JULIAN POTTAGE on DEFENCE

Signals at Trick One

f partner makes an and Again West leads the queen and the ace to continue with the king. When East plays you are not trying to win the first trick, goes up from dummy. Holding the ten, the two next, completing a ‘high-low’ Iyou usually want to indicate whether East knows that West can safely continue , West knows to try a third round. you would like partner to lead the suit the suit, so encourages with the seven. again. You do this by means of an attitude As the lead of the queen promises the signal: you play a high card to encourage jack, both the king (the card above) and ♦ 10 9 4 (the highest card you can afford) and your the ten (the card below) are useful cards N lowest card to discourage. Normally your for the leader’s partner to hold. ♦ A K Q 7 W E ♦ 8 6 2 holding in the suit led determines your S correct course of action. ♦ J 5 3 ♦ A6 4

N ♥ A6 4 ♦ Q J 9 5 W E ♦ 8 7 2 Of course, the leader may continue a suit S whatever partner does. Your holding needs N ♥ Q J 9 5 W E ♥ K 8 2 ♦ K 10 3 to be sufficiently robust to cope with the S possibility that declarer has any missing ♥ 10 7 3 high cards. Here West has no need of help Here East has no reason to suppose that a and may continue with a second and third further heart lead will work and rightly round (and a fourth at no-trumps) even West leads the queen; say that declarer plays the two under the ace. This warns though East plays the two on the first. plays the ace from dummy. Holding the West that declarer has the king and ten. Equally, you must take care not to king, East should encourage with the Knowing this, West will, after regaining encourage just because you have eight – if West gets in again, the defence the lead, switch to a different suit. something useful in the suit led. An have two tricks to take. Similarly: encouraging signal tells partner that in Further Considerations your opinion, based on the information available to you, that it is probably best ♥ A6 4 Everything I have said up until now to continue the suit. applies equally to suit and no- N ♥ Q J 9 5 W E ♥ 10 7 2 contracts. However, in a suit contract, S the prospect of scoring a means that ♠ K 10 4 ♥ K 8 3 you may wish to encourage a continuation ♥ 10 7 3 without any honours. ♦ A K Q J 5 ♣ 9 4 ♠ A Q J 3 ♦ 10 9 4 ♥ Q 8 2 LOW VISION CARDS N ♦ 9 3 N W E Full size packs for ♦ A K 8 7 W E ♦ 6 2 S ♣ 10 8 6 2 S those with visual problems featuring ♦ Q J 5 3 extra-large symbols North South as illustrated. 1♦ 2♣ When West leads the ace (showing the 2♦ 3♣ Two packs king), East envisages a third-round ruff. End (red/blue back). £5.99 Accordingly East plays the six and South follows with the three. West cannot be sure West leads the ace of hearts. Do you from the Mail Order Service that the six is a high card (declarer might play the eight or the two? be concealing the two) but it is safe enough Continued on page 33 ❿

Page 32 POTTAGE ON DEFENCE continued from page 32 The way to beat the contract is for West to lead a low heart at trick two, allowing East to play a club before trumps are Normally you would encourage holding West leads the ace and what card do you drawn. Underleading the king of hearts the queen, but here you are keen to have think East should play? Playing the two may seem brave but if East has played a spade switch. The presence of the ten of would discourage hearts and playing the the queen, promising the jack, there is spades in dummy means that partner will jack would be misleading. The jack nothing to it. If East unexpectedly has a need to lead the suit twice for you to would deny the queen and suggest J-x singleton heart, this is not a problem: stand a chance of collecting three spade (it cannot be showing the ten as this is the heart ruff will be the setting trick. tricks, so you want an immediate switch in dummy). The correct card is the queen, and play the two of hearts. You intend to which shows the jack (unless the queen Different Messages win the first spade cheaply, put partner is a singleton). West can then underlead back in with the king of hearts and have the king on the second round to put East If you really want to, you can use only another spade lead through dummy. in. Would you like to see this in the attitude signals on partner’s lead, but So far, all your signals have been with context of a full hand? you will be missing a wealth of spot cards, and normally these are all opportunities if you do. The objective you can afford. If, however, you have a of any communication is to convey sequence of honours, you may be able ♠ Q J 4 information that is not already to share the good news with partner. ♥ 9 8 4 available, so if partner can work out ♦ A K Q J whether you like the suit anyway, it ♣ J 7 4 makes sense for a signal to convey a ♥ A9 6 ♠ K 8 2 ♠ 3 different message: ♥ A K 7 5 3 N ♥ Q J 2 N W E ♥ W E ♥ ♦ ♦ 7 5 K Q J 4 3 2 10 6 4 S 9 8 7 3 2 S ♣ K 3 ♣ 10 9 8 2 ♦ Q J 9 ♥ 10 8 ♠ A 10 9 7 6 5 N ♥ 10 6 ♦ A K 8 6 5 W E ♦ 10 4 3 2 S ♦ 5 West leads the seven and the ace goes up ♣ A Q 6 5 ♦ 7 from dummy. You could play the four, hoping partner will notice that the two and three are missing, but you should North South West leads the ace (against a suit issue a much clearer signal: throw the 1NT 4♠ contract); assuming West would rarely king under the ace. Partner will know you Pass (if ever) lead an unsupported ace, it is must have a great holding in the suit if clear that East can have no useful high you can afford to part with the king. West leads the ace of hearts and if East diamonds. What West really wants to You are more likely to be able to mistakenly plays the two or the jack, know is whether East has three diamonds, signal with an honour when partner has then the contract will make. If East when the king will stand up, or four, already shown strength in the suit: plays the two, West will probably cash when South will ruff the second round. the heart king next and then switch to Accordingly, East should give a count the king of clubs, playing East for the signal, playing high from an even number ♥ 10 8 4 queen of clubs (counting South for five and low from an odd. Accepted wisdom spade tricks, four diamonds and the club is to play second highest from a four- or N ♥ A K 7 5 3 W E ♥ Q J 2 ace, West would not defend passively). six-card suit, here the four, and highest S If instead East played the jack, West from a doubleton. To show an odd ♥ 9 6 would continue with the king and number you play your lowest card. another heart expecting East to ruff. Continued on page 34 ❿ Score Pads £2.00 each from the Mail Order Service

Winterthur Water Lilies Londonderry Vase Sunday La Grande Shells Wine Cellar Fruits and Flowers Flowers on Silk Safari

Page 33 POTTAGE ON DEFENCE continued from page 33 West North East South 1♣ 1♥ Pass 2♣1 Pass 3♥ West leads the king of clubs and spades Pass 4♥ End ♦ A 10 4 are trumps. East can play the three to 1 Shows heart support and defensive values signal strength in diamonds (or possibly N ♦ Q J 8 6 5 W E ♦ K 9 3 the ability to ruff the suit), the ten to ask West leads the queen of clubs and S for a heart and the seven with no dummy plays low. ♦ 7 2 particular preference. East might also play the neutral seven to request a club continuation, but with this particular Problem 3 West leads the queen and dummy’s ace layout overtaking with the ace would be ♠ A 10 7 5 wins. If you think about it, the position a surer way of ensuring this. ♥ K Q 10 of the king is obvious. With the king in It may take a while for all this to sink ♦ 8 7 6 hand, declarer would capture the queen in, but do not worry. When you first learn ♣ 8 7 6 with the king, preserving the ace-ten to drive, changing gear and turning a ♠ 3 2 in dummy as a tenace over the jack. corner seem complicated manoeuvres, ♥ J 5 3 2 N ♦ Therefore again East should give a count but because you do them every time W E A J 9 4 signal, this time the three to denote an you go out in the car, you soon become S ♣ 9 5 2 odd number. familiar with them. It is just like this with defence in bridge. You defend every second hand, so the opportunity to give West North East South ♦ Q 8 and look for the signals I have described 1♥ Pass 2♥ 2♠ will come up regularly. Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ N ♦ A J 10 7 6 W E ♦ 9 5 4 3 End S A Short Quiz ♦ K 2 West leads the ace of hearts and dummy It might help if we end with a short quiz. plays low. In each of the examples below, think We return to no-trumps and West leads what card to play at trick one and why. Quiz Answers the jack, dummy playing the queen. East would cover with the ace or king if able Answer 1 so to do, thus West will know the location Problem 1 You should play the ten of diamonds, to of all the cards down to at least the ten ♠ A Q 8 5 encourage a diamond continuation. Since whatever low card East plays. What West ♥ 9 8 7 2 West has led the two, you know declarer cannot easily figure out (in the absence ♦ A6 has another diamond and you would of a signal) is whether declarer’s king will ♣ 7 6 5 like to have partner put you in so that drop under the ace. So East plays the five, ♠ 10 7 4 2 you can attack clubs from your side of second-highest from a four-card suit. ♥ 5 3 the table. If you failed to make a clear N ♦ Finally, if you can live with one W E K 10 5 4 3 encouraging signal, then partner might, more complexity, the layout of the suit S ♣ Q 2 after gaining the lead with the king of led may be such that the defenders hearts, switch to the jack of clubs: if you evidently cannot score any more tricks had the doubleton king of clubs and no in the suit (perhaps dummy is ). In North South diamond , that would be the right this situation, neither an attitude nor a 1♥ thing to do. This is the full deal: count signal will serve much purpose. 3♥ 4♥ The opening leader is likely to want to End switch, so will want to know which ♠ A Q 8 5 suit to switch to. West leads the two of diamonds and ♥ 9 8 7 2 In this situation the player in third dummy’s ace wins. ♦ A6 seat should play a high card to ask for ♣ 7 6 5 the higher-ranking non-trump suit and ♠ 6 3 ♠ 10 7 4 2 a low card to ask for the lower-ranking Problem 2 ♥ K 6 N ♥ 5 3 ♠ ♦ W E ♦ non-trump suit. K 10 7 5 Q 9 7 2 S K 10 5 4 3 ♥ K 9 7 ♣ A J 10 9 3 ♣ Q 2 ♦ K 7 6 ♠ K J 9 ♣ 5 ♣ K 7 6 ♥ A Q J 10 4 ♠ AQ 2 ♦ J 8 N ♣ K Q 9 6 W E ♣ A 10 8 7 4 3 ♥ 5 ♣ K 8 4 S N ♦ W E Q J 5 4 ♣ J 2 S ♣ A 10 9 5 2 Continued on page 35 ❿

Page 34 POTTAGE ON DEFENCE continued from page 34 READER TO READER Answer 2 Please Reply to Numbers Below You will be marked with the ace of clubs when declarer fails to win the trick and the position of the ten of clubs FOR SALE: Story of an Accusation OFFERS INVITED: Autobridge is almost certainly irrelevant (if declarer by , first printing in Standard edition for Advanced players had it, it would be singleton or at most excellent condition – offers over £30. including groups 15 & 16. 64 hands. doubleton), so this is a situation where Pro Bridge 510 complete with mains Roger 01277 625154 you want to give count. Therefore, you adaptor and manual – excellent [email protected] play the two. You hope partner will condition – offers over £30. P&P extra. FOR SALE: Saitek Pro Bridge 510 continue the suit with only three, and Martha Lawrie 01360 770151 self-contained portable bridge computer, perhaps switch to a diamond if declarer INFORMATION WANTED: As far boxed, handbook, new batteries, £60. has a singleton. This is the full deal: as I can ascertain, Charles H. Goren Dennis 01255 671036 wrote two classic bridge books (both out of print): one was Better Bridge FOR SALE: BBC Bridge computer. ♠ K 10 7 5 for Better Players and the other was ‘Bridge Builder’ cartridge and ♥ K 9 7 Goren’s Bridge Complete. handbook. ‘Club Play 1’ cartridge and ♦ K 7 6 Can anyone let me know, (a) what handbook, mains transformer. Plugs ♣ K 7 6 was the difference between the two into television, lead supplied. Good ♠ 8 6 3 ♠ AQ 2 books, and (b) which one came first? working condition. £35 including ♥ 8 6 4 N ♥ 5 W E Arie Hepner 020 8 458 5878 postage. ♦ 10 9 2 ♦ Q J 5 4 S [email protected] Ray 0151 9206775 ♣ Q J 8 3 ♣ A 10 9 5 2 [email protected] ♠ J 9 4 VISITORS WELCOME: If you ♥ A Q J 10 3 2 wish to widen your circle of bridge FOR SALE: Autobridge “Deluxe ♦ A8 3 friends, you will enjoy The New pocket model No. PA for advanced ♣ 4 Deal Bridge Club, St. Catherine’s Hall, bridge players”. Includes Goren Chestnut Avenue, Guildford, where booklets on Point Count Bidding good-standard rubber bridge is played (1950), and 1958 Bidding Changes. Answer 3 every Wednesday evening in a friendly (Note correct telephone number below The defending side cannot make any environment. Information from: – misprinted last month.) more heart tricks, so East should give a Heather Toynbee 01483 452688 Wendy 020 8444 0521 suit-preference signal. An observant or Jim Hall 01483 826328 partner might read the five of hearts as a FOR SALE: QPlus version 7.1 as new. INFORMATION WANTED: After high card but there is no need to take any £65 o.n.o. many years of playing in Portugal we chances. To justify leading an unsupported Andrew 01202 777264 have now moved to Normandy in ace (albeit in a suit you raised) West must [email protected] have an awkward holding in the minors. France and as yet have not found anywhere to play the beloved game. So, with the king and queen of hearts set SOCIAL BRIDGE ABROAD: up to provide declarer with discards, it is Can anyone supply information on how we can find clubs over here Would anyone like to play social vital to ensure partner knows that you bridge in Tenerife over the Christmas want a diamond switch, and you should before our hitherto happy marriage begins to suffer from lack of bridge? period? We shall be there December play the jack of hearts. 16-30 inclusive and have an apartment The full deal is shown below. Jean and Greg Chinn [email protected] at Torviscas. We would like to welcome Village Chantereine, Saussey 50200 people to have a few hands of bridge and a glass of vino, or coffee if ♠ Manche, France A 10 7 5 preferred. If interested, contact us ♥ K Q 10 FOR SALE: Four Wilkinson bridge before we leave at our UK telephone ♦ 8 7 6 chairs. As new. £80. number below. ♣ 8 7 6 Greta 01476 573771 Dennis and Heather ♠ ♠ Q 3 2 [email protected] 023 9220 1639 ♥ A 9 8 7 4 N ♥ J 5 3 2 ♦ W E ♦ K 10 2 S A J 9 4 ♣ K 10 4 3 ♣ 9 5 2 READER TO READER is a free service.Those wishing to use it must provide a ♠ K J 9 8 6 4 contact telephone number or e-mail address when writing to ♥ 6 (no telephone calls, please). takes no responsibility for this column ♦ Q 5 3 other than publishing readers’ requests and offers (no trade). ♣ AQ J , Ryden Grange, Bisley GU21 2TH e-mail: [email protected]

Page 35