A textbook deal for helping partner

General H. Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. said, “You can’t help someone get up a hill without getting closer to the top yourself.”

That is also true for a bridge defender who is helping partner to find the killing defense. This deal is one that separates the better pairs from the less good. How should East-west play to defeat three no-trump after West leads his fourth-highest spade?

In the auction, North should realize that five diamonds is unlikely to be better than three no-trump. (In two-overone game-forcing, South might have 18 or 19 points, not the 12-14 assumed for his two-no-trump rebid. Then, though, South will raise three no-trump to four no-trump, and North can jump to six diamonds to offer a choice of slams.)

After West leads the spade four, East wins with his ace and returns the two.

Let’s assume declarer finesses his spade jack at trick two. West wins with the queen and plays back a spade to dislodge declarer’s king. South then runs the diamond jack to East’s king. Should East shift to a heart or a club?

Given South’s opening bid, East’s natural reaction will be to lead a club. But in this deal declarer then claims nine tricks: one spade, five diamonds and three clubs.

When West leads the third spade, he must send a suit-preference signal by playing the nine, his highest-remaining spade, to say that his entry lies in hearts, the higher-ranking of hearts and clubs.

Finally, if South wins trick two with the spade king, West must again signal with the nine.