Defend These Hands with Me
by Julian Pottage

Master Point Press, £11.95 + p&p from The Bridge Shop Tel: 020 7486 8222

This book sets out sixty defensive problems, explaining the author's thought-processes as he tries to defeat what in some cases look like almost impregnable contracts. Julian Pottage unashamedly uses the over-my-shoulder format and style immortalised by Terence Reese in Play These Hands With Me, and he does a pretty good job of it.

When I review a book I use a green highlighter on parts that I like or find interesting, and a red one on parts that read poorly or awkwardly. I am delighted to report that Defend These Hands With Me ended up as a sea of green. What were the red bits? Well, on some occasions I had to turn a page backwards and forwards to track between the problem hand and the discussion of it. On some occasions I found the author's description of the opposition unconvincing: 'My partner, a kindly gentleman with a wizened face', or 'The flamboyantly dressed gentleman on my left overcalls 2 and my more modestly attired partner passes.' And on some occasions I was temporarily flummoxed as to whether the author was sitting East or West. But perhaps this is just me being picky.

The hands themselves and the points made as each one unfolds are excellent. One or two I found reasonably straightforward. On a handful I thought: 'I'd never spot that at the table.' But the vast majority were right on the button, illustrating combinations and thought-processes which seem obvious - once they are explained. For example, you hold:

A 6     9 6     Q 10 7 5 2     K Q 10 7

LHO opens 1, partner overcalls with 3, RHO bids 3 which is raised to game. So, what do you lead against 4?

I bet most players would look no further than the 9 or 6, depending on style. But Pottage writes: 'With the minors well protected and knowing that partner has the hearts, it seems natural to begin with the ace of trumps to cut down dummy's ruffing value.' Well, yes. I can see that now. It's obvious, isn't it?

In fact this is just a throw-away tip - not even the main point - on the very first deal. There are many others throughout the book. There's not enough space here to give a full deal, but here's another titbit. Defending as West against 3 and needing to get partner in for a club lead, the following position is reached:

10 9   9 7 4   -   7 4   -   A J 8 5   8   K J

Declarer leads dummy's 4 to the 2 and his K. The author, who has worked out that declarer must also hold the Q, gives some analysis on what is going on and then writes: 'Since the idea is to win two heart tricks, partner winning the second, I take the A and return the J.'

This works, partner holding the 10, and the contract is defeated.

Obvious, isn't it?

Stephen Cashmore

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