Test Your Defense

As West, decide your defense on each deal.

1.	Q 7		West	North	East	South
None vul	A 10 8		2	Dbl	Pass	3
	K J 5		Pass	Pass	Pass
	A K 9 6 4
A K 10 9 6 2
4 3
8 6 2
10 3		3 South

After opening a classic weak two-bid to apparently no avail, you find yourself on lead against a heart partscore. You lead the obvious K, partner plays the eight, and South the four.

How many spades did partner probably start with? 

Who has the J? 

Which card do you lead? 

2.	A Q 10		West	North	East	South
None vul	J 4		2	Dbl	Pass	2
	A Q J 6		Pass	3	Pass	4
	A Q J 6		Pass	Pass	Pass
7 2
A K Q 8 7 3
7 3 2
9 4		4 South

You lead the K, partner plays the two, and South the five; then the A, partner plays the nine, and South the 10.

Who has the 6? 

Is there any clue which suit partner wants led? 

Which card do you lead? 

Quit

Top Test Your Defense

3.	K Q 7 4		West	North	East	South
Both vul	A 3		1	Dbl	2	4
	K J 9 5 3		Pass	Pass	Pass
	10 4
3
K 10 9 6 5
A Q 6
A J 5 3		4 South

You lead the 10 won in dummy, as partner plays the seven, and South the eight. Declarer leads the 4 (partner plays the two) to his jack; then the 4. You hop with the ace, and partner plays the eight.

How many diamonds did South probably start with? 

Who has the Q? 

Which card do you lead? 

4.	A Q 2		West	North	East	South
N-S vul	10 7 4 3				Pass	1 NT
	Q 8 5		Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
	K J 8		Pass
J 10 4
Q 8 6 2
K 6 2
10 9 4		3 NT South

You lead the 2 to partner’s jack and South’s ace. South leads the 5 to the king (partner 2); then the 4 (partner discards 5) to his nine and your queen.

Who do you think has the  Q? 

… the K? 

Which card do you lead? 

Quit

Top Test Your Defense

5.	K 2		West	North	East	South
Both vul	7 4		1	2	Pass	3 NT
	K 7 3		Pass	Pass	Pass
	K Q J 10 9 4
Q J 5
A J 8 6 3
Q 2
A 7 5		3 NT South

You lead the 6 to partner’s nine and South’s king. Clubs are led and you duck twice as everyone follows. On the third club, partner discards the 2, South the 3, and you win your ace.

How many hearts did partner probably start with? 

Who has the Q? 

Which card do you lead? 

6.	J 6 4		West	North	East	South
E-W vul	K 7			1	Pass	2 NT
	K Q 10 8 5 4		Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
	K 4		Pass
Q 7 5
J 10 8
A 6 3
J 10 9 7		3 NT South

You lead the J; four, five, queen. South leads the 7 to the queen, then the 4 (partner discards 2) to his jack. You win the third diamond (partner discards 6).

Who do you think has the  A? 

… the A? 

Which card do you lead? 

Quit

Top Test Your Defense

© 1994 Richard Pavlicek