grizz: Hi everybody, thanks for attending another in a series of lessons on Defense.  
grizz: Chat logs and hand records are stored in your computer for later review.  For information on how to retrieve them, go the BIL homepage or email me at Grizz@GrizzBridge.com.
grizz: I teach private individual, pair, and small group lessons.  If you would like to know more please email me at Grizz@GrizzBridge.com.
grizz: Archives of previous sessions are available at GrizzBridge.com, on the Lessons and Archives page located at:  http://www.grizzbridge.com/Lessons_and_Archives.php
grizz: There are 40+ sessions logged there now, lots of good information.
grizz: There will be lots of questions.  I want to address them all, but in a manner helpful to all, so please ask them in open chat.  
grizz: If I forget a question while answering another, please remind me.
grizz: I encourage participation by all kibitzers
grizz: So jump right in with a comment, question, or bid at any time, but please do so in open chat.
grizz: There are only 5 basic types of defensive strategy at the beginning of a hand.
grizz: These concepts are out of the book "How The Experts Win At Bridge" by Burt Hall and Lynn Rose-Hall, the Book of the Year in 1997.
grizz: By way of review, and for those who are new here, the 5 lines of defense are:
grizz: 1.  Force declarer to ruff, and lose control of his own trump suit.
grizz: 2.  Active defense.
grizz: 3.  Passive defense.
grizz: 4.  Reduce ruffs.
grizz: 5.  Create trump tricks.
grizz: We have looked at Forcing, Active and Passive defense, Reduce ruffing power and Create Trump Tricks for several weeks, and now it is time for us to put that knowledge to work by ...
grizz: choosing opening leads.
grizz: Again, if you need review on the 5 Lines of Defense check out http://www.grizzbridge.com/Lessons_and_Archives.php and scroll down the page until you find those lessons under the ...
grizz: BIL listings.
grizz: Briefly, here are the lead guidelines for each of these different strategies.
grizz: 1.  Forcing defense - lead your side's strongest suit.
grizz: 2.  Active defense - also, lead your side's strongest suit.
grizz: 3.  Passive defense - top of a sequence, or a worthless suit
grizz: 4.  Reduce ruffs - start a trump
grizz: 5.  Creating trump tricks - lead from your own or toward partner's shortness
grizz: So choosing a lead depends on what your defensive game plan is, referring back to the 5 Lines of Defense.
grizz: When you know WHAT you intend to accomplish, it is easier to decide HOW to get it done.
grizz: In addition to the 5 Lines of Defense the special situations requiring special leads are as follows:
grizz: 1.  Gambling NT - lead an ace, look at dummy and try to locate declarer's weakness.
grizz: 2.  NT slams - if you and partner have not bid, lead top of a sequence or a worthless suit, avoid giving declarer a free finesse or other help.
grizz: 3.  Suit grand slams - a trump is almost mandatory, unless both ops have bid and raised a suit and you have the Ace.
grizz: 4.  Doubled part-score contracts - lead trump, try to kill ruffs in side suits.
grizz: There are also some special rules for lead-directing doubles:
grizz: 1.  If neither defender has bid, ops bid a NT game or slam and partner doubles, lead dummy's first bid suit.
grizz: 2.  If only partner bid and later doubles, lead his suit.
grizz: 3.  If only you bid and later partner doubles, lead your own suit.
grizz: 4.  If both you and partner have bid and partner doubles, lead the suit of the stronger hand - that is where the entries are.
grizz: 5.  If ops have not bid any suits (e.g. 1NT-3NT) and partner doubles, lead your SHORTER major.
grizz: This week we are going to look at example hands and auctions, consider defensive plans and choose leads.  
grizz: These example hands are not predealt, they are random.
grizz: So I have not analyzed them, rather we are all looking at them for the first time.  
grizz: The bidding will be done by the bots, though I must sit in one of the seats during play to control the pace.  I have no idea who the declarer will be or which seat will be on lead, ...
grizz: so you may kibitz all 4 hands.
grizz: We will put our heads together and come up with a defensive strategy based on the auction, the hand on lead, and the 5 Lines of Defense.
grizz: ok, this one is easy
grizz: NS bid 2 suits strongly
grizz: and EW have a !d fit
grizz: so if they don't go grab any !d tricks right away, they might go away
grizz: so Active Defense is indicated here, and the bots got right to it
grizz: when playing Active Defense, lead your side's best suit
grizz: any questions?
PedroG: nty
ydannac: n
swall9->Club: clear 4 me
Miksa: you might make +2?
grizz: maybe, but looks like lose !h and !s
grizz: anyway, this is a defense lesson  :)
Miksa: !s ges on A!d
Miksa: yes, sure :)
grizz: ok, another clear case here
grizz: ops have no fit, and stumbled into game
grizz: N has no good suit to lead
grizz: so Passive Defense is required
grizz: so is the !c a Passive lead?
grizz: or does anything else look better?
swall9: mayb !H
bfan: mabye !d
PedroG: !d
grizz: !h is unlikely to be a source of tricks, with W bidding the suit
camilleln: 2 of spade
grizz: though as we can see, on this layout the !h lead could work
meshmeshaa: 2s
grizz: leading either major is an attacking lead, or Active Defense
grizz: and the goal of Passive is not to do any favors for declarer
grizz: but the problem for N is, what lead will do that?
swall9: !D?
grizz: the answers are not clear here
grizz: beyond the decision on Passive, that is
bfan: when is it right to underlead an Ace?
grizz: on this auction, expect opener to have a real !d suit
Miksa: Does 2!c indicates unbalanced hand? if so, then !h are good choice?
grizz: y, it is pretty clear here that E is unbalanced
grizz: though W is likely to be flat
grizz: and W is likely to have only 4!hs too, though may be 5332
Miksa: right
grizz: so on balance, the !c lead is as good as any, with no lead standing out
grizz: a word about the !h lead though
Miksa: ty
grizz: there is a big difference between leads for a NT contract or a suit contract
swall9: so there is no "correct" lead?
grizz: y, no lead stands out here
grizz: Passive strategy stands out, but no particular lead does
grizz: vs. a suit contract, you would almost never lead an unsupported ace in a suit that defenders did not bid
grizz: nor would you underlead it
grizz: but vs. NT, underleading aces is fairly common
grizz: especially if the hand has no outside entries
grizz: so a low card would be correct from Axxxx vs NT
grizz: or even AKxxx
grizz: or Axxx, as here
Hope1690 (Lobby): pete, how do you get to the BIL lounge, or do you have to be a member
->Hope1690: y, membership is required, and only for int. and below  :(    but i will teach in the IAC in 90 min.
grizz: now a word about splitting honors
grizz: N has the !SJT here, and low !s led toward dummy
maysie: firstly, what is splitting honours ?
grizz: splitting honors means playing an honor in a sequence, to force dummy to play high
grizz: so playing the T is "splitting the JT honors"
grizz: but notice what happens here - pard's 9 gets smothered
Hope1690 (Lobby): yes, embarrassed that i don't know what the IAC is, but i would like to participate or watch if you can tell me how to get there
->Hope1690: another private club, Intermediate-
->Hope1690: Advanced club, i'll get you in there
grizz: so here is a tip on splitting honors
grizz: if it looks like declarer is finessing, then split
grizz: so if declarer leads a big spot card, cover if it makes sense
grizz: you may be able to promote a card in pard's hand
Hope1690 (Lobby): shall i check back w/you in about 1hr,15min?
grizz: but where it is not clear that declarer is finessing, but may only be going to dummy for a finesse, there is no need to split and it might even cost a trick
->Hope1690: ok
Hope1690 (Lobby): ty
Miksa: should North had played high !d first giving count?
grizz: y, good catch
grizz: when declarer leads, defenders should give count
grizz: to help pard figure out shape around the table
grizz: so N played the !s7 on the first trick, beginning a hi-lo echo to show an even number
grizz: NS are not playing any special discards, just standard signals
grizz: so high encourages, and the !CT showed a big !c card
grizz: no defense beats this one
grizz: after knocking out a couple aces, EW have plenty of tricks
grizz: but NS did not allow any overtricks
grizz: let's try it again with the !c lead and see if it makes any difference
Miksa: yes, West's !h9 was a big card
grizz: indeed
grizz: again with signals, give Attitude on pard's lead
grizz: and Count on declarer's lead
grizz: if you can afford to - we generally don't signal with any card higher than a 9
grizz->Club: hmm
grizz: seems that the !c lead generates an overtrick for the bad guys
grizz: the general rule on Passive leads is this -
grizz: lead a sequence, or a worthless suit
grizz: that is, do not attack from a suit headed by an honor
grizz: but we see here that while the rule make work in the long run, it may not work in the short
grizz: any questions on this one?
grizz: somebody asked about a !d lead
grizz: on this kind of auction, expect E to have a real !d suit
grizz: might only be 4 long though
grizz: and the downside of leading a doubleton in a suit that ops have bid is that it just helps them establish slow tricks in that suit
grizz: enough on this one, let's move on
grizz: if you want to see what a GIB bid means, click on it
grizz: this is Cappelletti, showing a single undisclosed suit
meshmeshaa: np
Campus61: they lie about hcp
grizz: so how does N cope with the interference?
grizz: y, the bots take some indecent liberties with the rules
PedroG: with Leb or Without?
grizz: btw, i don't think much of the interference here, on only 8 hcp and red vs. white
grizz: ah, that is precisely the question
grizz: NT system is typically on over ops's double
maysie: X?
Dianne0516: Bots been drinking oil with alcohol again :)
grizz: but is the transfer structure on over 2!c?
wyoming33: usually -
grizz: do you have any kind of agreement on that issue with your regular partners?
grizz: i recommend system ON over X or 2!c
ydannac: y
grizz: and Lebensohl over anything else
grizz: E made another undisciplined bid here
grizz: in Capp, pard is expected to bid 2!d if responder passes
grizz: for pass or correction
grizz: but E judged that his side might have game, despite the 15-17 opening hand
grizz: a very bad gamble - it almost never works out that way
grizz: and now has succeeded only in forcing pard a level too high
grizz: so, if N Xes here, what would that mean?
Miksa: lead !c
grizz: can't be lead direction, N will be on lead
Miksa: maybe they will play 3NT :)
grizz: :)
wyoming33: snce passsed originally shd be for penalty
grizz: y, there is that possibility
grizz: and since i recommend that you make lead-directing doubles frequently, let's do it now
Miksa: with 4 cards in a major, North might Dbl over 2!c ("stolen bid"), so this Dbl is not for takeout, right?
grizz: S can only assume that N has some values, and that since N must be short in !ds the X is either penalty or takeout
grizz: ah, good point
grizz: many players use "stolen bid", without really understanding what it means
grizz: does it mean that responder mean to make that exact bid?
grizz: or that partner was deprived of his bid, and might be that one or any other that may have been skipped?
Miksa: What do you play (recommend)?
grizz: for example, if the auction had gone 1NT-2!s-X, does the X mean that responder would have bid 2!C or 2!d?
grizz: or even 2!s?
grizz: i recommend against Stolen Bid, because of that ambiguity
Miksa: ty
grizz: so i urge you to play System on over X and 2!c, and Lebensohl over any other interference
grizz: here S has no clear takeout action
Campus61: I thought most people only used it over 2clubs showing at least one 4 cd M
grizz: but S has some nice defensive values, and N must have a trick or 2
grizz: a kib notes:  "I thought most people only used it over 2clubs showing at least one 4 cd M"
grizz: and that is certainly a legit way to play it
dae: but not standard, ight?
grizz: just beware that there is no "standard treatment", it's up to partnership agreement
grizz: ok, now we are on defense against 3!dX
grizz: remember the rule on doubled part scores?
nfmfl: l... t....
grizz: the biggest risk defending doubled part scores is losers ruffed in dummy
grizz: so why the 7 and not the Q?
Miksa: Q can't be finessed (short !ds at dummy)
wyoming33: dec cant get the Q - if dont give it to him
grizz: playing the Q just gives it away
grizz: exactly
nfmfl: the Q a possible trick given length
grizz: W can't take the Q now, with no cards in dummy for a finesse
grizz: so should N win this one?
grizz: could be a big mistake, if S has !CKQ tight
grizz: ok, now S is in and must decide what to do
grizz: and here is another tip on defense -
Miksa: Should N had played higher !c (for count)?
dae: or would it be attitude?
grizz: pard had a plan of attack on his opening lead, and unless there is some compelling reason to change, then stick with it
grizz: when declarer leads, defenders show Count
dae: low d
grizz: y, kill another ruff
grizz: N just showed a big !c card, so there is no reason for S to cover here
dae: low
grizz: and since N showed a !c card, there can be no downside to continuing !cs
grizz: and S really doesn't want to give away a !s trick by playing the A now
grizz: remember the discussion about splitting honors?
Miksa: yes
grizz: if it is possible to promote a card that might be in pard's hand, then go ahead and cover
grizz: S is stuck now
wyoming33: bad x:)
grizz: indeed it was
grizz: NS had the majority of the hcp on this deal
Miksa: I don't see the reason for splitting honors in !s - Dummy's 9 is promoted!
grizz: but no real reason to expect to be able to set 31d
grizz: 3!d
grizz: the !s position was hopeless by that time, it made no difference
maysie: doesn't 3nt make for NS?
wyoming33: 21 to 19 - but as Bergen says - points schmoints
grizz: yup, what counts in partscores is fit
grizz: so doubling on "cards" can be a big mistake
grizz: particularly when the opening bidder is sitting under the overcaller
grizz: btw, what we just saw was an example of a "Trump Coup"
grizz: EW had winners in dummy, and just played them off, using them as a secondary "trump" suit, while S watched helplessly
grizz: and if S trumps in, he gets overruffed
grizz: but if he doesn't, dummy marches on
grizz: if W must play trumps out of his hand, he can't catch the Qx with the Ax
Miksa: mybe South might duck firts !h (North had shown even #)?
grizz: but by playing out the Trump Coup, he scores them both
grizz: just delays the inevitable
grizz: and S is not yet clear on the !c position by then, ducking a !h might give away a trick
grizz: ok, any questions on Defense here?
grizz: beware the lead directing X that might backfire!
grizz: seems wrong to pass with the N hand, doesn't it?
dae: n
Miksa: :)
grizz: but without 4!hs a takeout X is risky, esp. when red
PedroG: pass
grizz: and S would be ill advised to jump into a live auction on that mess
grizz: X now?
wyoming33: y
grizz: if it was wrong to X the first time, isn't it still wrong now?
grizz: N has terrible shape, 4333
wyoming33: bidding stopped - P must have something
grizz: and not 4!hs
grizz: nor any reason to think that NS may have a fit
grizz: certainly no reason to expect a 9-card fit, which LOTT recommends for a 3 bid
lululita: pass pls
grizz: y
grizz: pass and try to beat it
AofHearts: thought u were going to come on?
grizz: so what kind of line of defense should we adopt here?
grizz: based on the bidding and the N cards
grizz: let's rule some of them out
BILManager (Lobby): => Club: !D!DBIL Jackpot Indy Tournament for Beginners through Intermediates starts in about 11 mins. Please register to play for fun, prizes $, and BBO Masterpoints. The more that play, the bigger the prizes!H!H
grizz: Forcing Defense is out -
lululita: small !D
grizz: N does not have 4 trumps, and S cannot
deep: Ah
grizz: first decide on a Strategy, then a Lead
wyoming33: think normal lead is !HAce
wyoming33: attack:)
grizz: neither op has bid a strong side suit
grizz: and ops have not bid strongly at all
grizz: so there is no reason to think that side suit tricks will go away
grizz: the positional value of the face cards in the N hand are excellent
grizz: one other thing -
grizz: the fact that ops have not bid a side suit does not necessarily mean they don't have one!
grizz: so let's default to another good rule of defense -
whiz: yes sir canada win :):)
meshmeshaa: can u hv a strategy before the hands r open..b4 th lead?
grizz: if you have a AK to lead from, there should be some compelling reason to lead anything else
grizz: a kib asks:  "can u hv a strategy before the hands r open..b4 th lead?"
grizz: yessssss!     that is the essence of our last several months here
BILManager (Lobby): => Club: !D!DBIL Jackpot Indy Tournament for Beginners through Intermediates starts in about 5 mins. Please register to play for fun, prizes $, and BBO Masterpoints. The more that play, the bigger the prizes!H!H
grizz: have a strategy in mind before selecting a lead for Trick 1
grizz: based on the auction and the cards you can see
whiz: can l announce great news
grizz: sure, what's that?
zewzew: define "compelling reason" pls.
grizz: such as a trump lead to kill known ruffs in dummy
whiz: canada win cntc   .............lecuyer demui fourcaudot ets  :) :)
grizz: or leading pard's suit
grizz: if pard bid one
grizz: no such compelling reason here, so let's go
Miksa: And leading from AK goes hand in hand with the saying that "if partner didn't lead AK then he doesn't have it"
grizz: :)
whiz: clap calp calp please ty  heheheheheheheh
grizz: yay!
->whiz: what is cntc?
cdt: lol
whiz: tournament today....................
grizz: so what was the Q signal?
Miksa: equal honors
wyoming33: has the J
maysie: got the J!
meshmeshaa: head of sequence
whiz: l ecuyer...... is grweat player and fourcaudot iwas born in my region
grizz: that shows the JT, telling pard that he can underlead his K if necessary
LadyStar17: !D!DThanks, Grizz, super great lesson!!!  Your time and expertise are appreciated!H!H
grizz: so if N had a tenace in some side suit that he wanted pard to lead through the closed hand, he could get pard in with a !h here
grizz: there is no such situation on this hand, so nothing better to do than continue
maysie (Lobby): number 18
grizz: either minor suit could give away a trick, so the trump was safe
grizz: Count   :)
Miksa: :)
grizz: more Count  :):)
Miksa: :))
grizz: !h lead gives a ruff sluff here
maysie: also the hand above too #17 - should have taken opps down one but did not - I trapped P's heart - a real good start to the tourney !!!
grizz: !d lead may give away a trick
grizz: mistake
gypsy1308: good ta  getting cold here now  have had a few big frosts :(  hate the cold
gypsy1308: sry
grizz: N knows that the !dA is gone already, so the K is good
grizz: well now!
lululita: kkvcn
grizz: NW collect 100 for good defense
dkgrab: Evening :)
grizz: but they have at best an 8-card fit if they compete
grizz: so 3 anything is in danger, and the decision to pass was a good one
->dkgrab: hi  :)
grizz: any questions on this one?
grizz: That concludes today's lesson, and next week we will have more quiz hands on opening leads.
grizz: If anybody needs help retrieving the hand records or chat log, please email me at Grizz@GrizzBridge.com.   
grizz: I teach private individual, pair, and small group lessons.  If you would like to know more please email me at Grizz@GrizzBridge.com.
Dianne0516: Thanks so much Grizz :)
grizz: I am planning three different one-day courses on Defense (July 13), Declarer Play (Aug. 24) and Balancing (TBA), so it you are interested in any or all of these topics please drop ...
grizz: me a line at Grizz@GrizzBridge.com
cdt->Club: Thanks Pete great lesson :)
Miksa: great lesson, as usual - thanks a lot!
PedroG: ty pete
wyoming33: thanks Pete - see you later 
grizz: my pleasure  :)
lululita: tks grizz
grizz: Thanks for your interest and participation, and I hope to see you next week.
grizz: Thanks also to Maureen, Rosemary, Fred and the wonderful people at BBO who make this all possible.
grizz: Thanks all for coming, i'll see you in a week
grizz: Bye now
AofHearts: many tx Pete