13

December 2016 English Bridge

www.ebu.co.uk

West could alternatively bare the jack of clubs and

retain two spades and a heart. Now you would need

to lead the queen of clubs from dummy, pinning the

jack, rather than exit with your spade. Remember,

however, that the defenders can't see through the

backs of the cards, and if there is a legitimate way to

beat the contract, they will be looking to find it, and

will therefore be communicating with each other by

signalling. In this situation that signal is likely to be

distributional, and you should believe their carding

to determine what four cards West has kept.

´ 7 4 3

™ A

t A K J 9 4 2

® Q 5 2

´ 10 8 6 2 ´ Q J 9

™ 8 7 6 4 2 ™ K J 3

t - t Q 10 5 3

® J 9 7 6 ® K 8 4

´ A K 5

™ Q 10 9 5

t 8 7 6

® A 10 3

N

W E

S

Heather's Hints

• When you finish up in game after one

opponent has opened the bidding, you are

going to be able to place virtually all the

outstanding high cards in the opener's

hand. This may well leave him guarding

too many suits and become vulnerable to

an endplay or squeeze.

• Remember that the defenders are human!

They can't see through the backs of the

cards any more than you can, and must

draw inferences from the clues they

receive. The best information they get will

come from their partner, but you can also

use this to your advantage. This doesn't

mean that they should stop signalling since

it is often crucial to finding the correct

defence. r