ACES ON BRIDGE

“There is a strength in the union even of very sorry men.”

-- Homer

All the deals this week come from the Fall Nationals a year ago in Providence, Rhode Island. This deal comes from a qualifying round in the Keohane North American Swiss Teams. On this deal, declarer is in danger from both opponents, but can navigate his way between Scylla and Charybdis.

Let’s say you manage successfully to steer away from the lure of diamonds (not that five diamonds is a bad spot) to play three no-trump. You duck the heart lead -- king, two, jack, nine -- and if the defenders continue hearts, you will take a diamond finesse. Then if it loses, you will later play clubs from the top to try to keep West off lead.

Instead, the defenders shift to spades at trick two. You win and cash a top diamond then a top club, and take a losing diamond finesse. If a heart comes back, you revert to the above mentioned avoidance play strategy to try to keep West out.

But the defenders meanly win the second diamond and play a second spade. You duck, and now with spades 5-3, the defenders have two choices, both bad. If they continue spades, you now simply take a club finesse, not caring if it loses since West will not have a spade to play. If the defenders revert to hearts, you play clubs from the top again. This way you make game not only when either finesse wins but also when the club queen is offside doubleton, as here.

ANSWER: Does this double call for an unusual lead (the Lightner double), or is it simply an indication that the contract rates to go down? I wish I could answer with confidence, but I’m going to go out on a limb and read this as asking for a club lead. I will lead a low club to keep partner from underleading his spade ace.