Dealer: South Both Vul

When you defend, like declarer, you need to count your winners and possible winners in order to defeat the contract. Here you will need to obtain 4 tricks to defeat the contract.

Initially, you have two winners i.e. the two aces so you will need to find two more. If partner can get in and lead a Diamond through dummy then you, as a defender, will get a second diamond trick as you finesse the dummy's King.

After winning the first trick declarer starts to draw trumps. Duck the first trump in order for partner to signal if he has an entry. On the second round of Trumps he drops the ♣6 to show he might have Ace or king.

You must now play back the ♣9 to deny a club honour at the moment as you want partner to switch to Diamonds. Partner wins and now tries the ♦9 and you now get two more tricks and the contract goes one down after your thoughtful defence.

You can also play out the following hand  to see how the hand pans out. (You need bridgvu.exe programme  and it is available free from   http://www.haroldschogger.com/movies.html )