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FriDay... for those new to the table.

The Message.

The Learners’ class you attended may have spent lots of time on the bidding and some time on playing hands. However, it probably did not spend too much time on defence perhaps either because you have enough to learn about the other aspects of the game or maybe because defending is really hard. It certainly can be, no matter how long you have been playing.

Try this situation.

 

The opposition bid slowly up to 4 and you lead A. Your partner follows with 10 and declarer 6 . Which card do you play to trick 2?

One soon learns as a defender that one partner can signal to the other whether they like the card their partner leads. This is especially true when one’s partner leads an ace.

There are different signalling methods but one very common method is to play as low a card as you can if you like the lead and as high a card as you can afford to play (not usually an honour card) if you do not like the lead.

With Q754 in dummy, West might presume that continuing clubs would be a bad idea as the contract is a suit contract. However, if East held two clubs, it would be quite a good idea as West would be able to give their partner a ruff on the third round of the suit. (East would presume their partner has led from AK.)

So, West does not always know and relies on their partner to say whether it is or is not a good idea to continue clubs. East’s 10 looks like a clear signal (make your signal as clear as you can) to switch and the most obvious switch looks like to the A. Playing K next was not a good idea as these were the four hands.

 

Had West continued K, South would ruff and cross to dummy with a spade to the queen. Next would come Q discarding one of South’s diamonds and the contract would make for the loss of A, K and a diamond.

On the actual deal, any continuation at trick 2 except a club should still beat the game, as long as East switches to a diamond when in with K. Otherwise, dummy’s diamonds disappear on spade winners and 4 will make. Not so, if West switches to A at trick 2. East likes that switch and therefore plays 2 (Low= Like) to encourage West to continue that suit.

The message got through from East to West. “I do not like clubs but I do like diamonds.” The contract was defeated by good defence. As a defender, you are not alone if you can interpret partner’s message to you. Signalling will get harder but the above is a good way when one is new to the game.

Enjoy… and look out for the messages!

Richard Solomon

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