ACES ON BRIDGE

“Those who have improved life by the knowledge they have found out ... round the brows of all these is worn a snow white band.” — Virgil

Bobby Fischer’s now-famous chess dictum is that when you have seen a good move, you should look for a better one. Today’s deal exemplifies this. South opened one no-trump, North raised to game, ignoring his club suit, and West led the spade queen.

Declarer correctly observed that there would be a painless nine tricks if the club finesse succeeded, but if it failed, a switch to hearts by East might prove highly uncomfortable.

Given that it was rubber bridge, it struck declarer that there was no need to take the club finesse. Playing the ace would gain if East held the singleton king, and even if West came to an undeserved trick with the king, the play of a spade, heart or diamond would give South his ninth trick.

Pleased with his analysis, declarer won the lead on the table and cashed the club ace, then continued with another club. East won and might have continued spades had West not guessed to discard the spade eight, prompting East to switch to the heart jack. When the finesse failed, the defenders cleared hearts and West discarded correctly, leaving declarer with only eight tricks when the diamond finesse failed.

The idea of playing the ace and another club was a good one, but South missed an even better play. Once both opponents follow to the club ace, a finesse of the diamond 10 absolutely guarantees the ninth trick. Whichever suit West chooses to return brings in an extra trick. Only then does declarer establish the clubs.

ANSWER: Dummy is surely going to have long hearts and a near Yarborough, since it could not bid over one no-trump. The most passive lead I can see here is a top club, since a spade or diamond lead might easily pick up an honor in partner’s hand that declarer could not negotiate for himself. Even if partner has the club ace, the club lead may not end up costing a trick.