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Guiding Partner

Sometimes it may seem obvious for our partner to switch to a different suit, “obvious” that is from our seat. Since it is not so obvious all the time from the other side of the table, we adopt ways of signalling to our partner.

A common situation is when we give partner a ruff. Most players indicate with a low card that the lower of the other two non-trump suits would be a good idea to play after ruffing and conversely with a high card, the higher suit. A middle card indicates no particular preference or maybe to play a trump. We adopt a similar philosophy when partner leads a high honour against a suit contract and a singleton in that suit appears on the dummy.

There are, though, other situations where we can aid partner. Had both defenders been on the same wave-length, they could have punished the declarer for a rather daring bid, which should have back-fired.

 

 

(E/W were playing 5 card majors.)

South trusted East to have both top spades for their opening and thought either 3NT might score better than the more normal 4 game (Pairs scoring) but might indeed be the only making game. Had North had one of West’s little spades, they would have been correct.

However, when West led the 2 to East’s ace, South doubted the wisdom of the bid. Back came the J. East could have been fooling holding both the ace and the king but South trusted that ominous 2 as being from the king and thus played low. East continued with 10 won by West’s king. All West had to do was find East’s entry. He tried a heart but that proved very unsuccessful for the defence. Declarer could cash 10 tricks in clubs and hearts and had an excellent Pairs score as 10 tricks was the limit in the much safer 4 game.

West’s misguess but East’s error. The situation was perfect for a suit preference card from East on the third round of spades. East had three spades left…and, playing 5 card majors, West knew that. It mattered not to the play which card East exited. So, in wanting a heart return, East should lead 10. For a diamond, he could play 7 and for a club 3. All it required was for East to signal and for West to watch!

Had East exited 7, West should have played a diamond back and the defence would have had the first 6 tricks. A good helpful signal and a watchful defender.

There are other instances where the defender not on lead can give a suit preference signal like when your partner leads an ace and dummy puts down a holding like KQ doubleton. The leader’s partner is in a good position of guiding their partner to the correct switch. Count is unlikely to help but suit preference might just work.

So, next time you see your partner struggling to know what to do next when defending, consider how you might have been able to help. Not always, of course, but there are opportunities.

Richard Solomon

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