ACES ON BRIDGE

“To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive, and the true success is to labor.” — Robert Louis Stevenson

This month I am delighted to be able to run deals from Frank Stewart’s new book. “Keys to Winning Bridge” is not only a book with tips that will help players at all levels, it is also a book with a social conscience, since Frank devotes all the income from the book to local Fayette, Alabama, charities. For details of the book and his other works, check out the bookstore section of www.bridgeworld.com.

This is a declarer play problem from the book. As Stewart says, correct timing requires an ability to visualize and manipulate a card array; it requires foresight acquired through practice.

Against three no-trump, West leads a low heart, and declarer puts up dummy’s jack, winning the trick. I’m willing to bet the majority of declarers would take a diamond finesse next. If they do so, West will win and lead a club, leaving South with a nasty guess, since now declarer has only eight top tricks. He can make his game if the club finesse works or if spades break 3-3, but he must decide which play to try.

For example, in the position shown, declarer must play on spades. But switch the club king and spade five, for instance. Now if South rejects the club finesse, West can pitch hearts and keep enough clubs to set the game.

After South wins the first trick, he should take his three high spades. If the suit breaks 4-2, South will know he needs the club finesse if the diamond finesse doesn’t work.

ANSWER: When you bid two clubs, you showed a limit raise or better in hearts, an action that starts at about a 10-count with four trumps, give or take a point. When your partner rejects your game try, you had better have a really good hand to continue the auction — and this isn’t it. You might bid two no-trump to invite game if your diamond four were the queen; but as it is, you have an easy pass.