Defensive Countdown

As East, determine the shape (SHDC) of the West and South hands, then decide your next lead.

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

Partner leads the 2 to your nine and South’s king. South leads the 3 (partner plays 7) to the jack and your ace.

West’s shape 

South’s shape 

What do you lead next? 

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

Partner leads the 4, and the play goes two, nine, ace. South cashes the K-Q (partner follows with the five then the six) and leads the 5 (partner plays the eight) to the jack and your queen.

West’s shape 

South’s shape 

What do you lead next? 

Quit

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

Partner leads the 3, and your king loses to the ace. South leads the 4 (partner plays the six) to the queen and your ace.

West’s shape 

South’s shape 

What do you lead next? 

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

Partner leads the Q, covered by the king and your ace. You return a diamond which South ruffs. South leads the 10 to the ace, then a spade to your king (partner follows up-the-line).

West’s shape 

South’s shape 

What do you lead next? 

Quit

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

Partner leads the J, dummy plays low, and you win the king as South follows with the two.

West’s shape 

South’s shape 

What do you lead next? 

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

Partner leads the 5. You win and return the 6, and South’s king is ruffed with the 4. Partner leads the 5, won by the ace (South plays the nine); then the J is led to your king (partner plays the eight).

West’s shape 

South’s shape 

What do you lead next? 

Quit

Top Defensive Countdown

© 1994 Richard Pavlicek