By Joel Hoersch, Editor, District 22 Forum
South Dealer, Both vul.
ª42
©1043
¨AKJ98
§1072
ª K10853
© K8
¨ 653
§ K43
| South | West | North | East |
| 1NT(15-17) | Pass | 3NT | Pass |
| Pass | Pass |
Opening lead: ª3.
It’s no secret among those players who know me best that I feel defensive play is the most important aspect of bridge. After all, the odds say that your side rates to be defending half the time, and it stands to reason that when you and your partner are both having to make decisions and work out delicate plans and inferences in tandem, there is a lot of room for error!
This month’s offering is from a collection of hands entitled Defend With Your Life, written originally in 1981 by Eddie Kantar in conjunction with the legendary bridge author Terence Reese. Luckily for those of us who missed this wonderful study of triumphs and tragedies the first time around, it has been re-released in 2003, and you can look it up on Eddie’s website at:
Bear in mind, these are not hands which cropped up in your local club duplicate, or around the kitchen table in a game against Uncle Mort and Aunt Thelma: Most of the hands are from high-level championship play, and the defenders and opponents are of expert – even world-class – level.
On this hand you are kibitzing Andrezj Wilkosz, of Krakow, Poland, sitting West and playing with his favorite partner, Lukasz Lebioda, also of Krakow.
In their carding methods, the lead of the lowest spot card against notrump (as well as against suit contracts) suggests an odd number, whereas the third spot down would suggest an even number.
The play to trick 1 goes: ª3, ª2, ªJ, ªA. Declarer continues at trick 2 with the ¨10 to the ¨3, K¨, ¨2. Dummy now plays the §10, partner plays the §5, declarer the §9 and Andrezj wins his §K. When he goes into a protracted trance, you wonder what he is thinking about, and get up to stretch your legs.
At this point Eddie Kantar, who is in the Vu-Graph booth and can see all the hands, motions you over and whispers, “I know what he is going to play now, and I’m willing to bet it’s something you didn’t expect!”
Well! Now it’s a matter of pride; if you think deeply enough you should be able to work out what Andrezj is worried about, and come up with the right answer to that bet. Don’t let that Santa Monica con artist take your money! (Solution)