Trust partner and take care yourself

By Phillip Alder | China Daily | Updated: 2016-01-09 09:11

Marcus Tullius Cicero, a Roman orator and statesman who died in 43 B.C., said, "Confidence is that feeling by which the mind embarks in great and honorable courses with a sure hope and trust in itself."

At the bridge table, you need confidence not only in partner's bids and plays, but also in your own ability.

Let's test both in today's deal. South is in four spades. West leads the heart eight: two, queen, jack. How should East continue the defense?

I agree with South's four-spade overcall. A slam is most unlikely after an opponent opens the bidding, especially looking at those two heart losers. Make life as tough as possible for the opponents. Here, though, if South had settled for one spade, North would have shown game-invitational values with spade support, and South would have raised to game.

First, East must not be fooled by South's heart jack. If West had started with the 8-5-3 of hearts, he would have led the three: low from length in partner's suit when the opening leader has not raised that suit. So East cashes his heart ace. What next, though?

It looks obvious to play another high heart, hoping to promote a trump trick for West. But if South is on the ball, he ruffs with his spade ace and immediately cashes three club tricks, discarding his diamond on the last round. He loses only two hearts and one spade.

Cash all of your side-suit tricks before trying for a trump promotion. East must take the diamond ace before leading the third heart. Then East trusts West to say, "Well defended, partner."