ACES ON BRIDGE

“It is one of the consolations of middle-aged reformers that the good they inculcate must live after them if it is to live at all.”

— Saki

One of the side benefits of failing to qualify for the finals of the main events at the North American Championships is that you get to sample the delights of the Stratified Pairs, a consolation event. When that happens, you get a horde of well-wishers coming up and asking solicitously if you are in the wrong room.

Unperturbed by failing to reach the Blue Ribbon finals in Las Vegas nearly 20 years ago, Tony Forrester of England played with James Mates and concocted the following gem, which put him in the running for the Bridge Press award for the best defense of the year.

Defending against six diamonds, Mates did very well to open with a spade, starting the force on declarer, and Forrester’s ace was ruffed away. You can see what will happen now; South will cash the top clubs and ruff a club, then lay down the diamond ace ... not so fast! On the second top club, Forrester dropped the queen! That persuaded declarer to lead a diamond to the queen, losing to the king. Back came a spade, and declarer ruffed.

Declarer cashed the diamond ace, and when the 4-1 split came to light, he was suddenly in an impossible position. He could not get off dummy without forcing himself to ruff again, and in fact he finished four down. Had Forrester not given declarer the losing option in trumps, South would have ruffed a club, cashed the diamond ace to drop the king and retained control of the hand, making 13 tricks easily.

ANSWER: Bid one heart. You could double, getting all three of the other suits into the game, but that precludes your finding a 5-3 heart fit. The best line is to start with the overcall. If your side owns the deal, partner will have enough to compete, and you are apt to uncover a fit somewhere. And if the opponents grind to a halt in two diamonds or one no-trump, you may be able to double that for takeout.