Defense against preemptive bid
By Djanwar Modjolelo
Dealer: South
Vulnerable: East/West
NORTH
(S) 7 5 4 3
(H) 9 7 4 3
(D) A 6
(C) A K 9
WEST EAST
(S) K Q 9 6 2 (S) A J 8
(H) K J 10 (H) A 8 6 5
(D) Q (D) 2
(C) J 10 8 3 (C) Q 7 6 5 4
SOUTH
(S) 10
(H) Q 2
(D) K J 10 9 8 7 5 4 3
(C) 2
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
Jason Ishamel Justin Ashley
Hackett Delmonte Hackett Bach
- - - 5D
All pass
Some of the most puzzling positions in defense involve cashing in your side's defensive winners against preemptive auctions.
It is often good to lead an Ace to have a look at dummy, which implies that from an Ace King combination you should lead the King, so that your partner will give you count in the suit rather than attitude.
This board was played on view-graph in the 1995 World Junior Championships in Bali. We can see from the table that Five Diamond had been made: the defense led the King of Spades, and switch to the Jack Heart, on which South had contributed the Queen Heart.
This left East with an awkward decision on what to do next; and he guessed wrong, by playing a second spade.
Jason Hackett of Great Britain was put in the same position at Trick One, when his partner followed with 8 Spade.
He also switched to a Heart, but foreseeing the problem that his partner might have, he played the King Heart.
Justin of course did not have to signal attitude on his trick. When the King holds the trick, both players know who has the Ace.
He played the 8 Heart to show an even number, and Jason simply continued with a second Heart, knowing the declarer still had a Heart left.