#6 East West Vulnerable
South West North East
1♥ Pass 2♦ Pass
2♥ Pass 4♥ Pass
North (dummy)
♠ 9 2
♥ 10 5 4
♦ K J 7 5 3
♣ A K Q
West East
♠K ♠ A 10 8 3
♥ ♥ 9 8 2
♦ ♦ A
♣ ♣ 10 8 6 3 2
South (declarer)
♠ 6
♥
♦
♣
As East, avoid the common defensive error of signaling interest or disinterest in the suit partner leads (♠K) before looking at the rest of the hand. Here you have the ♦A and would like a diamond ruff. East must overtake the ♠K, cash the ♦A and return the ♠10 as suit preference for a diamond return. Rule: 3rd hand should take a look at dummy and make a plan before signaling to partner’s lead.
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How Do You Defend? 3-6
