Aces On Bridge

“The degree of civilization which a people has reached, no doubt, is marked by their anxiety to do as they would be done by.”

— Oliver Wendell Holmes

Today’s deal sees North with a promising hand for slam when his partner opens the bidding. However, the one-no-trump rebid persuades North to look no higher than three no-trump. He certainly has no reason to assume that game will be as delicate as it actually turns out to be.

When West leads his fourth-best diamond, the fate of the contract hinges on declarer’s play to the first trick.

He should reason that West is relatively unlikely to have led low from a suit headed by all three of the king, queen and 10, so one of those honors must be held by East. If this is so, and the suit divides 4-3, the defenders will have three tricks in diamonds, but no more.

If diamonds break 5-2, the play of the ace may block the run of the suit for the defense. South’s correct play, therefore, is to go up with the ace in dummy.

This play does not lose even if West has led from both the king and queen, because the fact that the 10 would then be doubleton in East’s hand would prevent the run of four tricks. Declarer must still exercise caution; if he next finesses in clubs, the defenders can unscramble their six winners.

Instead, declarer must unblock spades and go after hearts at once, since he needs no more than two tricks in that suit to make his game.

West can win with the heart ace, but his side can take no more than two diamond tricks, even if East has unblocked his king at the first trick.

ANSWER: Not all bad hands oblige you to pass at every turn. Here, your shape requires you to compete to two hearts, even if your partnership doesn’t rate to have more than half the deck between you. With your extra shape, you shouldn’t worry about your honor location. Let the opponents worry about it instead.