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July 5, 2001
6 Contract Declare or Defend? and The Hold-Up Play

Declare or Defend?

Sitting South as dealer you pick up the following:

South

AKQ432

K6543

J5

The auction proceeds:

West	North	East	South
			1
Pass	2	2	2
Pass	3	Double	3
Pass	4NT	Pass	6
Pass	6	Pass	Pass
Pass

North's 3 bid was a low level cue bid (forcing) and expresing the desire for more information. After you describe a 5-5 or 6-5 hand in spades and hearts, partner tries Blackwood. Your 6 response shows one ace and a void in diamonds. 6 becomes the final contract.

The opening lead is the 2.

	North
	J109
	A72
	KQ3
West	KQ32	East
???		???
???		???
???		???
???	South (you)	???
	AKQ432
	K6543
	J5

How would you estimate your chances? Would you rather be the declarer or defender? At first glance you would probably choose defender. It appears as though you have 2 sure losers with the A and a heart.

Declarer might prevail, however.

It is likely that East has the A from the bidding. Declarer can use a technique known as Morton's Fork Coup. Declarer plays the K from dummy covered by East with the A and trumped in hand. South travels to the dummy with a trump and leads a small club.

	North
	J109
	A72
	KQ3
West	KQ32	East
876		5
QJ10		98
6542		AJ10987
764	South (you)	A1098
	AKQ432
	K6543
	J5

If East puts up the A, then South gets three club tricks and, more importantly two discards for low hearts. The other two low hearts in the South hand go on the A and the Q. Making six!

If East ducks the A, then South wins the J, travels back to dummy with another trump, and discards the remaining club on the Q. Without a club loser, South finishes pulling trump and gives up one heart (hearts are 3-2 as expected). Making six!

So, you changed your mind and you want to be declarer?

East can do better.

At trick one, when declarer plays the K from dummy....

East plays low! Now, South must choose her discard at trick one. Now the Morton's Fork Coup will not work. If South discards a heart at trick one, then East holds up on the A (to capture an honor) and South cannot develop enough discards. If South discards a club at trick one, then East grabs the A when given the opportunity and waits for a heart trick.

So, you are back to choosing defender?

Wrong again!

Declarer can always prevail by simply playing a low diamond at trick one and trumping in hand. Without being forced to choose an early discard, South proceeds to employ the Morton's Fork Coup by traveling to dummy and leading a small club. If East hops up with the A, then South has two discards from clubs and can easily develop one more by leading the a diamond honor from dummy. If East ducks the A, then South can again develop a diamond trick and discard the club and give up a heart to make the slam.

You should declare after all.

------------------------------------------

The Hold-Up Play

A hand from Issue #43 of The Bridge Companion:

	North
	AQ987
	K75
	7
West	K864	East
???		???
???		???
???		???
???	South (you)	???
	J10
	A843
	KJ43
	A102

West	North	East	South
Pass	1	Pass	2NT
Pass	3	Pass	3NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

Opening lead is the 6. East plays the Q on trick one. Plan the play.

Answer:

Did you win the K? If so, the down you go! Who holds the A? The West hand, of course. If the spade finesse loses, your remaining diamond honor will be poorly positioned in front of the A. After you used the hold-up play by allowing the Q to win, you must play low to trick two as well! Only if you refused to play an honor on the first two tricks will you come home with nine winners. Remember the goal which is to isolate the defensive hands from one another.

	North
	AQ987
	K75
	7
West	K864	East
5432		K6
QJ9		1062
A9862		Q105
5	South (you)	QJ973
	J10
	A843
	KJ43
	A102

Thanks!
Gary King

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