Dealer North. Both Vul

                             ♠        A K 10 9 4 2

                             ♥        K 3

                             ♦        J 8

                             ♣       J 3 2

          ♠        J 6                         ♠        Q 7 5

          ♥        8 7 4                        ♥        A Q J 9 6

          ♦        Q 4                          ♦        10 7 5 3

          ♣       K Q 8 7 6 5                    ♣       4

                             ♠        8 3

                             ♥        10 5 2

                             ♦        A K 9 6 2

                             ♣       A 10 9

On our hand this week the opponents were playing a 2/1 system so the initial reply of 1NT is the catchall bid, when you cannot make a 2 over 1 reply which would be Game Forcing. South then made another try of 2NT promising 11/12 points balanced denying 3 card spade support and North rightfully or wrongfully now passed.

You lead your fourth highest and when declarer is able to win first trick with the ten you now know partner has no High clubs with declarer being marked with the Ace..

When declarer plays a spade at trick two you MUST NOT BE ON AUTOMATIC. Most of the time, as a defender, second hand plays low BUT here is the exception. If you play low and declarer finesses dummy’s Ten partner will win and partner is the safe hand. Also it will allow declarer to make all dummy’s Spades after losing to the Queen. Therefore on this occasion you must play high and play that Jack.

Declarer wins with dummy’s Ace and plays a Diamond to try to get back to hand to finesse Spades again hoping that you started life with the QJX but it wasn’t to be and partner won the Queen. Partner gets off lead with another Diamond and declarer plays another Diamond and partner is now also in tune with the defence and passively gets off lead with his last Diamond. Declarer now has to try the Hearts and with the AQJ being with East has to lose the remaining tricks and go one off.

Declarer only won 2 Clubs, 4 Diamonds and 1 Spade through your thoughtful passive defence and your play at trick two when you were not on automatic.  

You can also watch the following movie to see how the hand pans out. To view this programme you will need  to download htttp://www.haroldschogger.com/bridgevu.setup

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