Bridge Tip # 4

It is sometimes possible to take advantage opponents who regularly signal their distribution to each other . Say you are playing in 3NT with dummy having Q1043  of Spades and no apparent entry. You have AK9 of Spades and you you are in  your hand. Many declarers will automatically play the A. If you play the king first instead  your LHO may think partner has the Ace and will need to signal so her partner in order  to know when to take it to deny you entry to the long spade. This is a simplified situation, but often knowing your LHO has two, or four cards in a suit may  help in the play of the  hand. If LHO high lows and follows and the jack has not yet appeared  to the third trick you may finese the ten as opposed to playing for the drop, which is not the superior percentage play. Of course, excellent defenders who can tell what your problem will be, may echo in an attempt to deceive you. If you know the defenders are capable of doing this, you are again faced with a guess. In  that case you should go with the percentages and play for the suit breaking three three  or that  the jack will drop doubleton.