The defenders can take trump tricks

Francis Quarles, an English poet who died in 1644, said, “Has fortune dealt you some bad cards? Then let wisdom make you a good gamester.”

Most bridge players like to bid and declare. When on defense, they tend not to hold good cards and find it harder to play well. But if you can defend accurately, you will contend for every event.

This week, we are going to look at defenders generating trump tricks. This deal is in theory straightforward, but East and West still need to know what they are doing. South is in four spades. What should happen after West leads his singleton club?

Note that South’s jump to four spades ought to be with at least a fivecard suit. North might have raised to two spades with only three trumps if holding a minimum 3=1=4=5 or 3=4=1=5 hand. South, with only four spades, would perhaps rebid three no-trump, asking partner to pass with three spades, but to correct to four spades if a 4-4 fit exists.

East, given his 13 points, knows that West does not have much. He should assume that West began with a singleton club. (It is rarely right to lead a spot-card in a suit bid by an opponent. One of the few good reasons is when having a singleton.)

So, East wins with his club ace and gives his partner a ruff. But in doing that, East must be careful to lead his club 10, his highest club asking partner to return a heart, the higher-ranking of the other two side suits. Then West can receive a second club ruff to defeat the contract.