Making a difficult play on defense.
Bridge Column for January 24, 2003, Harvey Bernstein
Neither side vulnerable.  West deals.
                              North
                              S: 4 3 2          
                              H: K 10 8 6     
                              D: A 10 8      
                              C: 6 5 3   
            West                             East
            S: Q 8                           S: A 10 9 6 5 
            H: A 4                           H: Void       
            D: J 5 4 3                       D: Q 9 7 2           
            C: J 10 8 7 2                    C: A K Q 4     
                              South                         
                              S: K J 7
                              H: Q J 9 7 5 3 2
                              D: K 6       
                              C: 9        
          The Bidding:  
                   West   North     East   South                  
                   Pass    Pass      1S     2H  
                  Double   3H        4C     4H  
                   Pass    Pass     Pass
     This hand was played at a rubber bridge game.  The bidding
was aggressive but not unusual.  West's double of two hearts was
"negative" in that he was showing the minors as opposed to making
a penalty double.
     Against four hearts, West led the jack of clubs.  When that
card held the first trick he continued with a small club.  East
played the queen and South trumped.
     The queen of hearts was tabled and West won the ace.  Rather
than break a new suit for declarer, he simply continued with
another club which was trumped.  
     Declarer drew the last trump and played three rounds of
diamonds, trumping the third round.  Here is the five card
ending:
                              North
                              S: 4 3 2          
                              H: K 10           
                              D: Void        
                              C: Void    
            West                             East
            S: Q 8                           S: A 10 9     
            H: Void                          H: Void       
            D: J                             D: Q                 
            C: 8 7                           C: A           
                              South                         
                              S: K J 7
                              H: 9 7      
                              D: Void      
                              C: Void
     A heart to the king provided declarer with the entry that he
needed to lead a spade from the dummy towards his hand.  East
played low and and declarer played the king, which held the
trick.  West followed with the eight.  Declarer led the seven of
spades and West was forced to win the queen.  Whichever minor
suit card he now led, declarer was able to trump in one hand and
discard a spade from the other, making ten tricks.
     The defense had a couple of chances to beat this hand.  At
trick one, East could overtake the jack of clubs and return a
small spade.  As the cards lie, it doesn't matter how declarer
decides to play, he will always lose two spade tricks.  When East
plays low to trick one, another opportunity comes up later in the
hand.  When Declarer plays a spade to the king, West could play
the queen and avoid the end play.  This play is not as farfetched
as it may sound.  At worst, the decision to discard the queen of
spades may cost an overtrick.  At best, West avoids an endplay
and forces declarer to lead a spade into partner's holding.
     Declarer has a decided advantage because he can see his
combined assets and play accordingly.  The defenders have to
"visualize" their partners holding and make the right play based
on that picture.  You will be a defender twice as many times as
you will be a declarer so one of the the best ways to improve
your game is to improve your defense so you are ready to make the
difficult plays when the time is right.
_______________________________________________________
Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon.