Lead low I like, high I dislike

[Photo/China Daily]

Joy Bryant, an actress and former fashion model, said, "I kind of do high-low style a lot."

At the bridge table, defenders should do a lot of high and low to win style and scorecard points. When defenders use normal signals and discards, an unnecessarily high card is encouraging and the lowest card is discouraging. But when leading a suit, the opposite applies. A low card from length guarantees at least one honor in the suit and announces a desire to try to win tricks in that suit. But with a weak suit, one leads high.

How do those agreements apply in this deal? South is in three no-trump, and West is on lead.

A reliable rule is never to play in two no-trump with a long suit opposite some fit. Either get into the suit at the three-level (if possible) or go for three no-trump.

West leads the spade five. Declarer takes East's 10 with his king and plays a club. What should West do now?

South is marked with the spade queen, and almost certainly East would have raised spades with four-card support. So West needs to get East on lead for a spade return through declarer. The only hope, despite South's bid in the suit, is the diamond ace. West should shift to that suit and must lead the nine, his highest card denying interest in that suit.

East wins with his ace and leads his spade seven, top of a remaining doubleton. Now the contract goes down two.