Perfect Defence

4^th April – Board 17: Love All. Dealer North.

Some things are hard to do but are nearly always right and this hand features one of them. When the opposing side sacrifices at a high level without the majority of the points it is mandatory to lead a trump.

	North: S K J 5 4 3 H K Q J 4 D 4 2 C 9 5
West: S 10 8 2 H none D J 8 C K J 10 8 7 6 4 2		East: S Q H 9 7 6 5 3 2 D A 10 6 5 C A Q
	South: S A 9 7 6 H A 10 8 D K Q 9 7 3 C 3

West	North	East	South
	1S	No	2NT*
4C	4S	5C	Dbl
End

* = Jacoby, game forcing in spades.

The bidding might go differently of course. East might get involved at his first turn either by doubling – but would worry about club bids opposite – or might even bid 2H although the suit quality is – er – a little lacking. Whatever happens early on North/South are bound to bid to game and East/West will surely sacrifice in 5C, although in fact 4S can be defeated due to the ghastly heart division. Tempting as it might seem for North to lead a top heart he should resist temptation and lead a trump. Declarer will win in dummy and lead the singleton spade but now South ducks so that North can win to lead another trump. With this perfect defence the contract will founder by two tricks for a 300 point penalty. Without the trump lead the contract is only one down and in fact would make with no trump lead at all.