Active Defense

Frequently, the result of a bridge hand is a race between declarer and defenders to see who can set up their tricks first.  To win this race the defenders must create an Active Defense.  Leading from your longest suit vs NT is an example, trying to set up your suit before declarer can establish sufficient tricks for himself.  An active defense may take some other forms as well:

                         432

                         AKQ

                         AKQJ5

                         75

A97                                            T8

73                                               JT842

94                                               T87

AKQT84                                     J62

                         KQJxx

                         965

                         632

                         93

Against south's 4 contract west leads the King.  West can see that declarer has no losers in the red suits, and the play of the 2, tells West his partner has 3 clubs.  So the only hope is to get 2 trump tricks.  West continues with the Ace and then the Queen, allowing a ruff and sluff for declarer.  Upon winning the Ace, west continues with another club, which east ruffs with the Ten, thereby promoting a trick for his partners 9.  If the defense had not "Actively" tried to develop a 2nd trump trick, the contract would not be defeated.

For the opposite, see Passive Defense

Compiled by Lorne Russell 2005