Thank You Partner

26th November – Board 6. East/West Game. Dealer East.

Defending is a difficult business and you should do everything you can to help out partner if you suspect things are not so clear to him as they are to you.

	North: S 9 5 4 H J 9 6 5 2 D J 10 7 3 C 4
West: S K J 10 2 H K 10 4 D K Q C K Q 8 7		East: S A Q 3 H A Q 7 3 D 9 5 C J 10 9 6
	South: S 8 7 6 H 8 D A 8 6 4 2 C A 5 3 2

West	North	East	South
		1NT	No
2C	No	2H	No
3NT	End

5C is the right contract but how you get there I have no idea and 3NT will surely be reached at every table. And at every table South will lead the four of diamonds. Now if you were North wouldn’t you be excited at this? You know South has the diamond ace because you lead fourth best from an honour and second best from a poor suit so you have to tell partner from the outset that you have the missing honours. So play the jack at trick one to not only tell partner that you like his suit but to start unblocking manoeuvres. When partner get is with the ace of clubs he can cash the diamond ace and lead low to your ten and you can lead a diamond back enabling him to cash the rest of his tricks. South should know to rush in with the ace of clubs because almost certainly a frightened declarer will have shown all his high card points in the hope of having nine tricks on top.