Disrupting Declarer's Entries

 

Some examples where the defense has the opportunity to disrupt Declarer's communications.

 

Related Extracts from Past Wednesday Games

 

6	♠ A42 ♥ 432 ♦ K8 ♣ K7532	From 13th September, 2006
♠ Q9875 ♥ AKQ5 ♦ 632 ♣ A	North Dummy       East           South	♠ K ♥ 96 ♦ AJT74 ♣ J9864	Dlr     East  Vul     E-W
© BES, Inc  All Rights Reserved	♠ JT63 ♥ JT87 ♦ Q95 ♣ QT	West   North   East     South                        Pass     Pass 1♠       Pass    1NT     Pass 2♥       Pass    2NT     Pass 3NT    Pass    Pass     Pass

 

We wonder how many Norths were up to the challenge on this deal.  Let’s say that, against 3NT, South leads the J♥.  Now, one obvious route to 9 tricks is as follows:

            Win the A♥

            Finesse the J♦, losing to the Queen

            Win the Heart continuation (or Club shift)

            Play a Diamond to the King and Ace

            Cash the Diamonds

            Knock out the A♠

Pretty simple stuff, eh?  But where was North when the defense needed her?  At Trick Two, when a Diamond is led from the board, she must rise majestically with the King!  This heads-up play gives Declarer two losing options.  The first losing option is to win the Ace, whereafter South will duck the second round of Diamonds and Declarer’s hand will be dead.  The second losing option is more complicated, let’s go through it trick by trick:

            J♥ led, won by the Ace

            Diamond, North playing the King, and Declarer ducking

            Club shift, won on the board

            Diamond to the Jack and Queen

            Cash Q♣

            Spade to Partner’s Ace

            Cash K♣ for the setting trick

Just how clear is it that North should play the K♦ at Trick Two?  Pretty clear, we would say, it’s hard to see how it can lose, and it should be apparent as soon as Dummy tables that Declarer may have trouble with entries to his hand … obviously none in Hearts and Clubs, and maybe none in Spades.  In fairness, this is a much easier play to find when reading a web-site or newspaper than it is when at the table.

 

 

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