Active vs. Passive Defense?

In this lesson:

Some deals call for active defense. On these, you must be very aggressive in trying to set up or cash winners, attack an entry, etc. Active defense usually involves breaking new suits and hoping partner has the right card(s).

On the other hand, on many deals the best approach for the defenders is to be passive. In bridge, "passive defense" should NOT be regarded as a negative term. Unless you have a sequence, or are leading a suit where partner has promised length and/or strength, there are infinite situations where breaking a new suit will hand declarer an extra trick in that suit.

In this lesson, Marty will discuss:

• - The great benefits of counting declarer's distribution and winners
• - "Last is best", "first is (often) worst"
• - How to take advantage of knowing something that declarer doesn't
• - When to say "NO" to second-hand low
• - The right time to take your ace of trump
• - The right time to false card
• - The right (and wrong) time to try to give partner a ruff
• - When should you be unwilling to lead "around to weakness.
• - "How to understand and execute surrounding plays

Here is an example of what Marty will discuss:

Your partner leads the ♦10. You play the Ace and declarer plays the ♦K. How will you proceed?

Here is a plan:

There is no reason to lead spades. If declarer has spade losers, he can't possibly get rid of them. Therefore, this is the right time for passive defense.

At trick 2, punt by leading a club. This is safer than leading a trump in case partner has the doubleton queen. Declarer wants to lead twice towards his ♠ Q 10 7. But as long as you never lead spades, his one entry to dummy will cause him to lose three spade tricks.