East’s 4♠bid may appear rash, but once the opposition have found a good fit, they will be unwilling to defend. South is likely to press on 5♥ - as here - and now the spotlight turns to West. Though he has undisclosed four card support for his partner’s suit, it would be a bad error for West to bid 5♠. In all probability his partner’s main motivation for bidding was to push the opponents up an extra level. West heeded this week’s tip and passed.

He led ♠6 to ♠10, ♠J and ♠A. Declarer drew trumps in two rounds and led ♣J. West won ♣A and had to decide whether the third defensive trick was coming from ♦K in his partner’s hand or a ♠ trick. He found the solution by leading ♦A and waiting for East’s signal. If East had played a low ♦ spot card, West would have led a second ♠ in the hope that declarer had a second ♠. In fact East encouraged with ♦9, so West led a second ♦ to East’s ♦K to defeat the contract.

ANDREW’S TIP: The five-level belongs to the opponents.