ACES ON BRIDGE

“Curses are like young chickens: They always come home to roost.” — Robert Southey

At the Bermuda Bowl of 2007 in Shanghai, I was disappointed in the final position of the Irish team. They had come into the round robin as silver medalists in the European Championships, and were therefore among the favorites to advance to the knockout phase. This did not happen, but they were nonetheless fighting right to the end — as seen in this deal from their final match.

John Carroll and Tommy Garvey play a light opening bid system whereby they frequently open 10-counts, as here. Carroll, West, guessed well to lead the ace and another club. Garvey continued with a third round of clubs as Carroll pitched a heart.

Declarer ruffed and cashed two rounds of trumps, then played the diamond king, which Carroll ducked, following with the 10. The contract can, of course, still be made easily by leading the diamond queen or playing a spade to the South hand and a diamond toward the queen. However, the sight of the diamond 10 was enough to convince South that his play didn’t matter — that is to say that West’s card had to be from the ace-10 or ace-jack-10. He continued with a small diamond, letting East win his diamond jack.

Now Garvey made no mistake, continuing with his remaining top club, on which West threw the diamond ace! Declarer had to ruff in the North hand, and at this point could not get off dummy to draw the last trump without promoting West’s spade 10 for the setting trick.

ANSWER: No one could blame you for passing with a two-count here. But in context, you have enough (or almost enough) to compete to three clubs now. The doubleton diamonds, four trumps and a queen may not seem like much, but your partner has already shown a full reverse by competing facing a passing partner.