The difference between attack and defense in Spades depends on which side has the upper hand (sic) or which side is better suited (sorry about that) for setting the other. If your side is at a disadvantage, particularly because of a shortage in spades, you are on the defensive. In such case the forcing game can come to your rescue -- provided you recognize the situation in time.

In general, whenever an opponent believed to have long spades cuts your tricks and tries to push spades, consider the forcing game.

Triple Force

North 5 Q J 9 7 6 10 5 2 K Q 9 7 West J 6 4 3 K 10 5 4 A Q 9 5 2 East A 2 A 8 3 2 K 4 3 10 8 6 3 South K Q 10 9 8 7 -- J 8 7 6 A J 4 The bidding: East South West North 3 6 3 1 East led the A

West, in third seat, expected North to bid nil, so he bid the full value of his hand, planning to turn the heat on South. When North could not nil the table total reached 13 tricks, and the game was in no-man's land.

East led the A. South trumped with the 7 and promptly led the K.

Winning the A, East tried a club. South won and continued spades. He won the Q and gave up the next spade to East's J. East-West took their three diamond winners leaving East on play in this position (see second diagram):

North -- Q J -- K Q 9 West 6 K 10 5 -- 5 East -- 8 3 -- 10 8 6 South 9 8 -- J J 4 North/South - 3 tricks East/West - 5 tricks East to lead.

It was really too late to do much good. He tried a heart (a club might cause the opponents to guess wrong) but South trumped. The 9 pulled West's last trump and North-South took the balance. Although East-West had won an unexpected trick in diamonds they lost both their count cards in hearts and were duly set.

East went wrong at Trick Three. After taking his A, he must continue hearts, forcing South to ruff a second time. The hand would continue in the same fashion, reaching this point after East-West have taken their three diamond tricks (see next diagram).

North -- Q J -- K Q 9 West 6 K 10 -- 5 2 East -- 8 -- 10 8 6 3 South 9 -- J A J 4 North/South - 3 tricks East/West - 5 tricks East to lead.

East is on lead and forces South a third time with a heart. Now the table is turned on South. (Oops! There I go again.) South cannot trump this time lest he go set himself. South cannot has lost control of the hand and must yield a trick to West's K.

East and West have pulled off a triple force to make their bid. East should indeed find the right line of play at the table provided he understands the forcing game.

Forceout

North 8 6 J 9 3 K 10 A 9 8 4 3 2 West K 9 7 K 8 7 2 A 8 2 J 7 5 East Q J 3 A Q 10 6 5 4 7 5 3 Q South A 10 7 4 2 -- Q J 9 6 4 K 10 6 The bidding: West North East South 3 2 2 4 West led the A

Once again the defense has to be alert. In fact, they have to realize they are the defense.

West led the A and continued a diamond to North's K, a sequence of plays that delighted South. His diamonds were now established. It only remained to extract the opponents' trumps.

North tried the 9; East went up-Ace but South trumped and correctly led the 4 (see Trump Attack ). In with the Q, what was East to do?

By now the reader should know that the only saving line of play for East-West is the forcing game. On a diamond, club, or spade return, The opponents win and continue spades. After two more rounds of spades South is left in command with the only spade plus three winning clubs. East-West would be held to the diamond Ace, two spades, and a club trick at the finish.

A heart return by East squelches South's plans. He still can trump and play Ace and another spade, but West wins this trick and South is out of spades. East-West can then run off several hearts.

On East's heart return, South trumped but abandoned the idea of leading spades. He simply cashed out his winners; both sides finished the deal and moved on to the next one.

To Force or Not to Force

The purpose of the forcing strategy, when used defensively, is to prevent an opponent with long spades to carry out his plan of drawing trump. He will have to shift to routine play, allowing you to score your trumps or side-suit winners.

It has been mentioned elsewhere in the Master Spades website that the way to prevent enemy ruffs is to lead trump. This is true, but only if the ruffs are being taken by an opponent with few spades. If the bidding and subsequent trump leads suggest that the ruffs are taken by the opponent who is long in spades, defend with the forcing strategy.

Regards,
Popsicle