ACES ON BRIDGE

“There’s nothing like being used to a thing.” -- Richard Sheridan

It is important to understand how South can describe a strong balanced hand in his first two calls. With 15 to 17 points, South can open one no-trump, whereas with 20 to 22 points, he would open two no-trump.

However, with in-between hands, in the range of 18 to 19 points, the solution is to open one of a suit, then jump rebid at no-trump. North can raise to three no-trump, since he has eight points in high cards, which should be more than enough for game.

When dummy comes down, South sees he needs four club tricks to make his game. He can only do so if East has the club king. Moreover, since there is only one entry to dummy, South must manage to take all of the necessary club finesses without wasting entries.

It is best to begin clubs by leading the nine from dummy. When it holds the trick, the queen can be led next. Once this also holds, a third finesse can be taken, and the contract can be brought home.

It would be wrong to lead the club queen first. If South drops the small club under dummy’s queen, he must win the second club in his own hand, and then cannot return to dummy for the third club finesse.

It would be no better to lead the queen and contribute the 10 under it. East would duck the first club, then cover the club nine with the king. This leaves South with a losing club for the fourth round of the suit.

ANSWER: The question here is whether to lead a diamond, trusting your RHO to have hearts under control, or to lead your long suit. I would go for the heart lead -- since even if East has the ace-king of hearts, a heart lead may still serve to help set this suit up for the defense.