Can you find the right defense?
Bridge Column for April 18, 2003, Harvey Bernstein
East-West vulnerable.  West deals.
                              North
                              S: J 5              
                              H: A K 9 2     
                              D: A J 9 4 2   
                              C: 9 8     
            West                             East
            S: K Q 6 4 3                     S: A 10 9 2   
            H: 10 3                          H: Q 6        
            D: 7 5                           D: K Q 8             
            C: 10 6 4 2                      C: J 7 5 3     
                              South                         
                              S: 8 7
                              H: J 8 7 5 4  
                              D: 10 6 3    
                              C: A K Q    
          The Bidding:  
                   West   North     East   South                  
                   Pass    1D       Pass    1H  
                   Pass    2H       Pass    4H  
                   Pass    Pass     Pass
     This hand was dealt at a matchpoint duplicate tournament and
illustrates an interesting point relative to high level defense. 
     West leads the king of spades, which holds.  East plays the
ten to indicate that he likes this suit.  It is at this point
that the defense must have an understanding of what their
approach will be.  If West wants East to be on lead to play a
club, he should lead a small spade at trick two.  If West does
not know, or has no preference regarding what to do after trick
two, he should lead the queen.  If East has a preference for
clubs he can overtake and play them himself, otherwise, he can
play low which should indicate the need for a diamond through the
dummy.
     If the defense does not lead a diamond at trick three,
declarer wins whatever suit is led; plays the ace and king of
hearts, drawing the outstanding trumps; eliminates clubs and
leads a diamond from the closed hand, playing the nine if West
does not play oneof the honors.  East wins and finds himself on
lead in this position:       
                              North
                              S: Void             
                              H: 9 2     
                              D: A J 4    
                              C: Void    
            West                             East
            S: 6 4 3                         S: A 10       
            H: Void                          H: Void       
            D: 7                             D: K 8               
            C: 10                            C: J           
                              South                         
                              S: Void 
                              H: J 8 7      
                              D: 10 6      
                              C: Void 
     No matter what card East leads, declarer is able to take the
rest of the tricks and make his contract.  
     There is a great deal of information available to the
defenders after the dummy comes down, but they have to know what
to do with it.
_______________________________________________________
Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon.