Deal Us In: Wake up a partner with this sequence

Playing in a tournament in Michigan, Nancy DeWeese wrote: “We certainly should have set this contract. I was sitting East and could not take a bid over the three-spade bid by North. When my partner led the deuce of clubs, I took the ace, knowing that my partner had led from a four-card club suit.

“I switched to the king of diamonds at trick two, and when my partner encouraged with the nine, I continued with the queen of diamonds. South, being a rather advanced player, played the Jack of diamonds. I spent some time with higher blood pressure and tried a low club. However, South ruffed, drew trump and threw his diamond loser on dummy’s fourth heart. Who was at fault?”

It was partly West, because if East had started with king and queen of diamonds, he should have continued with a low diamond at trick three. East could have made life easier if she had switched to the queen of diamonds at trick two. Then, when she continued with the king of diamonds at trick three, it should have been obvious to even the sleepiest West to overtake and give East a diamond ruff to set the contract.

When you need to wake up a partner, play your cards in an abnormal sequence.

Donna Swan is a resident of Longboat Key, an ardent bridge player and an American Contract Bridge League certified director who plays “for the fun of it.”

SCOREBOARD

Merrill Duplicate Bridge Club

May 21
North-South
1. Lori Brickman and Cele Schwartz
2. Jack Wilber and Larry Auerbach
3. Jayne Forstenzer and Helen Schweyer

East-West
1. Marilyn Powell and Jay Jelinek
2. Mary Lou Robinson and Carolyn Gornowicz
3. Kathy Sachs and Ann Clemente