How to Defeat Notrump Contracts

In this lesson:

Here are some facts:

1. You rate to be on defense twice as often as you will be declarer.
2. Bridge teachers and other authorities agree that defense is the most difficult part of the game.
3. The most frequently-played contract in bridge is 3NT. And second place (4♠) is a distant second.
4. The most common part-score is 1NT.
5. 2NT contracts are not uncommon.
6. Notrump contracts above 3NT do occur.
7. Eddie Kantar wrote: "At least half of your opponents' notrump contracts can be defeated with a good defense, but the sad truth is that about eighty percent of them are fulfilled."

Undeniable conclusion: The great importance of good defense of notrump contracts can not be over-stated. In a word, it is crucial.

In this lesson, Marty will explain:

• - How counting HCP can enable you to locate missing honors.
• - The step-by-step thought process needed to figure out declarer's distribution.
• - The correct thought process that will greatly improve your opening leads.
• - Practical tips to help you know what you must consider at trick 1.
• - How paying careful attention to spot cards played can tell you how to proceed.
• - How to further your knowledge of card combinations.
• - How to know when to say "NO" to second-hand low.
• - How you should react when The Rule of 11 "does NOT work."
• - Falsecards: The right (and wrong) times to do them.
• - Penalty doubles of 3NT: When they are correct, and when they are very wrong.

Here is an example of what Marty will teach:

Partner leads the ♥4, and declarer plays dummy's ♥9.

Question 1: What will you play at trick 1?

Question 2: If you win trick 1, what will you lead at trick 2?

Answer to Questions 1 and 2

Question 1: What will you play at trick 1? When the ♥4 is led, the Rule of 11 says that North, East, and South have a total of seven hearts above West's ♥4. You have four higher, and dummy has two higher, so you know that declarer has only one heart above the 4.

If declarer's higher heart is the 6 or 8, his only hope to win a heart trick is to play dummy's ♥Q, hoping that West had the ♥A and ♥K. Similarly, if South's higher heart is the ♥A, because dummy's ♥Q is doubleton, declarer's best chance to win a 2nd heart trick is to play the ♥Q at trick 1, hoping that West has the ♥K.

Therefore, when declarer doesn't play dummy's queen, his one heart above the 4 must be the ♥J. So, you definitely should play your ♥K.

Declarer follows with the ♥2.

Question 2: What will you lead at trick 2?

The normal card to return here is your original 4th best - the ♥5. But if declarer started with the doubleton ♥ J2, your side can win five heart tricks and defeat 3NT. You know that, but if you return the 5, is it possible that your partner will think that you started with the doubleton ♥ K5? Yes he might!

Therefore, at trick 2, you should return the ♥10. In fact, declarer did start with doubleton ♥ J2. When he plays the ♥ J at trick 2, your partner will have seen the ♥K, ♥Q, ♥J, ♥10 and ♥9. Since he has the ♥8, he will be 100% sure that declarer is now out of hearts, so he will be delighted to win his ♥A and continue the suit.

Here is the full deal:

By The Way #1 - If you had returned the ♥5, might partner have won the ♥A and shifted to the ♠Q, which would guarantee defeating the contract if you had the ♠A?

By The Way #2 - Once West sees all of the remaining heart honors at trick 2, he knows that N-S are heartless and your remaining hearts are ♥ 75. To ensure that the suit doesn't get blocked, he should continue with a low heart. Of course, if he does lead the ♥8, you will unblock your ♥7.

By The Way #3 - Good players don't like leading a 4-card suit that includes the ace but lacks the king, so once you concluded that partner had the ♥A, it was far more likely that he had five hearts rather than four.