This deal is a good test of defensive
methods, so take the West cards and see how you fare. Your partner
(East) opens a weak 2H and declarer ends in 3NT. You decide to lead
the ten of clubs. Partner plays the two and declarer wins with the
king. He then advances a low spade. How will you defend? At the table
West decided to play ‘second hand low’. Declarer won the trick
with dummy’s king and turned to diamonds. When that suit proved to
be favourably disposed he had one spade, two hearts, four diamonds and
two clubs. Game made! The hand is a good one for ‘count signals’,
where the defenders signal their length rather than their strength. On
this particular deal, East’s two of clubs would carry the message of
an odd number of clubs. This is likely to be three clubs rather than
one. In any case, that is what West must assume in order to beat the
contract. Since prospects are extremely poor unless East holds a
diamond stopper, West should rise with the ace of spades and clear the
club suit. Of course, East must remember to unblock the jack of clubs
on the second round! Declarer will then be held to just seven tricks:
three spades, two hearts and two clubs.
Answer
Your partner’s double
shows a strong hand but it is not for penalties. South may have 8-card
spade suit and it is probably better to attempt a minor-suit game,
rather than choose to defend. To ask partner to choose between clubs
and diamonds, you should bid 4NT. This is the ‘Unusual Notrump’.
It can hardly be Blackwood when you have passed 4S.
This deal is a good test of defensive
methods, so take the West cards and see how you fare. Your partner
(East) opens a weak 2H and declarer ends in 3NT. You decide to lead
the ten of clubs. Partner plays the two and declarer wins with the
king. He then advances a low spade. How will you defend? At the table
West decided to play ‘second hand low’. Declarer won the trick
with dummy’s king and turned to diamonds. When that suit proved to
be favourably disposed he had one spade, two hearts, four diamonds and
two clubs. Game made! The hand is a good one for ‘count signals’,
where the defenders signal their length rather than their strength. On
this particular deal, East’s two of clubs would carry the message of
an odd number of clubs. This is likely to be three clubs rather than
one. In any case, that is what West must assume in order to beat the
contract. Since prospects are extremely poor unless East holds a
diamond stopper, West should rise with the ace of spades and clear the
club suit. Of course, East must remember to unblock the jack of clubs
on the second round! Declarer will then be held to just seven tricks:
three spades, two hearts and two clubs.
Your partner’s double
shows a strong hand but it is not for penalties. South may have 8-card
spade suit and it is probably better to attempt a minor-suit game,
rather than choose to defend. To ask partner to choose between clubs
and diamonds, you should bid 4NT. This is the ‘Unusual Notrump’.
It can hardly be Blackwood when you have passed 4S.