ACES ON BRIDGE

“An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come.” — Victor Hugo

When South opens one no-trump, North knows that his side has the values for game. While some would blast three no-trump and let the opponents find the killing lead, purists would prefer to describe their hand and let partner decide where to play. After a minor-suit transfer, new suits at the three-level should show shortness; with a long minor and four cards in a major, you would start with Stayman.

When West leads the spade three against three no-trump, South should duck the first two spades, hoping the suit will block. If so, East will have to shift, leaving the spade ace in dummy.

As it happens, East’s doubleton double honor means the suit does block, and East therefore shifts to the heart 10 at trick three. When South wins his heart ace, it may look natural to cash his top diamonds; but it would be fatal today.

When declarer plays a third diamond, West will take his queen to play a third spade. Declarer will be cut off from the heart king, and will thus come up a trick short.

Similarly, South cannot cash his heart king before he gives up the diamond trick. West would unblock his heart queen and the defense could then run the hearts.

The paradoxical solution is to play the ace, then a small diamond at trick five. South can subsequently get back to his own hand with the diamond king to cash the heart king. Then he can re-enter dummy with a black- suit ace to run the rest of the diamonds.

ANSWER: Your partner does not promise more than a five-card suit for this auction. Rather than leave him to stew in an unsatisfactory trump fit, I would bid one notrump. With both opponents acting, this is not a try for game showing extras; it is merely an attempt to improve the contract.