To illustrate and disseminate the techniques of I play with the dead there is a very rich Bridge literature which allows every good player to build a solid foundation on this part of the game. However, it is almost universally accepted that it is the counterplay is the determining aspect of the card game. A good defender is always a desirable teammate because he helps us play better when we have him in front of us and makes us look bad when we happen to have him next to us. Counterplay, as the term suggests, means to identify with the declarer's game plan and move in opposition to it. This happens in most cases, since the attacking line is responsible for having the greatest initiative.
We are at the 18th episode of the column "Play with champions” for all Bridge enthusiasts, the result of the collaboration between FIRST online , Italian Bridge Game Federation. Every Saturday will be the occasion to test yourself with the highest level Bridge with the publication of a particularly interesting hand, which will be played at an international level or highly spectacular. Competitive bridge is fun for everyone. You can see the previous hands by clicking on the banner on the front page, or here.
Today's game features the Scottish champion Hugh Kelsey. After South's one-heart opening and three-heart reply to partner's two-diamond response, Kelsey found himself defending East against a game contract. The lead was 9♠, with the player committing dummy's Q♠ to the Scottish champion's K♠. From the bid it was clear that South had six solid spades and the player still needed to have at least one ace side. How would you have counterplayed at this point if you were in his shoes?
The solution to deal number 17 of August 31rd
The Q♠ lead unconditionally marked the presence of the J♠ in West. This made the 10♠ in dummy a valuable card both for threatening and for putting the opponent on the left to the test. Mina overcame the Q♠ with the K♠ in dummy, for the A♠ of East and the ruff from the hand. After eliminating the opponents' trump by going back to dummy she ruffed again in hand only one spade, exactly the 2♠ . At that point she collected three rounds of diamonds remaining in dummy. From dummy she then advanced the 10♠ on which she discarded the 8♣ of the hand. West, taking the J♠ , had no choice but to return to clubs under the K♣ or play a ruff and discard
