ACES ON BRIDGE

“The demand was for constant action; if you stopped to think, you were lost.” — Raymond Chandler

Whatever action East takes here, South should compete as far as three hearts. The defense leads three rounds of diamonds, trying to kill declarer’s discard. The third diamond will get ruffed and overruffed, and now South needs to try to hold the black suit losers to two. Since East is likely to have the club ace, it seems right to lead a low club from dummy to the queen. Then he draws trumps, leading high hearts from hand, before advancing his second club. Declarer covers West’s card with his nine, and East takes his 10 and gets out with a top spade. Win or duck? Pause for reflection before committing yourself.

You have two chances for the contract, but the simpler is to try to ruff out the club ace, which works if East has only three clubs.

What if he does not? Then East would have begun with six diamonds and four clubs. Given that he is also known to hold two hearts, East can’t have more than one spade in that scenario. Therefore, you should let the spade king hold the trick. What can East do? If he gives you a ruff-sluff, it lets you pitch one of your spade losers. Meanwhile, if he plays a club, be it high or low, it will let you use the club king as a discard for your spade loser.

Had you won the spade ace, then whether you led a high or low club from dummy, or a spade, you would not be able to avoid two further spade losers.

ANSWER: The general rule about how high to raise partner in competition is that you can afford to be pre-empted by one level, but not two. Since you planned to raise to two hearts, you can afford to bid three hearts now. Passing (planning to raise hearts the next time — if there is one) would understate your heart support.