ACES ON BRIDGE

“If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.”

— William Blake

After opener promised six spades with his rebid, North optimistically drove to game, not wanting to miss a vulnerable game at international match points.

When West led the club jack, declarer took dummy’s ace and ruffed a club, planning to eliminate the minor suits to increase his chances in the heart suit. Next, he played a trump to the seven. East won and passively exited in spades, West pitching a club.

Declarer won on table, then ruffed a second club and played the diamond king from hand.

West echoed to show an even number, and East ducked, taking the diamond continuation and returning a safe diamond. Declarer ruffed, and only now did he tackle the hearts.

The signals in the diamond suit had suggested they were 4-4, and East surely held the club king, for West would not underlead a side-suit king with an apparently safer option available to him in diamonds.

So declarer decided to lead a heart to the eight. East won with the 10 and was forced to return a low heart, since a ruff and discard would be fatal. For his play to make any difference, South had to assume East had either the king or jack of hearts left. East appeared to have shown up with two aces and a king. If he also held the heart king, he easily could have doubled at his first turn to speak. So declarer accurately played low from hand, and when this forced West’s king, he could chalk up his game.

In the other room, declarer relied unsuccessfully on the heart king being onside.

ANSWER: Pass. You have to draw the line somewhere. With a minimum in high cards and a balanced hand, you should not put your neck on the block by making a takeout double for the unbid suits. If the opponents had announced a fit (or if they do so on the next round) you might consider acting. Here, just try to win the event on the next deal; don’t lose it on this one.