Bridge COUNT SIGNALS

Some experts believe that count signals, usually low from an odd number of cards in a suit and high from an even number, are the most helpful of all possible defensive signals. This belief is by no means universal, but its adherents feel strongly about it. East-West in today’s deal agreed to only give each other count signals.

East played the two of diamonds at trick one, showing an odd number of cards in the suit. He had to have a minimum of four diamonds for his jump raise, so West knew that East had five diamonds and that another diamond would not cash. What next? The ace and another spade was a possible defense, but West elected to exit safely with a heart.

South won in dummy and led a spade. East knew that his partner would have cashed another diamond, if one was cashing, rather than shift. No more diamond tricks were coming, so the defense needed more than just a trump trick and a possible club trick to defeat the contract. East rose bravely with his king of spades. That held the trick and the road to a successful defense was now clear. East led his remaining heart. Declarer won and led another trump, but West won with his ace and gave East a heart ruff to defeat the contract.

Many players would have tried a second diamond at trick two, losing any chance for a winning defense. The count signal at trick one helped here. Nice defense!

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