AceS On briDge

“He who shall teach the child to doubt

The rotting grave shall ne’er get out.”

— William Blake

It is easy to pay lip service to the idea that juniors are the future of the game, but over the last few decades, we have rarely seen our organizations putting their money where their mouths are.

Getting bridge teachers into schools is one very important way to introduce children to the game. Getting them to learn the rules of bidding may take second place to allowing them to play cards and get a feel for the game. Once that starts to happen, who knows where it may take them?

I’m pleased to say that today’s deal, sent to me by Suleyman Kolata, comes from a juniors event: a Swiss teams tournament at the 20th Iskenderun Bridge Festival in Hatay, Turkey. Sitting West was Tuana Altun, age 8, playing with her brother Toygar Tuncay Altun. Tuana heard the auction as shown, to six hearts. What would you have led?

Tuana found the killing club lead for an 11 IMP gain, since her teammates had played in game rather than slam.

Consequently, this victory helped them win the under-16 teams. When her father asked Tuana about her lead and continuation of a club after winning the heart ace, Tuana said that the bidding had told her that the opponents held a big club fit. She felt confident that if her partner could not ruff at the first trick, her trump control would give her a second chance.

For the record, 23 out of 31 tables made the heart slam here.

ANSWER: After your initial pass, your partner will assume that you have fewer than 6 high-card points. But do you have enough to compete to two spades now? I say yes, but I’d understand anyone who would pass, feeling that the singleton club, combined with holding only four trumps, argues for defending, not declaring.