BRIDGE

Neither vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xJ 10 5

u9 6 4 3

v5 3

wJ 9 7 2

WEST EAST

xK 7 6 2 xVoid

u8 uJ 7 5

vA J 9 4 vQ 10 8 7 6 2

wA Q 8 3 wK 6 5 4

SOUTH

xA Q 9 8 4 3

uA K Q 10 2

vK

w10

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1w Pass 1v 2v

2x 5v Pass Pass

5u Dbl Pass Pass

Pass

Opening lead: Ace of v

There is a debate in expert circles whether or not defenders should play suit preference signals at trick one. We are not convinced of the necessity. If you think it is necessary to direct partner to switch at trick two, it is usually clear to which suit he should shift. And in many cases you can make it clear even if you have no agreement. Consider this deal from a world championship match between Swedish and American teams.

The auction shown is by the Swedes. South’s one club was artificial and forcing and the one-diamond response was, obviously, negative. East took advantage to bid his long suit and West upped the ante. Not surprisingly, South was not deterred from showing his second suit, and West doubled. Note that, as the cards lie, East-West are cold for 11 tricks at diamonds.

West led the ace of diamonds and East had no trouble telling his partner what to lead next — he dropped the queen of diamonds, clearly a request for a shift to the higher-ranking suit — spades. West duly switched to the deuce of spades. East ruffed, returned a club to partner’s queen and collected another spade ruff for down two.

2009 Tribune Media Services