The Big Picture: Winning Defense in The Real World
By comparison to weaker defenders:
- Strong defenders are more likely to remember the auction.
- Strong defenders pay more attention to spot cards.
- Strong defenders are more likely to give helpful signals to their partners.
- Strong defenders are more likely to notice signals from their partners.
- Strong defenders are more likely to notice, and draw correct inferences from, declarer’s line of play.
Many players defend as if overtricks don’t matter, but that strategy doesn’t score well at matchpoints.
- When defending against a contract that you expect to be reached at many tables, remember that overtricks matter.
- Conversely, when simply beating the contract will score well (often because it’s an unusual contract), give yourself the best chance to defeat the contract.