THE GAME OF BRIDGE SUIT PREFERENCE SIGNALS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 136, 10 June 1940, Page 5

THE GAME OF BRIDGE

SUIT PREFERENCE SIGNALS

The suit preference signal is a very valuable weapon in defensive play. The occasion for its use arises whenever it is urgent for a defender to tell his partner what suit he wishes led next. Th 3 signal operates as follows:— If the leader's partner follows to the first "rick with an unnecessarily high card, he wants the leader to switch to the Ligher of the two remaining plain suits; if he follows with the lowest card he wants the lower of those suits to be led. It is of the utmost importance, therefore, that the leader should note the pip value of the card his partner plays to the trick, as it may be a suit preference signal. * This signal, directing as it does the, partner's next lead, enables the defenders to defeat a contract that otherwise would be made. A very good example of the working of this convention occurs in the following situation, illustrated in Walshe's "Standard Manual of Play." South is playing a contract of four spades. East, during the auction, has bid hearts. The East-West hands are: <fr «■*• North. "1 ♦ X.6. 9 X.x.x.x. ~ , « Qf Q.J.10.4.3. 4A. I ' H •♦ 10.6.3. Jft x.x.x.x.x. South. 1 «fr A.Q.5. West opens with the Ace of diamonds, instead of leading his partner's suit. East recognises the lead as,a singleton and knows that West's normal lead ,at the second trick will be a heart. But East does not want a heart lead, as that, would mean that South would win the, trick and draw trumps immediately, then cash all his high diamonds to make his contract. East can prevent the lead of a heart from his partner by, using the suit preference signal. On his partner's Ace of diamonds he plays the three, his lowest card, directing West to lead tne lower of the two remaining plain suits —a club. It may be objected that the three of diamonds might easily be a meaningless card. That is so, but if East has no Aces no harm will result. The suit preference signal makes possible defensive plays which are otherwise impossible, and it saves- many points for the defenders. I Suit preference signals are not often i available in defence against no-trump contracts! though even then they can i be used when it is obviously useless to continue the suit originally opened and when the opening leader has takein a trick in a suit subsequently led by. the other side. His partner may advise him as to his next lead by playing

the children were entertained with songs and community singing led by Mrs. R. P. McCracken (Lady Gay, of 2ZB). The committee responsible for the, jolly programme of games . and the attractive tea comprised Mesdames F. M. Renner (president), G. C. Phillip! (secretary), C. Renner, R. Collier, E. Muir, G. Banbury, E. Hutt, K. Bullock, and E. A. Carter. The young prize-winners were Heather Mackie, ,Kit Bullock, Dorothy Jenness, Alan [Bradford, Muriel, Batchelor, Ronald i Collier, and Trevor Gould. ' , . >, „ * , .

Weekly Chat on Contract

Specially Written for "The Post" by "Approach Bid"

high or low on that trick if he vnm^J a particular suit led at the next tricfe

A SQUEEZE PLAY. Students of squeeze play will fin£ interest in a "Bridge World" hand v Jtt' which a very clever squeeze bridgv -,'■ home a redoubled contract. , p A.J.8.6. $ A.K.Q.J. , ■ $ A.J.10.7.2. 4 T. 2. North. -) * 8.6-5.4 J. V Q. 9.7. £ S V X.5.4.&. <► 7.6.5.4.2. ■. - | £ + •. jjjfc K.Q.4. I South. I «fr. g.6.3« ' . A.K.Q.J.10.9. ' , ' * io. 10.9.8.3. * 8.5. ' ' North opened the bidding with ft . ' club, East overcalled with one hearf;' .' South made a forcing take-out of twi> • . spades, and reached a con* i. tract of seven spades, which wai • ■ doubled by East. South redoubled. West led the Queen of her partner^ - heart suit, and dummy's Ace won tlfo trick- The Jack of hearts was thjen led. East covered with the King and \* South ruffed. South then played four rounds of spades, on which he discard* ed the Ace, King, Queen, and Jack; of diamonds from dummy. ,West, after ' following twice to spades,, discarded a club and a diamond. , The positron'at this stage was: — i "Jf, A.J.10.7.2. ♦■' "• . North. I♦ '• 4T.6.5.4.. ■ J | ♦— r 4k«.Q. South, j4L »•«.'*• 4 10 . ; '4 10.9.8.5. South leads his las£ .spade and Wea| is. squeezed. If he discards a diamondL South will run off .four diamond tricka [ on the; last of which West will b» ," forced,to discard a heart, or a clul^ '. , either'of which will be fatal;,if, d^ the last'spade lead he .discards a heart, . dummy i will, make two heart tricks; « '■; club discard is equally hopeless. ' - It may be noted that in the Culberti .. son, system the double of a slam is a lead-directing convention, which requests the leader not to make the nor*- _* mal lead; it is a signal that some su*» • prise lead will fit the doubler's hand " • perfectly.- As, diamonds must hayp '. been bid during the auction, West, wiiib five cards of that suit, might have cxi pected a void in East's hand. ;