DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

Cy the Cynic says that friction is a drag, and I agree that it’s something a partnership must avoid. To keep your partner happy, signal properly on defense and interpret his signals correctly.

When West led the king of diamonds against four spades, East played the eight. That card was high enough for West, who continued with the ace.

South ruffed and drew trumps.He led a club to the king, returned a trump to his hand and led a second club. West won and led a heart. South lost a finesse to East’s king but later threw a heart on dummy’s fourth club. Making four.

I often hear silly remarks about how a six or higher is an encouraging signal, a five or lower is discouraging. In this deal, West can see that East’s eight is his lowest diamond.

Since East had many diamonds from which to choose, West should treat the eight as discouraging — urging a shift — and lead the jack of hearts at Trick Two. South loses two hearts to go down. This week: signals. DAILY QUESTION You hold: ♠ 5 ♥ J 10 6 2 ♦ A K 7 4 3 ♣ A 10 2.You open one diamond, and your partner responds one spade. What do you say?

ANSWER: You had a mandatory opening bid, with three Quick Tricks, but you have an uneasy choice of second bids. A rebid of two diamonds would suggest a six-card suit, a bid of 1NT would suggest balanced pattern. A “reverse” to two hearts would promise much more strength. I would try 1NT, gaining if partner holds A 7 6 3 2, Q 9 7 5, 2,7 6 5. North dealer E-W vulnerable