UNIT 4 - BASIC DEFENCE

CONTENTS

BRIDGE
Unit 4
BASIC DEFENSIVE PLAY

Well done you are still with us. You now have a CONTENTS
basic Acol system of bidding. You won't remember
it all and you will make lots of mistakes because it 1. INTRODUCTION
is quite complicated. In unit 1 we looked at the way 2. PRINCIPLES OF GOOD DEFENCE
that Bridge is played and most of the guidance was 3. OPENING LEADS TO AVOID
given from the declarers point of view. 4. OPENING LEADS AGAINST NTS
5. WHAT HAS PARTNER GOT?
Now we will look at the game from the defender's 6. OPENING LEADS AGAINST SUITS
perspective. You will see that many of the techniques 7. 4TH HIGHEST LEADS
8. LEADS DURING PLAY
that declarer uses, such as unblocking and ducking
9. DISCARDS
are also strategies that the defenders must apply.
10. COVERING HONOURS
11. PLAYING 2ND IN HAND 1.
It is recognised that defence is the hardest part of 12. PLAYING 2ND IN HAND 2.
the game. While declarer can see the two hands 13. PLAYING HIGH 3RD IN HAND
that will enable him to plan his play, the defenders 14. PLAYING 3RD IN HAND
cannot see each others hands. Therefore they must 15. TOUCHING HONOURS
use legal signalling methods and standard plays to 16. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WIN
convey information to each other. 17. COUNT SIGNALS 1.
18. COUNT SIGNALS 2.
We will look at the opening leads to NT and to 19. COUNT SIGNALS 3.
20. QUIZ ON LEADS. SUIT CONTRACTS
suit contracts, basic count and attitude signals and
21 END OF TERM QUIZ
trying to notice which cards are being played and
22 ANSWER PAGE
why. Every card tells a story!

Please use the North Eastern Bridge Association's

web site at www.neba.co.uk
lots of useful information on bidding and play
techniques, events, links, news
and results from our area.

Inga & Neil Aiston 2014 1

UNIT 4 - BASIC DEFENCE

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GOOD DEFENCE

Although these general guidelines are useful, each hand is different and you do have to THINK!

OPENING LEADS
1. If partner has bid during the auction, lead it.
With two cards in partner's suit, lead hi-lo e.g. 63 or Q3
With three or four cards in partner's to an honour, lead low e.g. Q83.
With three rags, cards in partner's lead MUD e.g. 874 (Middle Up Down)

2. Long suits against NO TRUMP contracts.

Lead Top of Sequence (BEST) e.g. J1094, or KQJ4. Top of near sequence is also good e.g. KQ104
Lead 4th highest ONLY if no sequence is held. A 10763
Dummy
K743
3. Short suits against suit contracts. (Looking for a ruff) 82 AQ95
Lead singletons or doubletons (hi-lo) e.g. Lead 8 to Q. 1052 96
9876 1053
When east returns A play 2. The hi -lo tells partner you can ruff the next round Q106 KJ52
DO NOT lead hi-lo from a doubleton honour. e.g. Q6
J106

PLAYING 2ND IN HAND

1. Usually play low. Be prepared for what declarer might lead.
2. Against suit contracts, split your honours and play high, if you hold KQx and dummy has AJx.
3. Usually cover an honour with an honour, particularly when led from the closed hand.

PLAYING 3RD IN HAND

1. Usually play high to try and win the trick.
2. Try to win - using the lower or lowest of touching high cards. e.g. with KQx - play the queen
3. If partner leads top of a sequence and you have only Ax or Kx, unblock the honour and return.

PLAYING 4TH IN HAND

1. Usually play to win if you can using the lowest card necessary
2. Do not win if declarer is trying to force out your ace to establish winners in the dummy hand.

RECOGNIZE WHAT PARTNER'S LEAD MEANS

1. An honour card lead, shows the card beneath the lead and denies the card above. e.g QJ92
2. A low card lead shows an honour in the suit. e.g K982
84
4. Usually, it is correct to return your partner's suit if you get on lead.

LEADS IN MID GAME

1. Usually return partner's suit! (Unless looking at dummy tells you otherwise).
2. Lead UP to weakness in dummy, when dummy is on your right. (Last to play.)
3. Lead through dummy's tenaces e.g. AQx or KJx if dummy is on your left. (Next to play.)

ASK YOURSELF WHY DECLARER IS PLAYING A PARTICULAR SUIT.

1. If declarer in NTs is trying to establish a suit, it is often correct to duck. e.g. 983 - 54 - KQJ108 - 762
2. If declarer in 4 is going to ruff losers, lead trumps whenever you can. e.g. 983 - 6 - AJ1085 - K752

SIGNALLING (AN ADVANCED TOPIC WHICH WE WILL COVER LATER)

1. When not playing to win the trick, show partner how many cards you have in the suit.
2. When discarding you can tell partner which suit you would like to be led when partner gets in.

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UNIT 4 - BASIC DEFENCE

OPENING LEADS TO AVOID

When you make an opening lead, declarer, (your opponent) will be the
742
last to play and that can often give a trick away.
Here if you lead the 3 against a spade contract, declarer wins with K963 J 10 8 5
the queen. Playing diamonds himself, he will always lose a trick to AQ
your king. Your lead has cost your side a trick!

J 10 4 2
As you can see here, to lead the unprotected honour is suicidal! K3 98765
The ONLY time that you would do this is if partner has bid the suit.
AQ

Even playing off an ace is not very clever! By playing your ace here 9742
you simply allow declarer to make his king. A83 Q J 10 5
K6

Against a No Trump contract, leading an unprotected ace from a short

suit can be disastrous, because all you may succeed in doing is to KQJ974
establish declarer's long suit. You have generously done declarer's A53 10 8
work for him. How kind! 62

Against suit contracts, leading from an ace is very unwise!

Against 4 , leading 4th highest results in declarer making his singleton 963
king. You will never make your ace because declarer will ruff it! AJ742 Q 10 8 5
Against NT contracts, leading from
K
trick away, it sets up all your remaining diamonds as winners

Don't lead singleton honour cards, (unless partner has bid the suit). 63
J on Q 10 9 8 5 2
this hand. (If short of entries to dummy) AKJ74

Top of a sequence is always the best lead. AVOID LEADS

(Three touching cards HEADED BY AN HONOUR! You must be able to see why a lead
against NTs) e.g. KQJ73 - QJ104 1098542 of 4th highest from west is idiotic!
Remember that 10 is an honour card during play.
Against suit contracts, two touching honours can be You must be able to see why a lead
considered a sequence. e.g. KQ973 of A from west is idiotic!
642
Generally avoid AK
1. Leading the opponent's suits, especially when bid by RHO. KQJ102
e.g leading into a possible AQJ9 J76
KQJ75 98
2. Leading an unprotected honour. 863 Q1092
e.g. K from K75 A84
3NT 963
3. Leading a singleton honour. 95 10843
e.g. Q A103
J754
4. Leading from an ace against suit contracts. 75
e.g. from A7532 (The longer the suit the more dangerous it is.) AKQ2

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UNIT 4 - BASIC DEFENCE

LEADS - AGAINST NO TRUMP CONTRACTS

When you make an opening lead, declarer, will be the last to
play. That can often give a trick away.
Q 10
On this hand if you lead the 3 against a 4 contract, J86
declarer wins with the queen. Playing diamonds himself, he 87
will always lose a trick to your king. Your lead has cost your K J 10 9 7 3
side a valuable trick!
K973 3NT 8652
Against NTs it is still annoying but at least it is a step nearer K42 or 10 7
to setting up winners in your diamond suit. In Bridge you KJ963 4 10 5 4
6 Q652
to establish tricks for your side later in the play. AJ4
AQ953
Against NT contracts, usually lead from your longest suit!
Top of a Sequence is BEST. If you don't have a sequence,
AQ2
try 4th highest e.g. From KJ963 lead the 6. A8

Lead the top card from a sequence of high cards

e.g. From Q J 10 9 lead the queen. If partner leads any of these cards you know that
J 10 9 x lead the jack they have the card below, e.g. if partner has led
K Q Jx lead the king the jack, from an un-bid suit, you know that they
A K Qx lead the ace have the 10. (and that they do not have the queen.)
10 9 8 7 lead the ten

NOTE: 9 8 7 6 is NOT a sequence so don't lead 9 from this holding. 8 then 7 is best.

Lead the top of a near sequence. Lead the top of an internal sequence
e.g. From Q J 9 x lead the queen. e.g. From A Q J 10 lead the queen.
J 10 8 x lead the jack A J 10 9 7 lead the jack
K Q 10 x lead the king K J 10 9 lead the jack
A K J x lead the ace Q 10 9 8 lead the 10
10 9 7 x lead the ten K 10 9 8 lead the 10

NOTE These leads GUARANTEE the card under the one led. NEVER queen from Q 10 9 x

IF partner has bid a suit, lead it.

With two cards in partner's suit, lead the higher. e.g From Q5 lead the Q.
With three cards to an honour lead your lowest. e.g. From Q82 lead the 2
With three 'rags' lead Middle Up Down (M.U.D.) e.g. From 852 lead the 5.

MUD leads
Middle Up Down leads from three rags are fairly safe. Do not use them if your top card is an honour,
e.g. From 742 lead the 4, but with K42 lead the 2. (Low from an honour).
AND you must remember when the suit is played again, to play the HIGH card, or partner will think you
started with only two cards in the suit.

These are standard leads - but page 5 reminds you that there are other considerations!

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UNIT 4 - BASIC DEFENCE

LEADS - WHAT HAS PARTNER GOT?

Ask yourself - How many points does partner have ? - - before making your lead

On hands 1,2, & 3 you are playing for (hoping) that the seven missing cards split 3-2-2.
Bidding on hands
LEADS AGAINST 3 NT CONTRACTS 1-4 was 1NT-3NT

Hand 1
You have no outside entries to your diamonds, but you do have six.
93
862 1
How will the other seven diamonds split between the threee other hands? AKQ752
You must hope that they will break 3-2-2 and that playing your A, K and Q will 105
drop the defender's diamonds, establishing the 7 5 2 as winners. I've seen 4th highest !

Hand 2
With only A, K, as top tricks it becomes impossible to drop the defender's top
diamonds so you have to rely on partner getting on lead at some stage of the play to
AK9752
864
2
return your suit. Lead the fourth highest, 7 93
With only seven HCPs in your hand, there is a reasonable chance that your partner 105
will get in and that he has a 2nd spade to return your suit.
Here, lead 4th highest

Hand 3
Assuming that the opponents have 25 pts. to be in a contract of 3NT you must
realise that partner cannot have any points!
A5
KJ2
3
93
Therefore you have to defend this contract on your own. With heart and spade
AK9752
honours you should get in again. Therefore it would seem reasonable to play off
On your own!
your ace, king and another club.

Hand 4
Similarly, if you were sitting with virtually no points it might be worth leading for
your partner, rather than expecting to establish your long suit when there is no real
52
974
4
likelyhood of you being able to reach the established winners.
632
If the opponents have not used Stayman, your partner is almost certain to have four, J9652
possibly more spades AND your partner will have HCPs. What about leading for Think before you lead.
partner? You are never likely to establish your club suit are you?
BUT if it goes wrong be quick to apologise!

The message of this lesson is that you should always be able to estimate reasonably how many points your
partner has. Then ask yourself where they might be.

The accuracy of your analysis will increase as declarer's points are revealed during the play - and of course
you should try to work out why declarer is tackling some of the suits and not others.
As your defence improves you will discover legitimate ways of signalling your strengths and weaknesses to
partner.

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UNIT 4 - BASIC DEFENCE

OPENING LEADS AGAINST SUIT CONTRACTS

Best Lead
IF you are lucky enough to have a suit with the ace AND king, you probably don't have to search any further for
a lead against a suit contract. Lead the ace to tell partner where the king is,
AND it gives you the chance to see the dummy hand before deciding what to do next.

Singletons
On the this hand, if you lead your singleton 3 against a 4 contract, you 852
may be able to 'ruff' (trump the 2nd round of diamonds with a spade) any subsequent lead K7432
of the suit, assuming the unsuspecting declarer does not take out your trumps. 3
Q863
DO NOT lead singleton honours UNLESS partner has bid the suit!

Doubletons
The order in which you play your two cards is crucial 8 followed by 3 is called a 'peter'
Play your higher card FIRST and then your lower card. showing two cards in the suit.
This hi-lo is called a 'peter' and it shows an even number of cards in that suit.

852
e.g. On the following hand, lead your 8 against a contract of 4 and if you 'get in' again
K743
before declarer has drawn trumps, lead the 3, (or follow with the 3 whenever diamonds are
83
led
A942

a.) b.)
Short suit leads are common only against suit contracts when you are 82 82
hoping to get a ruff, before declarer has drawn all of your trumps. 432 K74
BUT remember, if you have lots of points, your partner cannot
J643 KQJ5
have the aces and kings needed to get on lead to give you the ruff.
Q863 K863
Against 4 , Hand a.) is suitable for 8 lead. In Hand b.) your partner cannot have any points! (Lead K)

Do not make leads from Kx - Qx - Jx - 10 x unless partner has bid the suit.

Leading Trumps QJ87

Often a trump lead can work well. Declarer is playing in a suit contract rather than
K95 YES 5
trumps. Lead a trump if you hold two or three small trumps, or three to the ace or king. A10632

KJ87
Do not lead a singleton trump as this will often trap partner's three to an honour.
9 NO Q54

A10632
Leading partner's suit
If partner has bid a suit then you must have a very good reason not to lead that suit.

Lead MUD* from three rags. 852 but remember MUD is ONLY a LEAD
Lead hi-lo from two (whether an honour is held or not). K4 or 74 Follow suit in the same way
Lead low from three or four to an honour. J73 or K742

When FOLLOWING SUIT with three small, play the cards naturally (Lowest 1st). e.g. Play 2 from 852

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UNIT 4 - BASIC DEFENCE

4TH HIGHEST LEADS -THE RULE OF 11

Against a NT contract, IF, you do not have a sequence of three cards headed by an honour
the standard lead is - 'The 4th highest of your longest and strongest suit' and it employs the 'Rule of 11'.
Suppose you hold K J 7 6 4. Your 4th highest card is the 6.
Q93
If you lead 6, your partner will subtract 6 from 11 and work
out that there are FIVE cards higher than the six, in the other three hands. KJ764 A 10 8
East can see his hand and the dummy hand and can therefore 52
work out that declarer has no card higher than the 6.
If declarer plays low from dummy, east can now safely play the 8.
When this holds, east should now play the ace and then the 10. You will overtake and run the suit!

If west leads the 7, east subtracts 7 from 11 and can 'see'

Q83 that there are only four cards higher than the 7 in the other three hands.
He has two (ace and 10 ) and can see that dummy has two (queen and 8)
A 10 5
KJ97 2 East can therefore safely play the 10, knowing it will win the trick,
and that declarer will not make any tricks in this suit, because east
6 4 will play the ace and then the 5. West's king will drop north's queen.
If east played the ace south must eventually win with the queen.

976 West leads the 3, declarer plays the 6 from dummy and east wins with
the ace. When east continues the suit west will beat the ten with the
jack, (or the queen with the king.)
KJ53 A84 West can now lead the other winning card to which everyone follows.
West is now left with the thirteenth card in the suit which is now a
winner.
Q 10 2

West leads the 6. Declarer plays 7

AJ7
two tricks. Dummy's jack will become a 2nd trick for declarer.
That's bad news!
K 10 9 6 2 Q83
Using the Rule of 11 guides you to the correct card!
54 If 6 is partner's 4th highest, 11-6 = 5 (Five cards higher than the 6).
Dummy has three and you have two.
Therefore declarer has NO card higher than the 6.
You should win the trick with the 8.
Return the queen and if you get in again play the 3 to partner's king.
The 10 and 9 will now be tricks for your side.

Many people cannot understand 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

why it works. They forget that
the thirteen cards begin with the 2. A K Q J

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UNIT 4 - BASIC DEFENCE

LEADS DURING THE PLAY

If your partner has bid a suit during the auction lead the If dummy is on your right, do not lead a suit in which
suit. If partner leads a suit against a NT contract it is you surround dummy's honours.
usually because they have lots of cards in that suit. It is Spades in the second example shown.
therefore important for you to return that suit if you win
the lead, even if you have only one card left in that suit. Choose to lead up to a weak suit in dummy,
hoping that your partner has something in the suit.
During the play if this is not possible, when dummy is If declarer opened 1NT, where are his 14 points?
on your left, you can lead through a tenace* in dummy
which may be vulnerable to attack. *A tenace is a holding of two or more non-touching
honours. e.g. K J, or A Q J, or K Q10

Lead 'through' tenaces (in the 2nd hand to play)

Dummy
KJ
982
You to lead
865
Partner
Declarer has bid hearts but is playing this con-
tract in 3NT. AK

After three tricks have been played west gets on

lead.
10 9 7 3
West would lead a spade 'through' dummy's high Q42
card tenace. K8
6 Declarer
?
?
?
?

Lead 'up to' the weakness! (in the last hand to play)
Dummy
KJ
You 982
Declarer has bid hearts but is playing this 865
contract in 3NT. Partner to lead
AK
AQ2
After three tricks have been played east gets
on lead! 63
97
East would lead a diamond or a heart up to QJ2
dummy's weakness
Declarer
?
?
?
?

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UNIT 4 - BASIC DEFENCE

DISCARDING
Often when declarer is running
you can discard the wrong cards which will allow declarer to make extra tricks. Sometimes you can use your
discards to give your partner information about strengths and weaknesses in your hand.

ATTITUDE SIGNALS
The discard of a high card encourages.

Obviously you would throw away small cards rather than high cards, but not always.

Dummy Declarer south has just played his last club and you cannot
K6 follow suit. You have to discard something.
K6 The 9 looks fairly useless and so does the 4, but
K8 the card to throw away is the 8.
You The simple principle is that an unnecessarily high discard, tells
4 AQJ82 partner that you like the suit and want it led if s/he gets in.
4 When south leads a heart to dummy's king partner wins with
9 the ace and leads a spade.
J

The discard of a low card discourages.

Dummy There is a similar situation on this hand when declarer is
K6 playing his fourth club.
K6 You The difference is that you cannot afford to throw a spade, you
K8 AQJ need them to win tricks.
4 92 So the solution is to discard a low diamond to tell partner that
82
heart to complete the picture for partner.

J9 Observation is as important as memory in Bridge.

KEEP LENGTH WITH DUMMY.

Dummy
AQ52 You You can see four spades in dummy, and you have four spades.
Admittedly they are not good spades, but one will make a trick
J106 9874 providing you do not discard spades when declarer runs his his
long suit.
K3

KEEP YOUR HIGH CARDS PROTECTED.

Dummy clubs. Your K needs protecting, so avoid discarding a spade.

Q875 You If you do discard a spade, declarer will play low from dummy
1062 K93 J. His ace will then drop your king.

AJ4 If dummy plays Q, cover an honour with an honour.

Play K. This will establish, eventually, partner's 10

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UNIT 4 - BASIC DEFENCE

COVER AN HONOUR WITH AN HONOUR

1. Cover immediately!
When declarer leads an honour card either from hand or dummy, and you have a
higher honour, you should usually cover it to promote a trick in partner's hand or
in your own hand.
AJ87
You are defending as west and south leads the Q.
You should cover the Q with the K.
K62 1054

four tricks. Q93

Declarer
b) If you 'cover' with the king, east will take the third trick with the 10.
Note that you can't see the 10 but you hope that partner has it. If declarer has it,
all the spade tricks are his anyway!

2. Don't cover touching honours

If you can see two 'touching' honours, as a matter of principle, you should not
QJ9

You are defending as east and dummy leads the Q. 1086 K54
10 to make all four tricks. A732
Declarer
on the second trick, partner's 10 is promoted for the third trick.

3. Exceptions! Where you would not cover. A10862

Q75 K
a) When you know that partner has no card to promote. i.e. from the bidding and
from the cards that you can see in your hand and dummy. J943
Declarer is known to have four spades from the bidding SO west should NOT Declarer
cover J with Q

A1086
of trumps, he hopes that you will cover the jack or 10 with your queen. Don't, and Q75 42
try not to hesitate when declarer plays the jack or 10 and you have the queen! You
should have already decided to play low. KJ93

A3
c) When declarer or dummy is short in the suit and your honour card cannot be
'dropped.' Save your king until the third trick. K65 ??

QJ????

All these nursery rhymes or cliches are helpful, but they are not an excuse for failing to think and
not preparing yourself for what declarer is going to do.

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UNIT 4 - BASIC DEFENCE

2ND HAND PLAY - GENERAL PRINCIPLES

Generally, 2nd hand plays low

e.g. If your right hand opponent plays a low card to dummy, with A83, you would normally play the 3.

K86
Here is an excellent illustration of the one liner '2nd K86
AJ7 hand plays low'. AJ7 10 5 4
You When south plays the 3 towards the king, you must play
low or you will give declarer three tricks instead of two.
3 led Q932
Try it!

KJ96
KJ96
If you play the ace declarer will always make the king.
A75 If you duck there is a good chance that declarer will Q 10
A75
You
2 led 8432

But there are exceptions!

KJ9 When you have the queen as well, your best chance of KJ9
making two tricks in the suit is to play the ace on the
AQ5 AQ5 10 7 6 4
You Declarer may worry that it was a doubleton and that
832
2 led east. So he will often rise with the king.
Remember declarer cannot see your hand.

Q5 Contract 4 . With only two cards in dummy, Q5

K73 don't be fooled into never making your K. K73 J972
Play K or Q wins, then 5 to declarer's A and
You A 10 8 4
4 led declarer's 3rd diamond is ruffed!

AJ43 AJ43
If declarer is in a trump contract, don't play low in this
KQ52 situation or you will not even make one trick! Declarer K Q 5 2 10 9 8
You
6 led 76

Q53
Q53
Contract 3NT. With only two cards, 10 9 2
K7 K7
don't be fooled into losing your diamond trick.
You Play the king. AJ764
4 led

BIG TIP - As soon as dummy is faced you should predict what declarer is likely to do,
and decide BEFORE declarer plays towards dummy what you will do!
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UNIT 4 - BASIC DEFENCE

PLAYING 2ND IN HAND

Generally, 2nd hand plays low AJ42 Q42
You are west. K103 Q86 A103 J986
Declarer plays low from south towards 3NT 3NT
high cards in dummy. West should play low.
975 led K75 led
Not the 10

K If declarer is in a 4 / contract, and

Obviously if dummy has a singleton king you don't cash your A you will
you would be foolish not to play the ace. AQ832 4S J1064
never make it because declarer will
975 led ruff all subsequent rounds of the suit.

Cover an Honour with an Honour

"Cover an honour with an honour" is one of the Second player should often play a higher honour even
most familiar sayings in Bridge, and there are many though it is clear that it will not win the trick.
occasions when you should cover if declarer/dummy By covering the honour, you hope to set up an extra trick
leads an honour card. for your side, but it is not always correct.
In the diagram, south, the closed hand, leads the queen.
Dummy In which suits should west cover?
AJ42
AJ4 The answer in spades is easy for west to see, (YES)
A42 but it is equally true in the heart & diamond suits when
A75 east has the 10. It doesn't gain in the club suit, but nor is
anything lost.
K 10 9 765
K632 10 9 8 If south were to lead a low card towards the ace,
K73 10 9 5 west should also play low.
K63 9842
Q83 In diamonds if the 8 is led and west plays the king declarer
Q75 will make four diamond tricks.
QJ86
Q J 10

AJ4 Try to get into declarer's mind. What is he up to when he leads the 10 ?

K86 Q93
drop, setting up three tricks for declarer. You should cover the 10 with your king,
10 7 5 2 hoping that partner has the queen, and the 9.

Exception (Often trumps).

S W N E
A8432 1 P 4 P

If declarer has bid and shown length in a suit don't cover. e.g.
Q76 K
Declarer leads J and you hold Q76, dummy has A6432.
Remember declarer holds four cards in the suit so partner has only one. Play low
J 10 9 5
in case partner has the king. If you play your queen on the jack, declarer will play
the ace crashing

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UNIT 4 - BASIC DEFENCE

PLAYING IN 3RD POSITION (TO PARTNER'S LEAD)

The hardest part of this game is defence, because you have to guess what cards your partner holds.

When you are trying to win the trick in 3rd position!

If partner leads a suit you are usually expected to play high to try and win the trick.
With 'touching' high cards, play the lowest 'touching' e.g.

When partner leads a suit and you have KQ102 play the queen;
When partner leads a suit and you have AK32 play the king;
When partner leads a suit and you have J10987 play the 7.

When your card cannot win the trick in 3rd position, give a count signal.

When you have an even number

With four, play hi/lo from the middle two, e.g. with 8652 play 6 then 5

When you have an odd number

Trying to win Holding a doubleton Holding three cards

KJ84 KJ84 KJ84

982 983 983
A63 AQ5 AQ5
AK8 Q84 Q84
YOU YOU YOU
109 Partner 1097 1097
Partner Partner
4 Q42 leads A 4 742 4 742
leads 7 leads A
KQJ2 K8432 K843
643 73 1073

When the J holds the trick, When partner leads A he also When partner leads A he also
partner knows that you hold has the K. Play the 7 on his has the K. Tell partner that you
the king and queen as well. ace. He will then play the king have an odd number of cards by
Return K and notice whether and notice that your 2nd card is playing 3.
partner completes a hi-lo peter. the 3. This means that you can (Not a hi-lo)
ruff the 3rd round.

When you cannot follow suit

When discarding, play a high card (that you can afford)
in a suit that you want partner to lead. In this example east 109
Throw low cards from suits you are not interested in. cannot follow when KJ3
west wins with Q. KJ3
High discards encourage partner to lead the suit. 3
Low discards discourage. East can discard 9 63
to ask partner to switch Q 3NT 942
NOTE for ambitious students. to diamonds. AQ92
The game moves on and these attitude signals
are a very basic method of signalling.
We would prefer you to learn count signals.

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UNIT 4 - BASIC DEFENCE

WHAT TO PLAY ON PARTNER'S LEAD

Keeping a Guard on Dummy's Honour Card
Dummy Dummy Dummy
Q32 Q32 Q32
Lead Lead Lead
J964 A105 K964 AJ5 A1064 K95

K87 1087 J87

East, 3rd in hand, should play 10, East, 3rd in hand, should play J, East, 3rd in hand, should play 9,
keeping A to guard Q. keeping A to guard Q. keeping K to guard Q.
If east plays A, declarer gets two When J holds, east cashes A 9 DOES NOT give a trick away.
tricks instead of one! and returns 5 Declarer is entitled to 1 diamond trick.

Play *Highest When there is NOTHING to Guard in Dummy.

Dummy Dummy Dummy
872 Lead
72 732
Lead Lead
K1064 AJ5 A10964 KJ5 Q1096 KJ5

Q93 Q83 A84

With nothing to guard in dummy, With nothing to guard in dummy, With nothing to guard in dummy,
east, 3rd in hand, should play A. east, 3rd in hand, should play K. east, 3rd in hand, should play K.
On this layout, declarer is not Important to return J (hi-lo) from If declarer ducks, return J (hi-lo)
entitled to any tricks. the two remaining diamonds. from the two remaining diamonds.
*When you are defending, ALWAYS try to win with the lowere or lowest of touching honours. e.g. With QJ8

Dummy Dummy Dummy

A32 K32 Lead Q32
Lead Lead
QJ64 K95 A964 Q105 J1095 K64
1087 J87 A87

Because east cannot beat the A Because east cannot beat the K West leads Top of a Sequence.
pretend it’s not there and play K pretend it’s not there and play Q East only plays K if Q is played
This holds declarer to one trick. This holds declarer to one trick. from dummy. 4 is the correct card.
As you would if there was nothing to guard in dummy This is a count signal!

What to Play on Partner's Top of Sequence Leads

Dummy Dummy Dummy

Lead 73 Lead A32 1032
Lead
AJ1094 K82 QJ1094 K8 KQJ94 A8
Q65 765 765

The one card that west DOESN’T With only two cards, east must With only two cards, east must
have, is the Q. East must therefore unblock K and return 8 overtake K and return the 8.
play K and return 8 This holds declarer to one trick.

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UNIT 4 - BASIC DEFENCE

TOUCHING HONOURS
Normally second hand plays low. Third hand will This means playing the cards in a high - low
normally play high to try to win the trick. sequence to show an even number of cards in the
As defender, when you cannot win the trick and are suit, or low high to show an odd number of cards in
simply following suit, you have previously been the suit.
advised to give a count signal.

You are defending 4 by south. You lead the 8.

You will eventually play the 3 (a 'peter') to show two
cards in the suit and partner will hopefully lead a third
Dummy round of the suit so that you can ruff.
KQ74
975 If partner plays the king, south will win with the ace, but
A72 you will assume that south also has the queen because
A96 your partner did not play it.

You If east played the queen, south would still have to play
Partner
A8 the ace to win the trick, but now partner could hold
32
83 4 the king.
KQ2
Q843 10965
J8754 When you get in with the ace of trumps your
K1032
lead of the 3 will be won by partners K.
Partner will now play a 3rd heart for you to ruff.

As DEFENDER, when following suit, and trying to win the trick:

Play the lowest of touching honours to give

information about where the missing honours
might be.

Winning with the ace denies holding the king.

Trying to win with a king denies holding the queen.
Trying to win with a queen denies holding the jack. etc.

A simple example. Dummy

Q85
You lead 4 AK6
K974 If partner plays the K - and south does not win
and declarer plays
A104 with the ace you have a clear picture that
low from dummy.
Partner partner must have the ace as well!
AK7
3NT 752 (If partner plays the ace, you know that partner
J863 doesn't have the king!)
752

BUT as DECLARER you should always try to conceal your hand by playing the highest of touching honours.
Win with the ace even if you hold the king and the queen.
Defenders give information to each other. Declarer conceals his hand!

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UNIT 4 - BASIC DEFENCE

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WIN THE TRICK!

As declarer you have been advised that sometimes you should duck early tricks to establish tricks later in the
hand. Well, ducking tricks that you could win works equally well for defenders.

South opened 2NT and north raised to 3NT Dummy

Partner leads 2. 752
Declarer wins with the J. 63
965
KQJ98
Declarer, south, leads 6 to the king and partner plays 2
Do you win this trick and why? 962
If you duck, declarer continues with the Q from dummy.
Do you win this trick and why?
a 875
K872
A73

South opened 2NT and north raised to 3NT Dummy

Partner leads 2 752
Declarer wins with the J. 63
Declarer, south, leads 6 to the queen and partner plays 2* 965
AQJ108
Do you win this trick and why? 962
*Partner's 2 is a count signal from 952 showing three clubs b 875
K872
(so declarer started with only two clubs.) K73

South opened 2NT and north raised to 3NT Dummy

Partner leads 2 752
Declarer wins with the J. 63
Declarer, south, leads K and partner plays 2 965
Do you win this trick and why? QJ1098
Partner 962
If you duck and declarer plays another club to the Q do
you take it this time? 2 c 875
K872
A73

On each hand, declarer is trying to get into the north hand to enjoy lots of winning clubs.
As you can see, declarer has no entries to the dummy hand in spades, hearts or diamonds.
Therefore, duck his attempts to get you to play your honour card too early.
Of course it would be helpful to know exactly how many clubs declarer has?

In each of these hands partner followed suit with 2 to shows three cards in the suit.
Therefore declarer started with only TWO clubs in each of these hands.
In hands a & c
In hand b you can ONLY hold off for 1 round (or your king would be felled by the ace at round three).

In hand d, where partner started with only two clubs, he would follow Dummy
suit with a hi-lo signal. (playing 752
declarer started with three clubs and you would need to hold up your 63
ace for TWO rounds to stop declarer getting into dummy. 965
QJ1098
Partner 962
When you learn to SEE the cards played by partner you will be able 875
to take your ace at exactly the right time. 2 d K872
(See pages 17 - 19) A73
K54

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UNIT 4 - BASIC DEFENCE

COUNT SIGNALS 1.
Although all players can see the dummy hand, it is declarer who has the greatest advantage, because he sees the
two hands on which his play strategy will be based.
It is therefore vitally important for each defender to build up a picture of their partner's hand, to enable them to
determine where declarer's weakness, and partner's strength, may be.

WHEN FOLLOWING SUIT

A defender, when when not playing to win the trick, will play the cards :

High-low to show an even number of cards in the suit.

This is called a peter, or petering.

Low-high to show an odd number of cards in the suit.

WHEN LEADING FROM TWO SMALL CARDS (Exactly the same as if you were following suit!)
With only two small cards in a side suit and defending a contract of 4 you might lead the 8 from 8-3 hoping
to get a ruff before declarer has drawn your trumps. (Doubleton leads work best when you have few HCPs.
(Partner needs some aces or kings to be able to get on lead, to give you the ruff.)

WHEN LEADING FROM THREE SMALL CARDS (Please note that cards are played in a different
order when - LEADING - from three small cards as to - FOLLOWING SUIT - with three small cards.

The standard LEAD from three small cards is called Middle - Up - Down (MUD).

With 863 the lead would be the Middle card, the 3. When the suit is played again you must play the 8.
Your observant partner will be less than happy if you forget and play the low card. S/He will think that you
have played a hi-lo and that you are going to ruff the third round!

NOTES :

1. Do not lead a hi-lo from an honour e.g. K-4, or Q-9 unless partner had bid the suit.

You could lead the ace from Ax against a suit contract, but not as a matter of course.

2. If you hold 87652 and there is no better suit, lead the 7

When the suit is next played, play the 8 or partner will think the 7 was the start of a peter.

3. From 8762 lead the 7. When the suit is next played play the 6. (Hopefully partner, will notice
that the 2 has not appeared and will conclude that you have four, and not two, of the suit.

4. The lead of a low card usually promises an honour in the suit.

5. Although short suit leads are not made against NT contracts, MUD leads are a possibility.

Against 4 you elect to LEAD from your diamond suit. The appropriate card is underlined
96 K6 KJ93 986 KQJ76
Hi-lo Wrong suit Low from honour M.U.D. Top of sequence

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UNIT 4 - BASIC DEFENCE

COUNT SIGNALS 2.
Count signals when partner makes an opening lead against a suit contract

Obviously if partner leads a low card, in third position you must try to win the trick!

If partner leads the A, against a contract of 4 , (he will also have the K) and if you have 8- 3, you must play
the 8. When you subsequently play the 3 on partner's king, he will know that you can ruff the third round.

cards in the suit.

NOTES :
1. Beginners are often confused about which card to play from three rags when following suit
When following suit, with 7 - 6 - 2 you would play the 2 , to show count.
When on lead, with 7 - 6 - 2 you would lead the 6 and next play the 7, to show count.
Don't confuse MUD LEADS with giving count when following suit.

2. On partner's lead, many pairs agree to play a high card to encourage partner to continue the suit, and a
low card to discourage a continuation of the suit. Others play count signals whoever leads.
Often, attitude and count signals are the same, but eventually you will need to agree with partner which
method you are playing!

3. If partner leads a queen and subsequently plays the jack, do not mistake this for a hi-lo peter.
The lead was simply a 'top of a sequence' (and he is also showing the 10 or 9).

4. If partner LEADS a low card, they are telling you that they have something good in that suit.
5. Normally return partner's suit when you are on lead, unless dummy shows it to be unwise.

Count signals when declarer leads.

When declarer leads to a card in dummy which you cannot win, take it as an opportunity to tell partner how many
cards you hold in that suit.
This can be crucial in stopping declarer from reaching his long suit in a dummy that has no outside entries.

862 You note that declarer has no entries to dummy outside the
Q742 diamond suit which he obviously wants to establish.
KQJ96 You decide not to win the A immediately,
6 You but how do you know whether to hold up once or twice?
You need the help of your partner!
Q974 10 5 3
If he can tell you how many diamonds he has, you will know
J98 K53
3NT how many declarer has.
10 7 A54
10. That must be from a doubleton!
J974 8532
If he has two, declarer must have three.

You need to duck diamonds twice!

You cannot play count signals when you are playing to win a trick.

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UNIT 4 - BASIC DEFENCE

COUNT SIGNALS 3.
When your partner leads a low card, and declarer plays The reason you keep the smallest card is to assist partner
the ace from dummy, you may think that it doesn't matter in getting a count on the suit.
which small card you play, but it does. Playing the 6 and then the 3 may lead partner to think
If you have an even number of cards in a suit you are that you held two rather than four.
expected to show that distribution to your partner by This obviously means that partner must watch your play
petering. of the cards very carefully.
If you 'peter' with four, suppress the lowest card.
e.g. with J763, play the 7 and, when the suit is led
again, complete the hi-lo with the 6. an odd number of cards in the suit.

Suppose you are defending a contract of 4 by south.

Partner leads the A and then the K. 72 43
You hold 8 3. 9732 4 by QJ64
873 south A 10 9 5 2
If you peter by playing the 3, AK97 83
partner will continue the suit and you will be able to ruff.

72 43
On this hand, playing the 2
9732 4 by QJ6
will discourage partner from continuing the suit,
873 south A 10 9 5 2
because he knows that you cannot ruff the third round.
AK97 832

You are east defending against 4 by south.

K965
Partner leads the Q.
Q 10 6 3
Declarer wins A and draws trumps in three rounds.
A65
Declarer now leads 4, Partner plays the 2.
A2
and you win the trick with the K*.
7
Do you continue with the A or play another diamond? AK875
4 by
Q LEAD K987
Partner played the 2 which indicates one or three. south
973

If it is three, declarer started with one, and he will ruff your ace.
Unfortunately for your side, that will 'establish' declarer's queen.
Partner's lead promised the J so you should play the K
and return another diamond.
(Partner would probably have led the heart if he had a singleton)

*In DEFENCE you should try to win the trick with the lower of touching cards.-

With AK92, win with K not A. With J1093, try to win with 9, not J.

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UNIT 4 - BASIC DEFENCE

QUIZ ON LEADS AGAINST SUIT CONTRACTS

As west what would you lead against the following contracts?
Most of the time you should look for a safe lead that does not give declarer an easy trick!!

West hand

863 N S Although a trump lead would be safe, 9,

92 1 looking for a ruff, is an attacking option
4 P that may work because you have no
10 9 5
points. (Partner therefore has points!)
J 10 8 4 3 J is a safe alternative.

7 Minors look dangerous for a blind

K 10 8 6 3 lead away from your honours.
N S
972 You have good cards in their side suit.
1 2

COVER ANSWERS
Q52 A trump lead looks best.
3 4
K5

Q Nothing safer than top of a sequence.

63 South has not given suit preference and
752 N S
will have six hearts!
Q J 10 8 7 1 1NT
A65 2 2

trump lead is unlikely to damage your

KQ64 N S side or 6 MUD. K lead when ace is
42 almost certainly with south is unwise.
2NT
QJ53 (3 is Stayman).
3 3
865 4

2 Lead partner's suit.

You have no entry to your own suit.
Q62 N E S W Low from three/four to an honour.
864 1 1 2 P
KJ952 3 P P P
10 5

10 It is far too dangerous to lead away

from your honours on this hand and the
safe top of a sequence lead is best.
Q74 N S
K72 1NT 3
K2 4
10 9 8 6 5

For partnership harmony, be very certain about not leading a suit bid by partner!
Be ready with an immediate - "Sorry partner" if an attacking lead doesn't work.

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 UNIT 4 - BASIC DEFENCE

END OF UNIT 4 QUIZ - DEFENCE

54 K9542 AK 1097 1097

QJ1042 QJ104 974 852 852
K84 96 Q84 8 8
J7 K9863 KQ863
1................ 2................ 3................ 4................ 5................

54 K42 832 1097 64

QJ104 Q1094 J974 10852 A72
K843 986 4 82 72
J7 98 Q863

6................ 7................ 8................ 9................ 10................

Dummy plays LOW )

Dummy ............. 11.
542 Which card do
Q42 you play from
..............12.
Partner K74
J72 KJ6
(West) AJ5 ..............13.
leads 3 of 1098
each suit. Q1096 ..............14.

(You play BEFORE dummy!)

Dummy Dummy
A74 A54
Q62 ..............15. 963 ..............19.
Which card K85 Which card K85
do you J7 ..............16. do you J7 ..............20.
play from play from
..............17 ..............21.
KJ6 KJ6
AJ5 AJ5
1094 ..............18 1094 ..............22.
Q109 Declarer K109 Declarer
leads 3 of leads Q of
each suit each suit

23. 24. Dummy 25. Dummy

Dummy
54 854 AK
You KQ54 6 You At trick 3, K75 You
AJ83 KQJ84 Which card do Partner 964 Which card do
Which card do
109 1097 you play from (West) 1097
you play from you play from
KQ4 ? A73 ? leads 3 QJ105?
At trick 2,
At trick 2,
Declarer
.............. Declarer .............. ............
(South)
(South)
leads 7
leads 10
CONTRACT 4 CONTRACT 3NT CONTRACT 3NT
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UNIT 4 - BASIC DEFENCE

END OF UNIT 4 QUIZ - ANSWERS

LEAD AGAINST 3NT
1. Q Best lead in the book is TOP OF A SEQUENCE
2. Q TOP OF A SEQUENCE 4 is a poor 2nd choice. It's risky and you have few entries!
3. 10 TOP OF A SEQUENCE. A 10 is considered to be an honour card during play.
4. 8 4th highest. Give one trick away and hope that partner gets in and can return the suit.
5. A With a bit of luck the ace, king and queen will bring out all of the enemy clubs.

LEAD AGAINST 4S
6. Q Best lead in the book is TOP OF A SEQUENCE
7. 8 Middle Up Down (MUD) from three rags is not likely to give a trick away. (safe)
8. 4 A singleton lead, hoping for a ruff.
9. 8 A doubleton lead when you have few points is acceptable. Hoping for ruffs.
10. 4 A doubleton lead cannot work as your partner cannot have any points to give you a ruff.

3RD TO PLAY AGAINST 1NT

11. K With no honour to guard in dummy, play your highest card. Partner has an honour.
12. J Keep your ace to guard Q. The jack may even win! If so play your ace and then 5.
13. 8 Try to win with the lower or lowest of touching cards.
14. 9 With K & J on table your Q, 10 & 9 are equal.

2ND TO PLAY AGAINST 1NT

15. 6 No need to play an honour. Declarer is going to play the ace anyway. Isn't he?
16. 5 If declarer has the K you will give him two tricks if you play the ace.
17. 4 Would declarer really play 8??
18. 9 Your Q is trapped but don't make it any easier for declarer.

COVER AN HONOUR WITH AN HONOUR

19. K Cover an honour with an honour.
20. 5 Strange lead but don't play your ace dropping partner's bare king!
21. 4 2nd hand plays low.
22. K This will establish your 9 as a trick after the next club is played.

SPLIT HONOURS
23. Q You must split your honours or declarer may win with J cash A and ruff your K.

DUCKING
24. 3 DUCK! Declarer cannot get to dummy in any other suit. Get count signal from partner.

LOWEST OF TOUCHING HONOURS

25. 10 Try to win with the lowest of touching high cards.

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