Defense is Difficult
Defense is 50 percent of the game but the least liked. Everyone wants to be the declarer since it seems like that’s more fun. Turn that thought around and try to begin to savor the idea of defeating your “foe”. That gets points for you as well. Before dummy is put down, you must find the “killer” lead with minimal information. After the dummy is down you must think of all possibilities and try to guess how declarer will be trying to play the hand. Another challenge is coordinating play with partner, also a must. In S.J. Simon’s book “Why you Lose at Bridge” he suggests there are 3 basic ways defenders give gifts to the declarer once the opening lead is made. The first is playing your Aces too quickly without thought. Ducking is often the best thing to do as is not over ruffing opponent’s trump, possibly elevating your other trump cards while they use up one of theirs. The second mistake is deciding when you should be “busy” or “passive” in your play. To decide, ask yourself if you think declarer can make their contract if left alone. If yes, get busy setting up your hand or take tricks quickly. If no, be passive and let them do some guessing making their own mistakes. Third is hesitating or not keeping tempo in play. Think ahead as much as possible to avoid hesitation. It is ethical for declarer to make assumptions from your behavior, but it is unethical for you to hesitate on purpose to deceive opponent.
Here are the winners in all of our Salisbury games. One More Game on Thursday September 27th: 1st Fern Albracht and Judy Weber, 2nd Sonjia McHone and Jayne Shive, 3rd Carolyn Eschenbach and Patsy Reynolds.
At Evergreen Friday September 28th: N/S 1st Dick Brisbin and Wayne Pegram, 2nd Marie Pugh and Ruth Bowles, 3rd Toni Iossi and Beth Shafer; E/W 1st Judy Gealy and Loyd Hill, 2nd Everett Halsall and Craig Poplin, 3rd Christy Cline and Fern Albracht.
Wednesday, October 3rd , Bridge At Rufty winners: N/S 1st Ann Hamm and Shirley Jeffers, 2nd Pat Macon and John McLaughlin, 3rd Craig Poplin and Everett Halsall; E/W 1st BettyBonner Steele and Ron Caudle, and tied for 2nd/3rd Toni Iossi and Judy Gealy with Judy Hurder and Myrnie McLaughlin.
We are glad that there are so many people from Concord who are interested in Salisbury bridge