Play or Defend

[EricK]

Here is an interesting hand. The contract is 4♠ by East. Do you want to play or defend?[hv=n=s86ht98642dj73c82&w=s52hk7dkt965caj95&e=skjt94hajd2ckt643&s=saq73hq53daq84cq7]399|300|[/hv]

[Codo]

I want to defend douible dummy and lead two Diamonds.

[rbforster]

I'll defend, leading a low diamond from South.

 

- If declarer rises with the K♦, defense will continue diamonds after winning both the AQ♠s. On the third dimond round, declarer's second ruff will promote a spade winner in South and that spade winner plus the last good diamond will set the contract.

 

- If declarer inserts the T♦, the jack wins and returns a diamond. Declarer must ruff in the face of two trump losers, and when South wins a trump and continues the A♦, the second diamond tap of declarer promotes a trump trick.

 

Score one up for underleading aces ;).

[EricK]

I'll defend, leading a low diamond from South.

 

- If declarer rises with the K♦, defense will continue diamonds after winning both the AQ♠s. On the third dimond round, declarer's second ruff will promote a spade winner in South and that spade winner plus the last good diamond will set the contract.

 

- If declarer inserts the T♦, the jack wins and returns a diamond. Declarer must ruff in the face of two trump losers, and when South wins a trump and continues the A♦, the second diamond tap of declarer promotes a trump trick.

 

Score one up for underleading aces ;).

That is right. But note that in the case where declarer wins the lead with the King, South must underlead his ♦AQ on the second round as well. If he leads one of the tops, then declarer ruffs, drives out the other top trump and South is in a dilemma. If he plays the other top ♦ he sets up dummy's suit so he can't froce declarer again. But if he underleads to partner's J, declarer can discard a ♣ and North can't force declarer as he has run out of ♦.