ACES ON BRIDGE

“Thou shalt not steal; an empty feat,

When it’s so lucrative to cheat.” — Arthur Hugh Clough

Some deals appear to a suspicious outsider to have been rigged, but the computer produced this one — and we know it has no sense of humor.

In a Vanderbilt semifinal, both tables reached three no-trump. One table set the game by leading a top heart and shifting to spades.

By contrast, Paul Soloway got a low heart lead and won it in hand. Since hearts appeared to be 4-4, you might lead the diamond acequeen.

If the defenders take that, you have winners to burn. If they duck this trick, you can play clubs — but now they are likely to have five winners. If you play the top clubs before diamonds, East can either duck, or win and cash the hearts to squeeze dummy. Again, the defense should prevail.

Instead, win the heart, cash one top club and lead the diamond queen.

If West wins this and does not play the spade king to take out dummy’s entry, you have nine easy tricks via the spade finesse. If West wins and leads the spade king, you can take the club finesse for your ninth winner.

But if the defenders duck the diamond queen, you play your club jack next, again giving them a dilemma. If they win and dislodge the spade ace, you have your nine tricks. Any other return allows you to take the spade finesse for your contract.

So East has to duck the club jack, and now you change tack yet again by driving out the spade king. You wind up with five minor-suit winners, one heart and three spades.

ANSWER: Double. This is takeout of clubs, not for penalty. East’s call is often tactical, with a moderate hand and club support, or even a psychic maneuver with a poor hand, to try to silence you. Do not let them steal from you — it may still be your hand in game, or you may have a cheap save.

This is a risky action, however; if the no-trump bidder has a good hand, partner may not thank you for forcing him to bid!