aces on bridge

“All things that can be known have number; for it is not possible that without number anything can be either conceived or known.”

— Philolaus

The vulnerability persuades you as South to look for a vulnerable game rather than to play for penalties — a correct strategy since even four spades doubled might have been a cheap save against a game here.

When West leads the spade king, the defenders have immediately set up their long suit. After you have won the spade ace on either the first or second round of the suit, what is your plan to take the further eight tricks you need for your game?

You can see seven tricks in clubs and hearts, but if you lead a diamond, the defenders will cash out for down one. So, you must find a fourth trick from the hearts.

You can do this if West has exactly five hearts and East’s singleton is the jack, nine or eight. When that singleton is the jack, a low heart to the queen will establish the 10, and you have straightforwardly achieved your goal. But since it is twice as likely that East’s singleton will be the nine or eight, as compared to the jack, you should play for that eventuality.

After taking the spade ace, lead the heart 10 from your hand. West will surely cover with the jack, and dummy’s queen will win the trick. Once the heart eight appears, you will cross to the club ace and lead the heart two to the seven. Next, you unblock hearts and run your nine tricks.

Incidentally, you cannot take any club winners before advancing the heart 10, as it would leave you short of an entry to your hand.

ANSWER: When the opponents intervene and you can see the possibility that they will raise their suit, it is a good idea to support your partner, assuming you have the option to do so. Here, I prefer to cue-bid two spades to show a club raise rather than bidding diamonds. The latter would be natural and forcing, but would not promise support.