ACES ON BRIDGE

“Such labored nothings, in so strange a style,

Amaze the unlearned, and make the learned smile.”

-- Alexander Pope

Against four spades, West led the trump seven to East’s ace and a trump was returned -- West following suit.

The contract is in danger only if East has the diamond king and you cannot avoid losing two club tricks. If West has both club honors, you will surely be sunk whenever East has the diamond king. Let’s not worry about that.

What else do we know? There are clues in the bidding and the lead. Since West did not lead a heart, East surely has a heart honor. If East had the club ace as well, he would have the spade ace, the diamond king, the club ace and a heart honor. That would give him at least 12 high-card points and an opener in third seat. Thus, if the diamond king is wrong, so is the club ace.

The best way to win against this layout is to lead the club four from hand next! If West rises with the ace, then you will lose only one club trick and are home free. If West plays low, you put in the jack. East will win the first club and can only return a heart. You will win and play the club king to West’s ace. West must shift to diamonds, but you rise with the ace and ruff the clubs good before returning to dummy with a heart ruff to run the good clubs. You will make four trumps, a heart, a heart ruff, a diamond and three clubs.

ANSWER: Your partner’s redouble sounds like an SOS redouble -- “Help, get me out of here.” His likely holding is four spades and five or six hearts, and since you know spades is now the best strain, simply bid two spades rather than confuse the issue with further escape maneuvers. The rule here is that if you want to play a doubled contract, you don’t need to redouble to get a good score.