Good Play and Good Defence

Board 13 has every South in 4H on 22 HCP's but a singleton in each hand.

Hand record shows 5H can be made from either hand.

However, results for the board are very different;

   3 pairs only make 4H, while 2 pairs make 6H.

The lead of AD or KD makes no difference.

My preference is to lead KD, promising the Q or A.

After the opening lead wins, what then?

Critical to the final result is what West does next.

Continue with AD or KS or a trump or switch to a club?

It is up to West if the final result is to be 5H or 6H.

Then it is up to South whether they make 4H or 5H or 6H.

As learners we are told to get trumps out early to stop opponents ruffing.

We are never taught how to defend.

We are expected to learn from our mistakes.

For those 3 Souths who only made 4H, it doesn't matter what West does next.

Can you figure out what West did next for South to make 6H?

Can you figure out what West needs to do to let South make only 5H?

Can you figure out why the 3 South players only made 4H?

When you analyse how and why a hand such as this, has variable results,

then you are on the road to understanding how to play properly and

how to defend properly.

Analysis is your path to improvement.