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                                   “GRAND” DEFENCE.

If only. If only all our defences were “grand” whether they were against a part-score, game, small slam…and a grand. Well, you only need to win one trick against that rare kind of contract. How hard is that! Some of the time you are spared the agony. The best time is when your side produces a cashing ace at trick 1. You are also spared when declarer spreads their hand with a degree of satisfaction. (A tip.. just check they are correct as it has been known that a declarer can be wrong. (I do recall such a false claim costing a partner of mine (not a current one, I hasten to add!) 17 imps in a short Swiss match…terminal!

There were no claims on this day, however. Opposite what could be a near negative response to dummy’s 2Club-small opening, one could best describe the final contract as “sporting”.

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North Deals
None Vul
A K
K J 8 5 2
A K Q 3
A 9
J 8 5
Q 10 9 7
6 5 2
10 7 5
 
N
W   E
S
   
West North East South
You Dummy    
  2  Pass 2 
Pass 2  Pass 2 
Pass 3  Pass 3 NT
Pass 4  Pass 4 
Pass 5  Pass 5 
Pass 7 NT All pass  

 

After a negative or waiting 2Club-small bid, South shows a little bit of life with their 2Spade-small call but no interest in their partner’s red suits. Nevertheless, out comes Gerber with South having the only ace and king you cannot see in dummy.

That’s enough for North who puts his partner to grand. You lead the Diamond-small6 (good choice) with everyone following to three top diamonds. On the fourth round, your partner discards the Spade-small3 (low encourage) and declarer the Spade-small2. Which card do you discard?

There are many different signalling methods which work most of the time. This hand is a nightmare for those who play “odds and evens”, “odd" …like and "even" suit preference. You will see why shortly.

You already have a lot of evidence about this deal. If declarer had five spades (and your partner therefore 3), which could be the case, there would be no way your partner could afford the Spade-small3 to say they liked spades (liking in this case must be holding the queen). They would not then like it so much when Spade-smallAK were cashed!

Therefore, declarer must have only 4 spades. Declarer has 4 diamond tricks, 3 in hearts (alas, you know they must take the finesse),2 in spades and at least 2 in clubs. If your partner has the Club-smallQ, that would make 3 if declarer held the jack. If declarer, has Club-smallKQJx, then the defence is over.

Not only do you know declarer’s shape (4234..1 heart,4 spades and 5 clubs does not make much sense with the bidding) but your partner’s, too: 4234 as well. You can anticipate that your partner will need to make a further discard on the third round of hearts….and you must get the message across that that has to be in spades as you have Spade-smallJ. You must indicate now you do not like clubs, either by discarding Club-small7 (low like) or Club-small5 (low not like). You must keep the Club-small10, too valuable a card to throw.

I am not sure how you get that message across playing “odds and evens” (I do not) as both cards you can discard are odd.(perhaps the Club-small7 when you may have a lower odd card).

Whatever your method, if you were now to discard a spade, because partner has shown you the Spade-smallQ, then the declarer will make an unmakeable contract.

North Deals
None Vul
A K
K J 8 5 2
A K Q 3
A 9
J 8 5
Q 10 9 7
6 5 2
10 7 5
 
N
W   E
S
 
Q 9 4 3
4 3
J 10 9
J 6 3 2
 
10 7 6 2
A 6
8 7 4
K Q 8 4
West North East South
You Dummy    
  2  Pass 2 
Pass 2  Pass 2 
Pass 3  Pass 3 NT
Pass 4  Pass 4 
Pass 5  Pass 5 
Pass 7 NT All pass  

 

At trick 5 came a heart to the ace and as expected a heart to the jack and the Heart-smallK…and the critical moment, partner’s discard. They have to throw Spade-small4 before they know that declarer will part with their second low spade, thus knowing that their Spade-smallQ will fall on the second round.

Two high spades…and then Club-smallA and a second club, with Club-small10 preventing a finesse. Your partner would complete a tough defence with the winning trick at trick 13.

If only….

We move into the world of the surreal for today’s question:

 

 
Q 10 9 7 3
5 2
A K Q J 6 3
West North East South
1  1  Dbl 2 
2  ?    

 Pairs: E-W Vul.

What would you next bid be? We can tell you that:

  1. psyches are not allowed
  2. Your partner could have bid 2Diamond-small to show game interest with 3+ spades

You may not initially approve of your own 1Spade-small bid but you have no Michaels’ bid available to show spades and clubs. Yes, you might have started with 2Club-small though there is nothing wildly wrong with getting the “boss” suit into the picture, either…. and having a little running side-suit up your sleeve. 2Club-small is, of course, natural.  

So, no complaints, please…your bid is all we require!

Richard Solomon

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