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Case
For The Defence
Victor Mollo
ISBN 0 7134 8293 1, 224 pages, £9.99 - Available From Batsford
Books
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Case for the
Defence is widely regarded as a classic, like so many of Mollo's
books. As with all of Victor's works, the quality of the writing
stands out. Here is an extract from the introduction:
"The
difference between the best players and the small minority who are
not, can usually be measured by a stop-watch. The former do the
right thing. The latter would also do it if they knew what it was
- in time. The purpose of this book is to bridge the gap between
the two, which is often no more than a few seconds."
There are
150 problems covering all aspects of defence.
Try your
luck at this one:
|
 |
 |
A
J 4 |
|
|
 |
K
3 2 |
|
|
 |
Q
J 10 9 8 7 |
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|
 |
K
|
|
|
| |
|
|
K
Q 9 |
| |
|
|
A
Q J 8 |
| |
|
|
6 |
| |
|
|
9
6 5 4 2 |
| South |
West |
North |
East |
| Pass |
Pass |
1 |
Pass |
| 2NT |
Pass |
3NT |
All pass |
West leads the
2. The 4
is played from dummy.
| a) |
Which card
should East play to the first trick? |
| b) |
Which card
should he play to the second trick? |
Unless partner
has a quick entry, the contract is unbeatable. If South's points consist
of the AK
and the A, he
has nine top tricks.
So East should
concentrate on the alternative possibility, that South's high cards are
A and the
AQJ.
So the answers are:
a) K
and
b) 8.
It is imperative
that when he comes in, West should return a heart, not a spade, and if
he sees East's Q
win the first trick, he may take a wrong view.
| |
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A
J 4 |
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K
3 2 |
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Q
J 10 9 8 7 |
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K |
|
10 5 3 2 |
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K
Q 9 |
|
9
6 |
|
A
Q J 8 |
|
K 5 2 |
|
6 |
|
10
8 7 3 |
|
9
6 5 4 2 |
| |
|
8
7 6 |
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|
|
10
7 5 4 |
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A
4 3 |
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A Q J |
"A
stimulating challenge. I recommend it to all my readers, knowing that
they will derive benefit and pleasure from it." Pat Cotter, The
Financial Times
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