Excerpt from Bergen for the Defense

By Marty Bergwen

When it was said that defense in bridge was tough, one need only look at some of the gaffes in competition. How many times do you habitually play low on a losing trick, choosing not to give winning cards away, only to block partner's route to defeating a contract? How often do you go to bed with an ace, which was the setting trick in a game or slam?

While we can't help you in such a short time, Marty Bergen has written a book that can. He provides tips that will save tricks, and, in some cases let you beat the contract.

Here's a couple of tips from Suit Preference Signals:

Tell Me What You Like

You are fortunate enough to have two very tempting opening leads. Although leading a singleton is very attractive when you have trump control, you choose to lead the ¨A. I agree

The lead of the ace is more flexible. You retain the lead and will be able to look at dummy as well as see partmer's signal. You then have the ability to lead whatever seems best. If you lead your singleton, you are no longer in control

When dummy is tabled, you have mixed emotions. You're delighted that dummy doesn't have the ªK. However, you're disappointed to see the singleton diamond, although not surprised after the takeout double and jump to game.

At trick 1, partner follows with the ¨4 and declarer plays the ¨5. It is now time to count your winners. You have three tricks: ¨A and ªAQ. All you need is one more. Before reading on, what would you lead at trick two?

ª©¨§

Did you lead your ©9, hoping that East had the ©K or that you'd get a ruff? No offense, but I think you are being very optimistic! You and dummy started with 31 HCP, which leaves only 9 HCP for the other two players. For his invitational jump to 2ª, South needs the ©K, and he probably has the §Q as well. No, I wouldn't suggest waiting for East to get in. If you think South will give you a ruff, good luck.

Did you think about partner's play at trick one? The ¨4 was his lowest diamond. What does it mean?

In a suit contract, when dummy has a singleton in the suit you led, if your partner is free to signal, it is not and attitudew signal, it is suit-preference

Because the defense would rarely want to lead dummy's void, that signal is very logical

Aha! Now that you appreciate that East was signalling suit-preference, you know what to do. You should shift to clubs, the lower-ranking side suit. Declarer will win it on the board and lead a spade to his jack. You'll win and lead a second club. Partner will ruff and your ªA will take the setting trick.

Here is the entire deal:

In Partner We Trust

Good defense involves trust. Consider the following:

Declarer wins the ©Q opening lead with his king. He then leads the ªQ, losing to your king. You lead back the ©6, which is won by your partner's ©8. Partner then returns the ©9 to declarer's ace.

Declarer now cashes dummy's three spade winners, forcing you to find a discard.

Question: What do you discard?

Make your decision before reading on.

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Answer: Too many players rely on their instincts. They are reluctant to throw away a club honor, so they discard one of their "worthless" diamonds. Unfortunately, once they do, they have just handed South his contract!

Declarer will cash the ¨QKA and hope for the best. When your ¨10 falls under the ace, declarer's ¨6 will then become declarer's ninth trick. Making 3NT

Go back to trick three when West was left with ©J 10 9. He could have led any of those cards to knock out South's ace. Therefore, the card West chose to lead was a suit-preference signal.

When Wesy led the ©9 instead of the jack or ten, his suit-preference signal was saying that his entry was in the lower-ranking possible suit (clubs) rather than the higher-ranking possible suit (diamonds).

Because you were looking at all of the club honors other than the ace, you knew that partner had the §A. This entry was just what he needed to cash his two heart winners. Therefore, you can afford to discard a club, and South will take only three diamond tricks and will be down one.

Here is the entire deal:

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