Good defense requires sound communication as well as cooperation with
your partner. Here is a hand where East gave his partner a
standard count signal that enables his partner to defeat the contract.
Scoring: Matchpoints (pairs)
Hand #11
Dlr
W
Vul
N/S
QJ96
A985
AQ
875
752
J107
K1083
KQ4
A843
Q642
942
93
K10
K3
J765
AJ1062
West
North
East
South
Pass
1
Pass
3NT
All Pass
BIDDING: N/S use a jump
to 2NT after a minor opener to show invitational values, around 11-12
points. South upgraded his 12 points because of his fit with his
partner's club suit. Unfortunately, he soon discovered his
partner's suit was rather anemic.
PLAY: West led a low
diamond won by dummy's queen as East followed with the deuce to
discourage. Declarer saw the club suit was the best source of
tricks and promptly took a losing finesse. West continued
diamonds and East played the nine on dummy's ace to show "present
count", either two or four. Declarer led another club from
dummy and was disappointed when the second finesse lost. West
realized from his partner's carding that declarer started with five
clubs and either two or four diamonds. Holding only two diamonds,
declarer would have bid a four-card major so West was confident the
diamond jack was still protected. In an attempt to reach his
partner's hand, West shifted to the seven of spades. East won the
ace and put his last diamond on the table and the defense had
five tricks: 1 spade, 2 diamonds, and 2 clubs.
There was nothing particularly difficult about this hand but at a local
game, 3NT was successful ten of the twelve times it was
attempted. It could be that it was played from the North hand
with a spade lead but there is also a strong possibility that the
defense was less than stellar.
