|
Defending against slams
1. Intervening bids
An intervening bid in an auction where the opponents are showing
strength, or on the way to a slam, can be quite disruptive and/or
suggest a suitable lead.
| (1) |
West |
I held this hand on
10/02/04, playing with Yvonne at Newmarket bridge club. Tor
had opened an Acol 2C as South and I threw in a 2H overcall,
thinking it would give Yvonne a lead. After two passes and a
double from Tor, I found myself in 2H*. It was useful knowing
where all the points where, and eventually I went one off for
-100 and a good result. |
| S J |
| H Q J 9 6 4 2 |
| D K 3 2 |
| C 4 3 2 |
| (2) |
North |
Very similar to the above where
after 2C from West, a bid of 2S can do no harm, gives partner
a lead and is unlikely to be doubled. |
| S KQJ432 |
| H 2 |
| D 5 3 |
| C 10 8 6 4 |
| (3) |
|
South |
| S 7 6 5 |
| H Q 8 6 4 |
| D A 3 2 |
| C 10 8 6 |
|
| W |
N |
E |
S |
| 2S |
- |
3S |
|
| 4NT |
- |
5D |
? |
| A
double in this sequence would suggest an ace. |
|
3. Leads against slams
Conventional leads of eg fourth highest are usually inappropriate
against slams where slow tricks are unlikely to materialise.
| (ex) |
|
West |
| S K 7 5 |
| H 10 8 |
| D K 8 6 4 3 |
| C 10 7 5 |
|
| S |
W |
N |
E |
| 2NT |
- |
4NT |
- |
| 6NT |
- |
- |
- |
| A spade or
diamond lead should be avoided. A heart or a club are
less likely to give anything away. |
|
4. Do you lead an ace?
An ace should only be led if you have a good chance of a second
trick. The danger in so doing is that you set up a raft of tricks for
declarer.
Against a contract of six spades, say:-
| (1) |
S 3 2 |
Lead out your ace and king of clubs. |
| H 9 8 7 |
| D J 6 4 2 |
| C A K 9 7 |
| (2) |
| S 5 4 3 2 |
| H
K Q 3 |
| D
9 7 3 |
| C A 4 2 |
|
Lead your ace of clubs and then your king of
hearts. |
| (3) |
| S 3 2 |
| H A 5 4 |
| D J 7 6 3 2 |
| C 10 8 6 |
|
Save your ace to capture an honour. To play it
could present declarer with some easy tricks in hearts. |
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