THE ACES ON BRIDGE

“Put none but Americans on guard tonight.” -- George Washington .....................

This deal is from the final of the 1980 Australian National Open Teams. Which game contract do you think NorthSouth should have reached? In my opinion, one could argue that once North bid three spades over two hearts at his second turn to promise a good suit, maybe South should have considered raising to four spades.

Note that even with the bad break in spades and the club and heart finesses failing, declarer should be able to find a way to bring home 10 tricks in spades by setting up the diamonds, or by ducking an initial club lead.

As it was, South declared three no-trump, and the club six was led to the 10, jack and queen. Declarer appreciated that the spades could wait. He ducked a diamond, and East overtook the diamond 10 with the jack to return a second club. West took the trick and cleared the clubs. Now South led another low diamond. West took the queen and played a fourth club, won by East’s nine.

At this point it looks easy to exit with a heart. But look what happens: declarer will cash the ace and king of hearts and catch East in a squeeze. Whether he discards a spade or a diamond, declarer will take the rest. Appreciating that, East found the shift to a spade into dummy’s tenace, cutting declarer’s communications and insuring a diamond trick for himself or a heart for his partner in the ending.