[Hanoi5]

The bridge literature on the play of the hand is vast. However, when it refers to the defender's plays and tactics there aren't as many books and/or articles as for the other two phases of the game.

I have even read about two acronyms some people use when dummy comes down to plan the play:

A(nalyze the lead) R(eview the bidding) C(ount your tricks) H(ow will you play)

or

R(eview the bidding) A(nalyze the lead) C(ount your tricks) E(xplore for tricks)

However I haven't seen anything like that when it comes to defense. Is there a way to plan the defense? Is there a standard in what to think about when you see the dummy?

[Stephen Tu]

Just reread Kelsey's "Killing Defence at Bridge" a dozen times and hope at some point everything clicks in.

It all comes down to counting, count where declarer's tricks are coming from, where your tricks are coming from (or can be hoped to come from), act accordingly to achieve your goal and/or thwart declarer's plan. Build up a picture of the unseen hands from the bidding and as the play progresses.

Those acronyms for declarer play plans more or less work for defence as well, there is just more uncertainty in some areas (don't know partner's assets right away), but more certainty in others (you know certain finesses will fail/suits don't break).

[oku]

Mike Lawrence wrote a book in 1985, in which 65 examples are given to educate the reader. the name might be Dynamic Defence or something.

[gwnn]

Burt Hall and Lynn Rose wrote a book on every aspect of the game. The part on defence is very concise and sensible. One of the critics said that part alone is worth the price of the book.

[idc]

As I suspect you know, there isn't a magic, fast way of suddenly becoming a great defender. One thing I'll add to the advice already here is to try playing just teams rather than match pointed events. At teams, your job on defence is to beat the contract whenever that is possible, which both helps to concentrate your mind on the task and simplifies the task itself.