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Improvers. Week 17 Playing in Defence In Suit Contracts. Defensive Play in Suits. Opening Leads Obviously Key So another look at Opening Leads Then General Defensive Plays And Good Practise. Opening Leads. Standard Leads Top of an Honour Sequence A Kx K Q Q JT J T9 T 98 A Q J.
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Improvers • Week 17 • Playing in Defence • In Suit Contracts
Defensive Play in Suits • Opening Leads • Obviously Key • So another look at Opening Leads • Then • General Defensive Plays • And Good Practise
Opening Leads • Standard Leads • Top of an Honour Sequence • AKx • KQ • QJT • JT9 • T98 • AQJ
Opening Leads • Standard Leads • 4th Down from suit headed by Honour • Kxxx • Qxxx • Jxxx • Txxx • T9xx
Opening Leads • Standard Leads • High – Low from Doubleton • Kx – only if partner has bid this suit • Qx • Jx • Tx • xx • Exception AK
Opening Leads • Standard Leads • MUD – From 3+ suits without an honour • Middle, Up , Down • xxx
Which Suit? • Active • or • Passive
Active Leads • Attacking • May make life difficult for Declarer • May set up Defensive Tricks • High Risk – often gives tricks away • Made from Suits containing honours
Passive Leads • No problem for Declarer • Low Risk - Will not give away a cheap trick • Usually from suits without honours • Can be top of an honour sequence • A trump lead is usually a Passive lead
When to make an Active Lead • If the contract looks pretty secure • Make an active lead • Guidelines: • Against a Grand Slam • Against 6NT • Against 1 or 2NT when you do not have a 5 card suit • Against suit contract when dummy is unlikely to hold a 5 card suit
When to make a Passive Lead • If the contract looks marginal • Make a Passive lead • Make Declarer do the work • Guidelines • Game contract when dummy has a long side suit • Part score contracts • Small slam in a suit • Pre-empts • Against 3NT when dummy has a long suit
Active and Passive Leads A 3 • Contract is 3 • Active lead? • A • Passive Lead? • 4 4 Q 8 5 4 3 Q J 6 5 2
Active and Passive Leads T 8 A Q • Contract is 2 • Active lead? • J • Passive Lead? • 7 7 3 K 7 6 3 J T 6
Active and Passive Leads 8 4 3 T 9 • Contract is7NT • Active lead? • 3 • Passive Lead? • T 5 3 K T 5 4 6 3
Active and Passive Leads 3 2 • Contract is 6 • Active lead? • 5 • Passive Lead? • 3 8 5 3 K T Q 6 4 3 9 7
Active and Passive Leads A K • Contract is 4 • Active lead? • K • Passive Lead? • K 2 9 7 5 4 2 6 3 9 8 5
Active and Passive Leads 5 4 A Q • Contract is 3 Pre-empt • Active lead? • 4 • Passive Lead? • 5 7 4 K J 5 3 4 7 5
Opening Leads • First decide • Active or Passive • Then select suit and card • Try not to underlead K’s or Q’s • Especially do not lead from KJx or QTx • Remember partner’s bid suit • or implied (e.g TOX or Lead Directing *)
Other Defensive Plays • Remember • Declarer Play is about keeping Control of the Trump Suit • Defensive Play is about thwarting Declarer’s Cunning Plan
What is declarer up to? • If Declarer gets in and does not lead trumps • WHY? • What can we do about it?
8 4 3 A 9 5 K T • Contract 4 • You lead4 • Declarer wins withK • And leads 3 6 2 Q J K 4 A 7 2 6 3 A 7 6 2 • What is your best defensive play? • WinA, leadA then7 • Avoiding short side ruffs 4 T 9
Are there ruff chances in dummy? • If dummy is the short trump hand • With another short suit • And Declarer Plays the short side suit first • The cunning plan is to ruff on the short side • If you get in lead trumps until all dummy’s trumps are gone
8 4 T 9 5 3 2 K T • Contract 4 • You lead4 • Declarer wins withK • And leadsA then3 6 2 K Q J Q 7 2 6 3 • What is your best defensive play? • WinJ, lead7 • Wincontinuation, playQ A 7 6 2 4 T 9
Declarer is trying to set up a Cross Ruff • You think this is the case • Because declarer is cashing all top honours in side suits • And not drawing trumps • Lead trumps as many times as you can • Each trump you lead will save 1 trick
8 4 3 K J 5 K T • Contract 4. You lead4 • Declarer wins withA • Cashes K and A trumps • And leads9 Q 4 6 A T 2 6 3 6 8 7 A 7 6 2 • What is your best defensive play? • Declarer may have 2losers • WinA, then play your last 4 T 9
The Insurance Trump • Declarer cashes 2 rounds of trumps • Leaving 1 in dummy • And 1 in your hand • Declarer is trying to avoid an extra loser in hand • If you get in lead trumps to remove the last 1 from dummy • Decide which is declarer’s weak suit • And maybe set up a defensive trick
RULE OF THUMB • If Declarer does not draw trumps defence should force them • If Declarer is drawing trumps then do NOT lead trumps yourself
5 4 2 A 6 5 K T • Contract 4 • You leadK • Declarer wins withA • Draws trumps, leads2 K 4 J 8 7 K Q 2 6 3 9 7 • What is your best defensive play? • Duck first, WinA • Lead‘s from the top • Forcing declarer to ruff in hand A 7 6 4 T 9
Ruffs on the long side • Remember • Ruffs on the long side are not extra tricks for Declarer • If you have a long suit • And Declarer is out of this suit • And Dummy does not have top cards • Play the suit each time you get in to make Declarer use up trumps • You may give partner trump control or set up winners in your long suit
Finally • Pay attention to Partner’s cards • There may be a helpful signal there • Successful Defence is about playing as a TEAM • Defence goes wrong if you just play your own hand regardless