Your second partner will help you out

George Eliot said, "Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms." In bridge, it is beneficial if your partner is an agreeable friend; but on some deals you need to call on another friend, one of your opponents.

How can South get some help from a defender in this deal? He is in three no-trump, and West leads a fourth-highest club five. This is surely the most common bidding sequence. It is amazing how often three no-trump makes when you have at least 25 points between you and your partner.

First, declarer counts up his top tricks, his immediate winners. Here, he has eight: two hearts, four diamonds and two clubs. From where might the ninth winner come?