MAKE THE POSITION CRYSTAL CLEAR

Desmond Morris, an English zoologist, said, “Clearly, then, the city is not a concrete jungle, it is a human zoo.”

It is easy to get lost in a jungle, and sometimes bridge players lose their way in our 52-card jungle, especially when they are on defense.

Occasionally, one defender has to find the way out of the jungle on his own, but more often the partners can guide each other.

In this deal, how should East plan the defense in three no-trump after West leads the club jack?

South had a minimum one-no-trump opening, but there was no particular reason to downgrade. North had an obvious Stayman hand, hoping to find a 4-4 major-suit fit. But when South denied a major, North sensibly went for three no-trump — even though this was one of those rare deals in which five of the minor, despite being only a 4-4 fit, can be made if declarer reads the deal well, but three no-trump ought to fail.

Often at trick one, East would encourage with such a good club holding. However, his three will not look high to West. (Those of you who employ upside-down signals, when your two would be encouraging, might be nodding happily, but that is still not the best play in my opinion.)

East should make everything crystal clear by winning with his ace and returning the queen. Then when West gets in with the spade king, he will cash the rest of the clubs.

Yes, even if East plays the club three (or, much better, the queen) at trick one, West might find the winning defense. But East should want to make life easy for his partner.