ACES ON BRIDGE

“If a man, sitting all alone, cannot dream strange things, and make them look like truth, he need never try to write romances.”

— Nathaniel Hawthorne

On this deal from an English pairs tournament, North-South reached the top spot of six spades. North jumped to four spades over fourth-suit forcing, to show something like 3=5=4=1 shape with extras. He then disclosed his club void and one key-card in response to Blackwood.

Leading a club through the void worked surprisingly well for West here. Declarer could see he probably had three discards for his losing clubs, but he had to lose the likely trump trick at a time when the defense could not cash the club ace.

So, after ruffing the club, South called for the spade queen. When East covered, South let it hold, while dummy still had a trump to take care of a club continuation. East returned a trump, but with the diamonds coming in, declarer was home.

Had the spade queen held, declarer would have reason to fear repeating the finesse, lest West turn up with the king. One option would have been to ruff another club in dummy and play on diamonds, hoping the hand with three trumps also had three diamonds. Of course, declarer would also pick up a doubleton spade king along his way. That would fail today: East would ruff the third diamond and cash the club ace.

If the spade queen holds, it is better to ruff out the hearts. Cash the heart ace-king and ruff a heart, then ruff a club to dummy and ruff another heart with the spade jack. ANSWER:

To bid two notrump, showing the red suits, would lose a possible spade fit. It is best to start with one heart, intending to bid diamonds later on. If partner volunteers a spade bid, you will be delighted to support him. In some auctions, you may be able to double for takeout at your second or third turn.