FRANK STEWART BRIDGE

CAREFUL SIGNALING

Mark Dahl-Richard Oshlag were two-time defending champions in the Fast Pairs at the ACBL Spring NABC. (No, it’s not an event where players don’t eat the night before.) This time they came in second — by a half matchpoint — to Marin Marinov-David Yang. In the 78-pair final, Dahl-Oshlag defended against today’s four hearts. After Dahl opened one club and doubled North’s twoclub cue bid, Oshlag led the ace of clubs. Dahl carefully played the three, discouraging, and Oshlag trusted his partner and shifted to a spade.

South had to finesse, and Dahl took his king, cashed the king of clubs and also got the ace of diamonds. Down one.

Third Club

If West leads another club at Trick Two, South makes his game. East can win and lead a third club, but South ruffs high, draws trumps, loses to the ace of diamonds and gets two spade discards from dummy on high diamonds.

A defensive signal’s purpose is not to confirm or deny holding specific high cards. It is to suggest a line of defense. Daily Question

You hold: ♠ 10 4 ♥ AJ 732 ♦ K Q 9 4 ♣ Q 10. Your partner opens one spade, you bid two hearts and he rebids two spades. What do you say?

Answer: Partner’s tendencies and the vulnerability are factors. If his opening bids are usually sound or if your side is vulnerable with more to gain by bidding game, force with a bid of three diamonds. If partner tends to open light or if you’re not vulnerable, you might settle for 2NT, inviting game. East dealer

Both sides vulnerable