aceS on bridge

“Time has no flight -- ‘tis we who speed along;

The days and nights are but the same as when

The earth awoke with the first rush of song....”

-- Thomas Collier

In today’s deal, South played too fast and suffered the consequences. He didn’t see the danger to his contract of four hearts when the defenders led and continued spades. He ruffed, then drew three rounds of trump, expecting them to break, or hoping that East has the long trump, in which case there would be no danger.

When West turned up with four hearts, South could do nothing else but try to build the tricks he needed by knocking out the diamond ace. However, the damage had already been done. East won the diamond ace and returned a spade, leaving West with the 13th trump and two master spades ready to cash.

By contrast, compare the strategy of ducking the second trick, pitching a small club. You will then ruff the third spade, stripping East of that suit. Now you draw three rounds of trump to find the bad news, but can then simply draw the last trump and knock out the diamond ace.

The difference between this position and the former one is that East no longer has a spade to lead. So he must lead back a minor suit, and your hand is high.

While you would have gone down if West had five spades, the fourth trump and the diamond ace, there was nothing you could have done in that position. Accordingly, you might as well try to make your contract whenever it is possible.

ANSWER: Your partner has shown six or more clubs and four hearts, with the values to invite game. You have the ideal hand for him, so jump to five clubs, expecting it to be at worst on a spade finesse. Yes, you have a minimum hand, but your cards are in the perfect places for him.