How Do You Defend? 1-2

#2 North South Vulnerable

East     South  West    North
Pass     1♦          DBL    3♦
DBL     Pass      3♥       AP
 
North leads the ♦Q and continues
What’s South’s plan?
 
                                                North
                                                ♠
                                                ♥
                                                ♦ Q
                                                ♣
                   West (Declarer)                         East
                   ♠                                                     ♠  Q 10 5 4
                   ♥                                                     ♥  K 8 7 6
                   ♦                                                     ♦  9 5
                   ♣                                                    ♣  K 7 4
                                                South
                                                ♠ J 8 7
                                                ♥ 9 5 2
                                                ♦ A K 8 3 2
                                                ♣ A Q
 

As South, before blindly playing the ♦8 to encourage partner, check dummy to see if you want some other suit more than diamonds.  Ah yes! Clubs…A club shift would be great, so play a low diamond asking for a shift, usually to dummy’s shorter suit.  If partner shifts to the ♣J and declarer plays low from the dummy, overtake with the ♣Q and cash the ♣A.  Now lead a LOW diamond back to partner’s ♦J so you get a club ruff for down 1!

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