Detecting an Entry By Shepard Barclay

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Herald-Journal – 5 Jun 1946       

TOP CLASS defensive play includes the ability to detect a probable entry into your partner’s hand through some small card which might beat whatever the declarer has left. Figuring out such an avenue into the hand across the table from you can sometimes constitute your only chance to avoid a throw-in play that costs you a trick. Trying for such breaks makes for winning bridge when you think your side requires maximum playing results to compare with probable different contracts at the other tables.

Dealer East; Neither side vulnerable

When West led the 10 and East saw that dummy he reckoned that most other players in his position would have doubled such a contract and consequently he had to set the contract more tricks than they, to avoid losing the board. With so much strength himself, he foresaw the danger of a lead-throwing end-play later which might make him pitch into dummy’s secondary holdings.

So he decided to count West for having the 9, though with the 10 lead he might have just the 8 and 6.  East therefore played the J on the heart lead, he won the trick and followed with the Q. South could not dare pass this and risk his K getting dropped so he won with it, then sent the diamond K to the A.

Now East tried the crucial play leading the 2 sure enough West had the 9 won and returned the 5 so that assured East tricks with the K, A, and Q setting the contract two.

If East had, when in with the A,  scored the A, South could have run his diamonds and two clubs then thrown East in with the Q to make him pitch into the spade honors. That would have enabled South to get off with one down.