Bridge: July 9, 2022

“Simple Saturday” columns focus on improving basic technique and logical thinking.

Aspiring players learn how signals can direct the defense. Defenders can signal “attitude”: whether they want a suit led or continued. In standard methods, a high card encourages. You must avoid ambiguous signals. Don’t signal “high” with a seven if you can afford a nine.

In today’s deal, East has overcalled in hearts, so West leads the queen against 3NT. With how high a card should East signal?

MAKING FOUR

The actual East played the ten, but declarer played low. West searched through his diamonds but couldn’t locate another heart; he led a diamond. South won, lost a club to East’s queen, won the heart return with his jack, conceded a club to the ace and claimed, making four.

To defeat 3NT, East must signal with a high heart at Trick One: the king. Then he can get in with a high club to force out South’s second heart stopper and get in with his other high club to cash his good hearts.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S K 9 6 H 6 4 D A K C K 10 9 6 5 2. You open one club, your partner bids one spade, you raise to two spades and he tries 2NT. What do you say?

ANSWER: Not every expert would have bid two spades, but raising a major-suit response with three-card support in a suitable hand is a sound tactic. Partner’s 2NT is a try for game and suggests about 11 points with balanced pattern. Bid three clubs, which he should treat as a sign-off.

North dealer

Both sides vulnerable

NORTH

S K 9 6

H 6 4

D A K

C K 10 9 6 5 2

WEST

S Q 7 5 4 2

H Q

D J 7 6 5 2

C 8 4

EAST

S J 8

H K 10 9 8 5 3

D 8 3

C A Q 7

SOUTH

S A 10 3

H A J 7 2

D Q 10 9 4

C J 3

North East South West
1 C 1 H 3 NT All Pass
Opening lead — H Q

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