Reading signals is vital for defense

Winston Churchill said, “The statesman who yields to war fever must realize that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events.”

You hope that that does not apply when you are defending against a bridge contract. You wish that your signals will be interpreted correctly by partner, and vice versa.

The theme of today’s deal has appeared in this column several times over the years, but it still trips up a lot of partnerships. Let’s try to win this battle. South is in four hearts. West leads the diamond two. What should happen after that?

South’s weak two-bid would have been considered doubly verboten two or three decades ago because it contains four cards in the other major and a void — not today, though.

After North jumped to game, East probably should have bid four notrump, showing at least 5-5 in any two of the three unbid suits. If North was sacrificing, West would have at most one heart. If North had a good hand, five of a minor would probably be a cheap sacrifice. (Five clubs would be down one on any lead but a spade, when it could make.)

East, knowing that his partner has led a singleton (low from length guarantees an honor in the suit), wins with his ace and returns a diamond — but which one?

East’s card transmits a suitpreference signal, telling West which suit to return to give East the lead again for a second ruff. Here, East wants a spade shift, so at trick two he leads the diamond 10, his highestremaining. The play goes: diamond to the ace, diamond ruff, spade ruff, diamond ruff, spade ruff: down two.