‘Kees
for the Defence’
Have you ever tried some cases for the defence, the very good tests
in defensive play? I did, and learned a lot from those themes. For
years I have collected my own boards in this category, so you can
understand the title of this chapter.
Kees 1
In the first round Sweden's Måns Berg had to defend 3] after
a quiet bidding sequence.
E/W Vul. Dealer South.
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| - |
- |
- |
Pass |
| Pass |
1ª |
Dble |
2ª |
| 3© |
All Pass |
|
|
North leads [J.
Dummy
[ A 2
] A J 10 9
{ Q 10 7 5
} Q 7 6
South
[ K 8 5
] 8 7
{ 9 8 6 4 2
} A 9 2
You are South. Declarer takes [A and plays another spade for South's
king. North plays a firm [10, clearly Lavinthal for diamonds. Do
you obey the wish from North for a diamond switch?
Kees 2
E/W Vul. Dealer North.
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| - |
2¨(i) |
Pass |
2NT |
| Pass |
3 §(ii) |
Pass |
3 © |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
(i) Multi
(ii) Hearts, minimum
East leads {A.
West
[ Q 7 6
] K 2
{ 10 9 4
} A K J 3 2
Dummy
[ A K 4 3
] 8 6 3
{ Q 6
} 10 9 8 5
You are West. Do you, like Ruben Buijs from the Netherlands see
a chance to beat 3]?
Kees 3
N/S Vul. Dealer South.
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| - |
|
- |
2 NT(i) |
| Pass |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
(i) Both minors
East leads the ]3, third and fifth.
West
[ 10 6 3
] A J 6
{ 7 6 5
} A J 7 5
Dummy
[ 8 7
] 4
{ K 8 4 3 2
} K Q 6 4 3
You are West. You take ]A and play back a trump. Declarer wins
[A, ruffs a heart and plays }K. How do you defend?
Solutions
to Kees for the Defence
Kees 1
|
|
| |
ª J 10 7 6 3
© K 6 5
¨ K J
§ K J 10 |
ª Q 9 4
© Q 4 3 2
¨ A 3
§ 8 4 3 2 |
 |
ª A 2
© A J 10 9
¨ Q 10 7 5
§ Q 7 6 |
| |
ª K 8 5
© 8 7
¨ 9 8 6 4 2
§ A 9 5 |
Did you follow the wish of your partner and played a diamond. In
that case declarer can take {A, discard a club loser from dummy
on [Q, takes the heart finesse and ends up with nine tricks. The
Swedish south instead played a small club from his Ace and north-south
took their three club tricks with K coming for one down. Very well
defended.
Kees 2
|
|
| |
ª 10 8
© A Q J 7 5 4
¨ J 8 7
§ 7 6 |
ª Q 7 5
© K 2
¨ 10 9 4
§ A K J 3 2 |
|
ª J 9 6 2
© 10 9
¨ A K 5 3 2
§ Q 4 |
| |
ª A K 4 3
© 8 6 3
¨ Q 6
§ 10 9 8 5 |
West overtook }Q with }K, played }A followed by a small club. Declarer
thought }J was with East and ruffed small. A tiny manoeuvre but
nice and rewarded with 5 IMPs, 3] being made at the other table.
Kees 3
|
|
| |
ª A K J 9 4 2
© K 10 9
¨ J 10
§ 10 2 |
ª 10 6 3
© A J 6
¨ 7 6 5
§ A J 7 5 |
|
ª Q 5
© Q 8 7 5 3 2
¨ A Q 9
§ 9 8 |
| |
ª 8 7
© 4
¨ K 8 4 3 2
§ K Q 6 4 3 |
The winning defence: take }A and play back the }J! Declarer cannot
get off dummy in diamonds without losing two tricks so has to play
a club, after which East makes the [Q.
|
