BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

WEST leads the ♠A, and dummy goes down with three small spades. What should East play from his own holding of ♠Q-6?

WEST is not likely to hold more than five spades, though starting with the lead of ♠AK. You might think, therefore, that East should once again start with a peter or high-low signal by playing the ♠Q, but it is not correct to peter with a queen supported only by one small card. This could be misleading and wasteful.

WEST leads the ♠A and dummy goes down with three small spades. What should East play from his own holding of ♠Q-J?

THIS TIME East should play the ♠Q.

To drop the queen on partner’s high honour lead could mean that East has the queen-singleton, but conventionally it also signals to West that either East will be able to ruff the second round or he will have the knave to win it.