COMMUNICATE THE DEFENSIVE COUNT

bridge

Marcel Marceau, a French mime expert, said, “To communicate through silence is a link between the thoughts of man."

That certainly applies to bridge players, who must communicate with their partners, both during the auction and on defense, without using any explanatory words. However, even with good communication, the information available must be processed and applied correctly.

In today’s deal, for example, South is in three no-trump. What should happen after West leads his fourth-highest heart?

Declarer starts with six top tricks: three spades, one diamond and two clubs. He will get a heart trick and can gain three or four more winners from the diamond suit. But if that finesse is losing, he could concede one diamond and four hearts to go down one.

East wins the first trick with the heart king, under which South drops the jack, let's say. East returns the heart six, and declarer smoothly plays his queen. At this point, West will be tempted to take the trick, hoping that South started with only two hearts. But if West does win with his ace and return a heart, declarer takes the trick, runs the diamond queen and comes home with an overtrick.

If East had started with K-10-6-2 of hearts, he would have led back the two: low from three remaining cards. When he actually played the six (high from an extant doubleton), West should realize that he must duck this trick to keep communication with his partner. Then, when East gets in with the diamond king, he leads his third heart, and the contract fails. Copyright United Feature Syndicate (Asia Features)