Rescuing Partner

South Deals N-S Vul	♠ A Q 10 5 ♥ A K ♦ Q J 10 5 4 ♣ A 2
♠ J 8 7 6 ♥ 10 9 8 ♦ 2 ♣ K 8 6 4 3	N W E S

You	North	East	South
			2 ♦
Pass	2 NT1	Pass	3 ♦2
Pass	4 NT3	Pass	5 ♥4
Pass	6 ♦	All pass

asks for outside feature no outside A or K Roman Key Card Blackwood two key cards, no ♦Q

You are West. Declarer wins your ♥ 10 lead with the ace. The play proceeds:
  ♦ Q from dummy, partner follows
  ♥ K from dummy, partner follows, you play the ♥ 8
  ♣ A from dummy, partner plays the ♣ Q
  ♣ 2 from dummy; partner plays the ♣ 10, and declarer follows low. Your play?

ANSWER: Play the ♣ K, overtaking partner's ten. With only diamonds and spades remaining in dummy, partner is partially end-played.

At this point, declarer has exactly three cards remaining outside of diamonds. Declarer denied having a spade feature (e.g., the ♠ K) when she bid 3 ♦. Even without that information, you can see that if declarer needs a spade finesse, it will lose. So you must defend as if partner has the ♠ K, and lead spades from your hand. (If declarer has the king, the contract cannot be defeated.)

From partner's play in the club suit (queen under the ace, then the ten) you can see that she started with ♣ Q J 10 and thus declarer has a club remaining. But partner can't tell that it is safe to exit with a club. Partner will fear giving declarer a ruff-and-sluff by leading the wrong side suit; partner's best shot is to lead a spade hoping that declarer has three spades. But if declarer has only two spades (as on this deal), a spade lead from East gives declarer her contract.

THE PRINCIPLE: When partner will have a problem if she is stuck on lead, rescue her by establishing the lead in your hand.

South Deals N-S Vul	♠ A Q 10 5 ♥ A K ♦ Q J 10 5 4 ♣ A 2
♠ J 8 7 6 ♥ 10 9 8 ♦ 2 ♣ K 8 6 4 3	N W E S	♠ K 9 2 ♥ Q J 5 4 3 2 ♦ 6 ♣ Q J 10
	♠ 4 3 ♥ 7 6 ♦ A K 9 8 7 3 ♣ 9 7 5

-- Ray

Better Bridge in 5 Minutes. Guaranteed! (or the next one is free)