ACES ON BRIDGE

“People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances.”

— George Bernard Shaw

North took the scientific route on today’s hand, responding one diamond, then continuing with two spades over partner’s twoclub rebid. North was showing a concentration in spades and some concern about hearts. In auctions like this one, the third suit shows values in the suit bid, while the fourth suit asks for a stopper.

Three no-trump was thus reached the right way up to protect the heart tenace, and West chose to lead dummy’s second suit, with the idea of leading to declarer’s weakness. This attack would be more attractive from a five-card or even a three-card holding. All too often, four-card suits set up winners, but not quickly enough to beat three notrump. Then again, our recommended heart lead would give declarer no problems.

Today, though, the spade did pose a difficult challenge. Declarer could count eight tricks once the club ace was removed. The heart suit posed a threat, however. If West held the heart king and East gained the lead to shift through declarer’s heart tenace, the game would be defeated.

It followed that declarer had to keep East off lead at any cost. South therefore called for the spade king.

This was safe even when West had led from the spade ace-queen. After all, the spade two lead was a strong indication that the suit was splitting evenly.

When the spade king held, all declarer had to do was knock out the club ace. The defense could score only three spades and a club trick.