2006 Shen Hua Defence Award

Winner: Liu Jing
From: Open B Class Round Robin of National Club Championship 29th July

Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Vul.
	♠ K Q 6 3 ♥ Q 10 ♦ Q 6 3 ♣ K 8 7 4
♠ - ♥ J 9 6 5 4 3 ♦ A K J 9 ♣ A J 3

There were no artificial bids. West chose the ace of diamonds against Three No Trump. When East followed with the two, West continued with the diamond king then nine, East and declarer following to both.

At the fourth and fifth tricks, declarer played the king and queen of spades, jack and ten from East, and small cards from declarer. West discarded two hearts. After a period of time thinking, declarer played the club king from dummy, six from East and five from declarer. Now what should West do?

	♠ 6 3 ♥ Q 10 ♦ - ♣ K 8 7 4
♠ - ♥ J 9 6 5 ♦ J ♣ A J 3

(West must still follow to the club king.)

At this moment both South and West knew each other’s hand almost exactly. Declarer knew that West held heart length and the club ace for his bidding. Conversely, West knew that South should hold 4-4-3-2 shape since he opened one diamond with only three diamonds. How to prevent declarer from taking his nine tricks was the question?

Suppose West wins the club ace and cashes his diamond winner? Then declarer would have two entries to hand to lead a heart to the ten, cash the queen, and return to hand for the ace and king. How about ducking the king of clubs? Then, which card should West discard when declarer comes back to hand with ace of spades? Pitching a heart would establish South’s fourth heart, pitching the diamond winner would only result in a stepping-stone after declarer finessed the heart ten, unblocked the queen, then played the club queen. Did success rely on East’s holding the club queen?

Liu Jing, a postgraduate at China Normal University, the winning team of the 3rd World University Bridge Championships in October. 2006, is regarded as a rising star of Chinese bridge. He analysed the situation and found the only correct answer: playing the club jack under the king! Now there was no way for declarer to establish two entries to cash four heart winners, nor to endplay West with a club because West had kept a low club to reach the East hand.

A very clever young man, and a killing defence that would be material for a textbook on logical defence.