ACES ON BRIDGE

“We never know how high we are Till we are caused to rise And then, if we are true to plan Our statures touch the skies.” — Emily Dickinson

This week’s hands were all played at the summer nationals in Las

Vegas last year. On this deal, from the first qualifying session of the von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs, Glenn Milgrim played three clubs as South after an aggressive call by North. North expected the opponents could make a red-suit partscore, so he was happy enough to be pushed to three clubs but wanted to avoid being doubled there. Whether or not that was sound — two spades does make for East-west on some good guesswork — Milgrim had to play the club partial after the lead of the spade queen, and a second spade to the king.

The likelihood that the diamond ace is onside is virtually nil; can you improve on that chance? At trick two, Milgrim ruffed the spade then led the club queen, which West discreetly ducked. Then he played a second club to the ace. Next he ruffed another spade, played the heart king and a heart to dummy, then ruffed the fourth spade and advanced the diamond queen.

West could do no better than win and cash the club king, but then he had to lead away from the diamond jack for declarer’s ninth trick. Had West ducked the diamond ace, he would have been endplayed with a club to lead diamonds, simplifying declarer’s task. Should East have deduced that he should overtake the opening lead and shift to the diamond nine? These things are always easier on paper than at the table. If West ducks the diamond queen at trick two, or wins and avoids continuing spades, declarer can no longer achieve the endplay.

ANSWER: East presumably holds the heart ace-queen for his no-trump bid in the face of your bid and raise. It is therefore unwise to attack the suit yourself. Lay down the diamond ace first, to get a signal from partner and a look at dummy. If partner encourages, you can continue diamonds, perhaps for a subsequent heart shift through declarer.