A player who uses his spades to cut will win a trick each time he does so, but he also weakens his spade holding. When the opponents gain the lead they may be able to draw his spades. This is the basis of the forcing game attack.

A. North K 4 West 8 7 East Q 10 9 6 5 South A J 3 2

B. North 6 5 3 2 West Q J 9 7 East K 4 South A 10 8

Suppose that in Example A East ruffs twice. When South gets the lead he plays a low spade (best) to North's K and the spade return enables South to pick up the rest of the suit with a finesse.

Incidentally, the second-round finesse of the J is quite safe. Even if it loses to the Q in West's hand, there is only one spade outstanding, and South is in full control.

In Example B, West ruffs twice. Then North and South can play off two rounds of spades, drawing all of the enemy trumps. Once again, North and South have control of the hand.

The Standard Pattern

I should remark at this point that a side using the forcing game attack faces a lot of guesswork. How many ruffs to allow? What is partner's spade holding? How many rounds of trump to play? These questions generally cannot be answered at the critical moment, and a player must guess and hope for the best.

There is, however, a standard pattern that seems to pay off more frequently than any other sequence of plays. Use it when it appears that an opponent is ruffing from spade length: Wait until the opponent ruffs twice, then lead two rounds of spades.

I should also mention that the opponents also have some guessing to do. They frequently assist you in your plan, as one opponent feeds his partner a suit to ruff. He cannot tell whether this action is beneficial or costly to his side. I never said Spades was an easy game.

Forcing for All

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

On this interesting deal, East's lead of the J did not please his partner, but West trumped anyway because he had no useful discard. West returned a low diamond and found his partner's A entry. A second heart was played and West trumped this one as well. His side had won the first four tricks but West was now down to Q109.

South won the next trick, capturing East's K with his A. Since West had ruffed twice, South knew to lead a spade. He correctly chose the K, accepting a mild risk. When the King held the trick he continued with his low spade. North had seen all of the side-suit count cards and finessed the J with confidence. Then, when the A brought down West's last spade South ran his heart suit to earn the set.

Could East-West have done any better? The winning strategy for East-West is the same as for North-South: the forcing attack. They must play on clubs and diamonds until North is forced to ruff. Once North's spades are weakened he can no longer make use of his glorious heart suit.

The Forcing Attack Against Nil

One of the more overlooked defenses against nil bids is the forcing attack. The nil bidder's partner may start out with a formidable spade suit, but after a few forces it is no longer adequate to protect both his partner's spades and side-suit high cards.

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

When West led the 3, North made the common mistake of underplaying with the 2 (the 7 is recommended). East won the trick and fired back the 5, which South had to trump, West pitching the 10.

If South now played three rounds of spades his partner would be vulnerable to a third round of hearts. He therefore played on clubs. West won the Ace and pressed on with the 4, East played the 6, and South had to rescue his partner by trumping with the 8. The nil set was now assured; all East had to do was retain the 2 and North would win the third round of spades. There was nothing that South could do against this form of attack.

"Use the Force, Luke!"

The forcing attack is used to weaken an opponent's spade suit so that it is susceptible to spade leads. Against nil bids, the shortened spade suit may no longer provide adequate coverage.

Regards,
Popsicle