ACBL13B – Defense: The Hold Up Ward Trumbull

Jan 22, 2008

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What is a Defensive Hold Up?


It is a defensive Hold Up when the defender does not take a trick at his/her first opportunity. Typically, it is to stop the declarer from getting extra tricks from a long suit in dummy. To the novice it is known as patience. To the advanced it is known as skill.


Who Usually Makes the Hold Up?


Almost always it is the defender behind the dummy, i.e., the RHO. That is because he/she plays to the trick after the dummy.


When is it Applicable?


The typical hold up occurs when:


1. There is a 5+ card suit in dummy for possible declarer tricks

that is missing either the ace or king.

2. The RHO has that ace or king.

3. There are no outside entries to the dummy.


Example: The contract is three notrump


Dummy RHO

-------------- ---------------

S H D C S H D C

7 4 K Q J 9 A K

6 2 Q 8 8 8 6 5

3 J 7 5 6 3

10 4 5

9


ACBL13B – Defense: The Hold Up Jan 22, 2008

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Example: The contract is three notrump (continued)


1. If RHO takes the diamond ace the first time declarer

leads that suit, declarer will later lead diamonds again

and get four tricks.


2. If RHO holds up to sever declarer’s diamond

communication, declarer will only get 1 or 2 diamond

tricks.


3. Note that if partner’s (LHO’s) diamond cards give

an ODD indication (3 cards), RHO can take the second

trick because declarer could only have 2 diamonds.

See ACBL13.


Killing the Outside Entry


Sometimes when dummy has that 5+ card suit, there is one

outside entry. However, a good defender will knock out that ace

before declarer can use it.


Example: The contract is four spades


Dummy RHO

-------------- ---------------

S H D C S H D C

7 4 K A Q 9 A K

6 2 Q 8 8 8 6 Q

3 J 7 5 6 3 4

10 5

9

ACBL13B – Defense: The Hold Up Jan 22, 2008

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Example: The contract is four spades (continued)


1. Declarer takes the first heart trick with the ace and

leads 3 rounds of spades which puts RHO in with

the queen.

2. RHO can stop the diamond suit from running, but

there is that ace of clubs entry. So RHO leads the

king of clubs to kill that entry.

3. In this example, RHO has both the king and queen

of clubs. If RHO had only the king, he/she should still

make that killing play.


Another Hold Up for Either Defender


Sometimes when dummy has that 5+ card suit, declarer’s

high cards In that suit first must be unblocked. This gives either

defender the chance to be the hero by holding up, even though

there is an outside entry to dummy.


Example: The contract is four spades


Dummy RHO

-------------- ---------------

S H D C S H D C

7 4 J A J 9 A 9

6 2 10 8 8 8 6 6

3 9 7 5 6 3 4

8 5

7

ACBL13B – Defense: The Hold Up Jan 22, 2008

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Example: The contract is four spades (continued)


1. Declarer has the doubleton king/queen of diamonds.

He/she must knock out the ace before crossing to

dummy on the ace of clubs.


2. He/she will lead the diamond king wanting a defender

to take the trick.


3. A good defender (LHO or RHO) must duck both the

king and queen leads. If the declarer had had a third

diamond, that would be the trick for the ace to take. If

not, dummy’s diamond tricks will be lost for the

declarer.


Hold Up for Only the Bravehearts


Sometimes when dummy has a four card suit which needs a finesse to pick up all four tricks, a bravest of the brave RHO can

hold declarer to only two tricks in the suit. Again it requires that there are no outside entries to dummy.


Example: The contract is three notrump


Dummy RHO

-------------- ---------------

S H D C S H D C

7 A J 8 J K Q 9

6 Q 9 7 8 8 10 6

3 4 7 4 5 6 3 5

2 2

ACBL13B – Defense: The Hold Up Jan 22, 2008

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Example: The contract is three notrump (continued)


1. Declarer has the jack, 10 and 7 of hearts. He leads the

jack and lets it ride. RHO holds up.


2. Declarer thinks LHO has the king. He/she leads the 10

and lets it ride. The super brave RHO holds up again,

baring down to the singleton king.


3. Declarer now knows for sure that LHO has the king and

leads the 7 to the queen. Kaboom! RHO takes the

king.


4. Note that this will not work if the dummy has 5+ cards in

the suit because LHO would show out on the third lead

of hearts.