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Communication…..

One of the keys to successful defence is communication between defenders. So often, a declarer, especially in a no-trump contract, will do all they can to break down that communication. The successful defence to this 1NT contract was all about keeping communication between defenders:

 

 Most players love to bid. Therefore, when South’s 12-14 1NT opening got passed round to them in 4^th seat, it seemed a great idea to use whatever method one has  to show a heart suit. After all, since North did not even try for game, West would be marked with at least 10hcp. So maybe we could make 2?

Yet, the only way East-West could (or let’s say “should”) achieve a plus score on this board would be to pass out 1NT. We will see why bidding should produce a minus result shortly.

Unusually, our partner did not lead a suit which we did not like. They led Q! "Great lead, partner!"

What do you play to trick 1?

Were this a suit contract, you would play A as by leading Q, you know that the K is in the South hand…and if it were singleton, you would not score a heart trick by ducking.

Yet, it is different in no-trumps, especially where South opened 1NT. They must have at least 2 hearts and because of that, their K will score a trick either now or later.

Look at the East hand. There is virtually no chance of East winning a trick outside hearts. So, East is reliant on West winning a trick outside hearts and continuing that suit. If West held 4 hearts, there is no problem. However, say West held just 3 hearts:

 

East took the first trick with A and played back a small heart. Wisely, South played low and West actually won the trick with 6 and continued with J. South won and might not have fancied their chances of success.

However, South played a low diamond to Q and a second diamond to J and West’s A. In desperation, West led a low spade with South’s K scoring. Eventually, the defence could only take 2 heart tricks, A and A meaning declarer made 9 tricks…+150.

Keep Communications Open

Had East played a low heart at trick 1 (2 if you play “low like”: 10 if high is encouraging), and South ducked (which is by no means certain as they could not be sure who held A), West would continue with J. Again East needs to play low and South has to play K this time or else will never score this card. When West wins A, they will still have a heart to play and the defence will score 5 heart tricks as well as West’s 2 aces and thus beat the contract by 1 trick. ..communication!  It is so important.

and had East bid 2

Look what would have happened had East bid 2 in the pass-out seat:

 

While East- West can make 8 tricks in hearts (losing 3 clubs, a diamond and K), they cannot make any more. Meanwhile, North can double 2 for take-out and North-South will find their spade fit and score 9, even 10 tricks or else defeat 3. 

So, the only way East-West could/should record a plus score is for East to pass out 1NT, West to find the excellent Q lead and for East to retain “communication” with their partner. “Keep in touch…”

Richard Solomon

 

Don’t forget the Regional Championship Teams this weekend (Saturday: Sunday). Follow the results or one match per round on BBO here…. 

https://www.nzbridge.co.nz/blog/12861/Regional-Championship-Teams

 

 

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