bridge

June 20, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x8 4

u8 6

vK J 10 9 6

w7 5 3 2

WEST EAST

xJ 10 9 7 x6 5 3 2

uA 10 u9 7 5 4 3

v5 4 2 vA 8 3

wK 10 8 4 w9

SOUTH

xA K Q

uK Q J 2

vQ 7

wA Q J 6

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

2w Pass 2v Pass

2NT Pass 3NT Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Jack of x

We have often stressed how the defenders must use the way they play their cards to relay critical information about their holdings to each other. On this deal it might seem there is little to tell, but that is not really so.

South’s bidding shows a balanced 23-24 points, and North has just enough to raise to game. West has a normal opening lead of the top of his spade sequence. Declarer wins and leads the queen of diamonds. Since there is no entry to dummy, it is essential for West to give his partner a count in diamonds. From an odd number of cards, West must play low; from an even number he starts an echo.

Once West follows to the first diamond with the deuce, East knows declarer has only two cards in the suit and East can win the second round and the suit is dead. What difference does it make? Here it is the difference between handing declarer his contract on a platter or holding him to eight tricks.

If East wins the second diamond trick, declarer can win only eight tricks unless the defense errs — three spades, two hearts, one diamond and two clubs — but give him a second diamond trick.

2010 Tribune Media Services