How Do You Defend? 5-5

   #5 North South Vulnerable

North  East   South  West
1♦         Pass    1♥        Pass
3♠         Pass    4♥        Pass
4NT     Pass     5♦        Pass
6♥        AP

North (Dummy)
♠ 9
♥ A K Q
♦ K Q 10 9 8
♣ A K 4 2

West                                                East
♠ A                                                    ♠ K 8 3 2
♥                                                       ♥ J 8 2
♦                                                        ♦ J 6 2
♣                                                        ♣ Q J 7

South (Declarer)
♠
♥
♦
♣ 

West leads the ♠A.   What is East’s plan?

This is an “uppercut” hand.
 
West leads the ♠A which denies the ♠K verses the five-level or higher.  Generally, when shortness (singleton or void) comes down in dummy, the card played by third hand is suit preference.  This is an exception hand. 
 
When there is shortness in dummy which holds only honors in the trumps suit (uppercut potential), then third hand’s signal returns to the standard encouraging and discouraging signal.  East, holding the ♥J82, should visualize a trump trick if West continues spades and North must trump with the ♥Q.  East plays the ♠ 8 at trick one to encourage West to continue leading spades!  Declarer has no choice but to trump the second spade (or go down at trick two) and cash the ♥AK hoping that the ♥J falls.         

Take a look at the entire hand:

North (Dummy)
♠ 9
♥ A K Q
♦ K Q 10 9 8
♣ A K 4 2

West                                                East
♠ A 7 6 5 4                                       ♠ K 8 3 2
♥ ——                                               ♥ J 8 2
♦ 5 4 3                                              ♦ J 6 2
♣ 10 9 8 6 5                                     ♣ Q J 7

 South (Declarer)
 ♠ Q J 10
 ♥ 10 9 7 6 5 4 3
 ♦ A 7
 ♣ 3              

Let me hear your comments!     

Visit Play Better Bridge for FREE lesson videos called Play These Hands with Me! World Champion and Master Teacher Donna Compton walks you through her thought process of analyzing the dummy and determining the issue of the hand. She will then talk about how she makes the decision as to which technique to apply. The combination of being a world-class player, along with the ability to share her thoughts with all levels of players makes these webinar videos unique. Join Donna today and take your game to the next level!

Take your game to the next level with a Power Bridge Retreat!

Visit Play Better Bridge’s YOUTUBE Channel for Lesson Video Clips