ACES ON BRIDGE

“Every Communist must grasp the truth: Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.”

— Mao Zedong

The modern defender has to have a number of weapons in his armory. These include a method of leading (top of honor sequences, fourthhighest from length, occasionally second-highest from four or five small against no-trump). Then he needs a system of signaling — high cards for an even number or encouragement — plus the judicious use of suit-preference signals. When attitude and count are irrelevant or already known, high cards suggest the higher suit, low cards the lower.

A hot potato when it comes to signaling at no trump is the Smith Echo. After the opening lead, each defensive hand can use this tool to reinforce whether they like that suit as soon as possible. Following to declarer’s first lead, when not giving count, a defender’s high spot card encourages the suit of the opening lead, while a low spot card denies extras in that suit. This signal can produce tempo problems - and sometimes the message can be conveyed in other ways, as in today’s deal.

Against three no-trump, West’s heart four went to the 10 and king. South played on clubs, West winning the second round, as East echoed to say he liked hearts. West now decided that South might be left with the bare heart queen, so he cashed the ace, which was fatal since it blocked the suit.

ANSWER: Whether playing inverted raises or not (where a simple raise promises a limit raise or better), this hand is on the cusp between a diamond raise and a one-no-trump response. In a strong no-trump base, I lean slightly toward bidding one no-trump, since it isn’t entirely clear I will be wrongsiding no-trump. As a passed hand, I might raise diamonds, since partner is slightly more likely to have real diamonds.