BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

YOU are East, defending against South’s 3NT contract (1NT-3NT). Partner leads ♥ 4 and dummy plays low. Which card do you play? By FAR the worst and most damaging defensive habit, with which some seasoned players persist, is their routine practice of playing top-of-sequence cards, whether on lead or following to partner’s lead. Of course, it is correct to lead the queen from QJ10x; it is equally critical that you should always play the lowest of the sequence when following to a lead. When asked why they put up the queen on partner’s lead, the response is invariably: ‘What’s it matter, they’re all the same value.’ Well, here’s why it matters. If you play the queen in this example, declarer will win the ace and, when partner regains the lead, he’ll never believe you hold the knave and will switch probably to spades. When you play the knave and declarer has to win with the ace, it is equally obvious you must hold the queen and partner can safely continue with the suit. a count of the hands reveals partner has nine to 11HCPs and his lead can be assumed to be fourth best, so you’ll beat the contract if you play correctly. Partner’s hand: ♠ 10xx ♥ K10xxx ♦ Kx ♣ axx. Declarer has: ♠ Qxx ♥ axx ♦ aJ53 ♣ Q93.