April 2024 - 57

Newer Players
Defensive Basics
BY LARRY COHEN
larrycohen.com
T
his is tougher than last month
(versus notrump). We'll need
two months to discuss this topic.
Against notrump, we pretty much
closed our eyes and led our best (unbid
by the opponents) suit and hoped to get
some tricks there. It didn't matter if
the suit was headed by an ace.
Against suit contracts, our goal is
different. We're not trying to set up a
long suit. Our opponents have trumps
to prevent us from taking lots of
tricks in any one suit. If we can set up
maybe one or two tricks, we attempt
that by leading top of touching honors
such as A-K, K-Q, Q-J, or J-10.
Maybe partner also has an honor that
can help us garner tricks. Other than
the A-K, though, we saw in January
that those other two-card " sequences "
are OK, but not completely safe.
Three-card sequences are wonderful,
but we rarely get dealt those.
What if we don't have any sequences
(as is usually the case)? If partner
bid a suit (he did in February), we'd
be delighted to lead that. But, what if
none of the above? No sequence and
no help from partner?
We don't automatically lead our best
suit. We don't lead away from (or lay
down) an ace against suit contracts
(unless, of course, we have A-K). This
is just too dangerous and often costly.
It usually will set up tricks for the declaring
side. Against 7 (or sometimes
against 6), you might lay down an ace.
If partner has bid the suit, you also
might choose an ace lead.
What if we are on lead against 4s
with something like:
sQ x x hQ x x dA x x cK x x x
or
sQ x x hJ x x dA x x cK J x x?
Opening leads against suit contracts
That's the way it usually is. No fun.
Leading trumps is OK, but certainly
we don't want to lead from our trump
queen (way too likely to cost a trick).
We can also rule out a diamond because
we have the ace. As to the other
two suits, just hope you are a good
guesser. Leading from honors is dangerous
and aggressive. Leading from
a bunch of small cards not headed by
an honor (even in trumps) is safer.
Often the bidding gives a clue as to
which way to go. If the opponents
have bid three suits, we'll usually lead
the fourth one.
Sometimes, the auction calls for an
aggressive lead. If you think dummy
might have a long running suit on
which declarer could throw losers,
you will tend to lead from an honor
to try to set up tricks for the defense.
For example, after 1s-2d; 2s-3d;
4s-Pass, you expect dummy likely
has long, running diamonds. Leading
from a side-suit honor is an acceptable
risk to try to set up some tricks
before declarer throws everything
on the diamonds. For example, lead
an attacking h2 on the above auction
from:
sJ 8 7 hK 7 2 d8 6 5 c9 6 3 2.
Perhaps the layout is:
s 2
h J 8 6
d A K Q J 3 2
c Q 5 4
s A K Q 10 8 7 3
h 10 9 3
d 7
c A 10
(Inspired readers will see that a
heart lead can set the contract, while
April 2024 | Bridge Bulletin |
57
a club lead allows 13 tricks.)
What card do we lead in a suit
where there is no sequence at the
top? For example, suppose we decide
to lead a heart against 4s from
hK 7 6 5 2. We stick to leading the
fourth highest (as we did last month
against notrump). Frankly, unless
your partner is very experienced and
watches such things, it won't make
any difference which small card you
choose. But, as you and your partner
gain experience, you might as well
lead the honest 5 from the holding
above.
We will continue to explore leads
against suits next month.
QUIZ
After 1s-2s-All Pass, what would
you lead with:
1) sJ 2 hQ 7 6 5 dJ 8 7 6 cJ 10 3
2) s8 7 6 hA 7 6 dQ 10 8 7 cQ 3 2
3) s2 hK 10 7 6 dK 9 3 2 cK 10 7 6
4) sQ 6 5 hA 2 dJ 8 7 6 c7 6 5 2
After 1h-2c; 2h-3c; 4h-All Pass,
what would you lead with:
5) sK 4 3 2 h8 6 5 dJ 7 6 c6 5 4
After 1h-Pass-2h-2s; 4h-All
Pass, what would you lead with:
6) sA 3 2 hQ J 2 dJ 10 9 7 cQ 6 5
After 1s-2NT (Jacoby); 4s-4NT;
5h-6s; All Pass, what you lead with:
7) s5 hK Q 7 6 2 dA 3 2 cJ 8 7 2
8) sJ 10 7 3 h3 d10 9 8 cA 7 6 5 2
http://www.larrycohen.com
April 2024

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