Assume partner has the best minimum

Arthur Hailey said, “I set myself 600 words a day as a minimum output, regardless of the weather, my state of mind or if I’m sick or well. There must be 600 finished words, not almost-rightwords.”That’s dedication. At the bridge table, when you are on defence, look for partner’s minimum holding to allow you to defeat the contract. In today’s deal, against four hearts, West leads the diamond jack: six, two, ace. South continues with the heart four. What happens after that? North used the Jacoby Forcing Raise to show four-plus hearts and at least game-forcing strength.South’sfour-heart rebid indicated a minimum opening with no side-suit singletonorvoid.North,missingsomanyacesandkings, was not tempted to invite a slam. As soon as the dummy comes down, West should check the high-card points. It contains 16, and he has eight. South presumably has at least 12 points, which leaves at most four for East. What useful card could East hold? The spade king would not be enough. Declarer would lose only one spade, one heart and one club. East cannot have the diamond king for two reasons: At trick one, South would surely have tried dummy’s queen, and East would not have played the discouraging two. That leaves the club ace. If East has that card, the defenders have a chance. West takes trick two with his heart ace (no second hand low here) and shifts to the club king. When he holds the trick (East signalling enthusiastically with the nine), West leads his second club. Then a club ruff gives the defenders fourtricks.