AceS On briDge

“Shallow men believe in luck or in circumstance. Strong men believe in cause and effect.” -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Not all finesses are created equal. Sometimes the timing of the play dictates that one suit must be broached before another.

The explanation for the bizarre auction here is that North responded two clubs because he thought he was a passed hand and was bidding Drury to show a strong spade raise! If you think this can only have occurred at a local club, note that this came up in a top-bracket knockout final, and North was a famous player. Luckily, the contract reached was a reasonable one.

When West led his diamond, it might appear that declarer would need two out of three finesses in spades and clubs (and probably to find trumps breaking 3-2) to succeed. However, dummy’s shortage of entries means care is required. Declarer wins the opening lead, crosses to the heart ace, and takes the club finesse. If West wins the king, declarer must find East with K-J or K-J-x of spades. He leads the club 10 to the jack and a spade to the 10, then ruffs the club ace to play a spade to the queen.

If the club queen holds, declarer leads a spade to the 10, then ruffs the third club in dummy to lead another spade. If East covers with the club king, the club jack and the club ruff are declarer’s two entries.

Taking the spade finesse first fails today because the early club finesse creates two additional entries. Also, be careful not to discard a club on the heart king -- that loser has an important role to play!

ANSWER: The choice is between a simple raise to two spades and a three-card limit raise (via one notrump if that is your style). I prefer the simple raise, especially if you play this as constructive. Yes, you have 10 HCP and a doubleton, but your spades are tiny and the club queen and jack are not pulling their full weight. Additionally, we might belong in hearts.