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Bidding Defence Declarer

Initial thoughts by defenders after the auction

Three issues are paramount for defenders, initially when the auction is over, and then subsequently, when dummy goes down and then during the play.

1) How many points has partner got

Add yours to what you think they have got, and take the result away from 40. Occasionally, partner's points will appear early in the play eg supposing you know that partner has 6 points, and she leads the King of Clubs against a no-trump contract. She must have KQJx(x) in the club suit and therefore can have no more points elsewhere.

If no honours have appeared with only four or five tricks remaining, you will be much clearer as to exactly where these points are. The problem here lies in remembering partner's likely point count throughout the play, when you have all the other aspects of the play going through your mind.

2) What is declarer's plan?

If you can judge declarer's likely line of play, you must try and stop it. Two common scenarios are:-

(a)  shortage in dummy where you must try and prevent ruffs by leading trumps

(b)  long suit in dummy to which you must try and deny access

3) Do I need to be active or passive when on lead ?

You can be active if you have a plan of your own (lead a shortage in a trump contract, or continue with partner's suit in a no-trump contract etc,etc), or if you are trying to counter declarer's plan. With no obvious reason to be active, you will be passive ie give declarer a trick she would make anyway, don't rush to open up new suits etc,etc .