Both majors offer two fit chances

Thomas Fuller, a 17th-century author, churchman and historian, said, “Learning makes a man fit company for himself.”

This week, we are trying to find a fit with partner by using the Cappelletti convention after an opponent has opened one no-trump. (If you prefer another method, no worries. See how it would work on these deals.)

So far, we have looked at the two-club overcall, which shows a long suit somewhere. Today, we cover two diamonds, which guarantees at least 5-4 in the majors.

When South shows preference with two hearts, North’s four-heart rebid is aggressive — but who would do less? (Note that five clubs by East is defeated by a spade lead, but five clubs by West can be made if declarer divines the trump position.)

After West leads the diamond king, how should South plan the play?

Declarer counts his losers. He can immediately see one club, one diamond and one heart. So, he must avoid a spade loser. That requires getting to the South hand to take the spade finesse, which is very likely to be working. What entry does declarer have?

Only one: the heart nine. So, after winning with dummy’s diamond ace, he leads the heart king. West takes that trick, cashes the diamond queen and club ace, then continues with the diamond jack.

South ruffs with a high heart, cashes another high heart and overtakes the carefully preserved heart eight with his nine. Finally in hand, declarer runs the spade 10 and cruises to these 10 tricks: five spades, four hearts and one diamond.