From recapture to a back-run (defender's view)
'Me' at the bottom is the viewpoint player; P2–P5 are the other four seats.
Setup
Mighty Basics Replay. This game is from a defender's view: from recapture to a back-run. Trump (giruda) is ♥, contract 14, the declarer is P3, and P4, holding the Mighty, is the Friend. I hold the top trump ♥A, ♥Q and the Joker. I don't lead trumps myself; I wait, and recapture every time the declarer's side drains trumps. Watch my partners load honors onto those tricks.
Trick 1
The Friend took the declarer's low club with the Mighty. The Mighty was spent on a trick with almost no honors, so now the strongest card in play is my Joker.
Trick 2
The Friend started the trump drain with ♥5. I recaptured with ♥A, and the ♥J my partner had to follow with landed in my trick.
Trick 3
I had the lead, but I didn't lead ♥Q. When defenders lead trumps, it only makes the declarer's job easier. Instead I led ♠5, and my partner took it with ♠K to put us ahead.
Trick 4
On my partner's spade lead I played ♠Q, but the declarer ruffed with ♥7. The declarer's spade void was revealed. Even a boss card can be ruffed.
Trick 5
The declarer led trump with ♥K. The Mighty was already gone, so nothing could beat the Joker. I recaptured with the Joker, and my partner loaded ♣J.
Trick 6
Again I saved ♥Q and led ♦8. The declarer ruffed and took the points, but used up one more trump.
Trick 7
The declarer led ♥9 to pull out my ♥Q, but the declarer's last trump was actually ♥10. My third recapture with ♥Q, and my partners loaded ♦10 and ♦K. Now the declarer's contract is out of reach.
Trick 8
Counting the trumps, only one is left. I led a diamond into the declarer's void to draw out that last trump. Now no one can ruff.
Trick 9
With no trumps left, the highest club simply wins. My partner swept the trick with ♣A, sealing the back-run.
Trick 10
My partner's club won the last trick too, and I loaded ♦Q.
Result
7:13, a defenders' win with a back-run. I recaptured three times with ♥A, the Joker and ♥Q, and each time my partners loaded honors to make it a big score. Defense is less about blocking and more about taking back. You can step through this game yourself in the Basics Replay section of Mighty Korea's school (mightykorea.com).