Sunday, January 12, 2003 3:46 AM
Defense - Patterns
PITBULLS:
Beating
the drum again for the main mental exercise that will improve your defense
& declarer play . Some would argue that it even improves your bidding also .
This is “thinking in patterns” .
Bridge relys on our powers of deductive reasoning . A deductive argument
offers two or more assertions that lead automatically to a conclusion.
If the pattern assertion is true and there are 52 cards in the deck assertion
is true , then the conclusion the best defense can be planned is true .. In
defense and declarer play the main premise
should always be the pattern of
the suit led and the distribution of the remaining hand if possible . The
conclusion will be your plan of attack . Without applying patterns you are only guessing how to defend or play
the hand . You have no facts on which to base your decision .
A
hand Maurice and I defended against Steve Willard and Alex Fowlie brings up the
point . Auction went 1♣ 1♠ and 1NT rebid . All pass.
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Q |
T |
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Q |
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J |
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x |
x |
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x |
x |
x |
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10 |
Q |
A |
J |
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K |
K |
K |
A |
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x |
9 |
J |
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9 |
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8 |
x |
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A |
A |
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9 |
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I lead the S10 and Alex covers with
the SQ .Maurice has to apply patterns to get his first play correct . The
5-3-3-2 pattern in spades will lead him to make the correct play . Covering
allows declarer to duck a spade later and an entry to get back . There are no
entries on the board unless you create one for declarer. So you make the
correct play and duck . Declarer now has to use his one entry well so he leads
a heart and ducks it to me . Now my time to apply patterns but with the bidding
. He opened a club in lieu of the
higher ranking diamond suit . There are only 3 diamonds on the board so
hopefully partner has the diamond king and declarer 3 or less diamonds. I lead
a diamond and we cash 4 diamonds. Alex sluffs a heart on the 4th
diamond . I return a club and Alex plays low and Maurice just covers the spot
and Alex wins his 9 . Alex tries the A of spades other spade and Maurice wins
and cashes A of clubs and exits a club effectively end playing Alex for 2 down
and +200 to us . If Maurice covers
the spade at trick one , Alex comes to 7 tricks for –90 and a 7 IMP swing !