ACES ON BRIDGE

“The poor man who enters into a partnership with one who is rich makes a risky venture.” — Plautus

Today’s deal comes to me from a friend and collaborator in various bridge ventures, Neil Cohen. He had played the deal in a pairs competition online, so his focus was slightly different than the problem I will set before you — namely to try to make nine tricks in three no-trump after West has shown hearts and a minor over your strong no-trump. North’s two-no-trump call was designed to show the values for three no-trump with a heart stopper.

As Cohen put it, using a baseball analogy, if you read West to have the club ace, you can make nine tricks on a double steal.

Win the diamond lead in hand and lead a club to the king. This is the first steal — West must duck, or you can run the clubs for three tricks. Then give up a club to East. Now, win the diamond continuation and lead a heart toward dummy’s king. This is the second steal, since West must duck again, or you will have nine tricks in the form of three spades, two hearts, three diamonds and a club. Once the heart king holds, you switch back to clubs and make two clubs and one heart to go with your six tricks in the pointed suits.

Of course, the simple club finesse would be an equally valid way to make the hand; but given the vulnerability and the fact that West has come into the auction facing a passed partner, the actual lie of the cards may be slightly more likely.

ANSWER: Did you make a limit raise in hearts? I won’t say this will never work, but I see more points thrown away by overbidding facing a major with a balanced 10-count than almost any other way. For your side to make game, partner must have enough to move over a constructive raise from one to two. Bear in mind that one of your queens is likely not pulling its full weight. Just bid two hearts here.