2008-03-12 09:03
 
 Hand Evaluation – Visualization ( Attitude )

 

PITBULLS:

 

            Being a weak defender is normally due to attitude. Average players treat defense as a boring necessity that you must endure before you get to play a hand again. The Tormentees have a bad attitude towards defense. They have now realized the value of patterns but for play of the hand only ! This is absurd ! Just because defense is 90 degrees from playing the hand does not mean the 5-4-3-1 hand pattern ceases to exist or any other pattern for that matter. You defend in Bridge matches 50 % of the time so it is 2nd in importance only to bidding. I think this attitude stems from an inferiority complex that applying patterns on defense is somehow too tough. Opening leads & bidding are also based on applying patterns.

 

            Here is a hand from Kelsey  that shows the beauty of thinking in patterns on defense.

 

1♥-P-2♣-P

2♥-P-2♠-P

3NT            partner leads the ♦2     

    

♠

♥

♦

♣

K

x

x

K

Q

x

x

Q

J

 

J

9

 

10

 

 

9

                                   

♠

♥

♦

♣

A

x

A

A

10

K

x

x

x

x

x

 

x

 

 

x

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

You win your ♦K & work from the first principles . From the ♦2 , the diamonds are 4-4-3-2 with declarer holding four diamonds. Give declarer a 6 card heart suit from the bidding so declarer has most likely a 6-4-2-1 pattern. Going with the odds that declarer has a singleton club , give declarer two spades. After winning the first trick you switch to a spade. Declarer wins with the 9 & tries to steal a club . You win the ♣A , cash the ♠A & exit a heart. The dummy is dead as declarer held ♠xx ♥AKQJxx ♦Q109x ♦x   . Declarer goes one down as you take 3♦ , 1♠ & 1♣ .

 

Is this not a good example of applying patterns so you can defend double dummy ? Looking at the hand record after , you would have found this defense. Working from first principles allows you defend like this at the table . This example shows exactly what Kelsey says in his book . After you have applied the pattern , the defensive problem resolves itself thru logic. Not thinking in patterns would you have switched to a spade at trick two ?  Not in your lifetime , be honest. This is also what I say after playing 40 years since reading Kelseys books. Defenders do not “think in patterns”.

 

 

Here is another hand from Kelsey.

 

1♥-X-1NT-P

4♥-P-P-P

 

♠

♥

♦

♣

Q

K

A

A

10

Q

K

x

8

x

x

 

x

x

 

 

 

                                   

♠

♥

♦

♣

J

9

J

K

x

x

10

Q

x

x

x

x

 

 

 

x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

Looks like you are on your own with this defense. You lead the AK & 3rd diamond & declarer wins with the ♦Q. Declarer plays ♥A & small ( everybody follows ) so you are in . Now what ? Defending from first principles , you of course apply a pattern. Declarer has a 6 card ♥ suit & 3♦. The 6-3-2-2 , 6-3-3-1 & 6-4-3-0 patterns are applicable. You cannot give a sluff & a ruff with a diamond return since if declarer had ♠AKxx you give him the contract as spades are 3-3. You cannot return a spade as the jack will win on the dummy. How about cashing the ♣A. This will not work with the 6-4-3-0 pattern. This hand is always going down unless you lead the ♣A . If declarer is 6-3-3-1 , he is going down even if you underlead your ♣A as he still must lose a spade to you. If declarer is 6-4-3-0 , a small club lead allows him to pitch his 4th spade & you still get your spade trick. It is obvious by applying patterns , you under lead your ♣A. Is this a hot dog play ? No , by applying patterns,  it is the logically correct play. Of course , you guessers found that play ? Correct ? Its less effort to guess than apply a pattern so the idea of defending is to rest until you get to play a hand right ?