North-South vulnerable. South deals.

North-South vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xJ 7 6 2

uQ J 4

vK 9 3

w10 6 3

WEST EAST

xQ 4 x10 3

u6 5 3 u10 9

vA Q J 10 6 4 v8 7 5 2

wQ 5 wA K 9 7 2

SOUTH

xA K 9 8 5

uA K 8 7 2

vVoid

wJ 8 4

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x 2v 2x 3w

3u Pass 4x Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Queen of w

As West, your problem is simple. You know how to defeat South’s spade game, but how do you get your message across to your partner?

Note North’s and East’s bidding. Not only did North deem the hand worth a free raise to two spades — a must when holding four-card support for partner’s suit — but then judged that his double fit and king in the overcaller’s suit rated a jump to game.

East’s lead-directing bid of three clubs with four-card support for partner’s suit is also worth emulating.

The bidding got West off to the good opening lead of the queen of clubs and he continued the suit.

East won with the king and cashed the ace of clubs, and West had to find the discard to ensure the contract’s demise.

Just looking at dummy, it is obvious how the contract can be defeated. All East has to do is lead a fourth club and the queen of trumps will be promoted to the setting trick.

East is not aware of that and, unless told what to do, will probably shift to a diamond. That would normally be good enough, but what if declarer is void in diamonds?

West’s first thought was to discard a low diamond. While that discourages a diamond return — a play that partner might not heed — it could suggest a heart shift, something West did not want.

Then the light dawned — West jettisoned the ace of diamonds!

With the king of diamonds in dummy, a diamond return could be ruled out. West’s unusual action alerted East that something drastic was required, and another club was now obvious.

Whether South ruffed high or low, the queen of spades became the setting trick.

2008 Tribune Media Services