. East's J97 of spades will take the setting trick now or later according to how declarer plays.

In the layout shown, setting three spades is relatively easy. How do you think the defense should go if the hands are changed slightly? MORE