Good defense requires communications with your partner in order to
succeed. Here is a hand where the defenders did all they could.
Scoring: Matchpoints (pairs)
Hand #3
Dlr
E
Vul
E/W
A64
KQ85
Q102
1072
K
7643
AK
KQJ965
873
A92
9874
843
QJ10952
J10
J653
A
West
North
East
South
Pass
2
3
4
All Pass
BIDDING: North was
extremely optimistic when he raised his partner to game. Perhaps
he thought the opponents could make game but a raise to the three-level
would better describe this hand.
PLAY: West led the ace
of diamonds followed by the king. This partnership normally leads
the king from ace-king so East knew his partner held a doubleton.
On the first diamond East followed with the discouraging four but when
it was clear his partner was looking for a ruff, he played the nine on
the second diamond. This was a suit preference signal asking West
to shift to the higher ranking side suit. West switched to a
heart and received the diamond ruff to beat the contract. Note
that if West routinely leads a club (or switches to one after the
ace-king of diamonds), declarer will make his contract.
This is another example showing that every card you play should have a
meaning for your partner.
