ACES ON BRIDGE

“A bad beginning makes a bad ending.”

— Euripides

How do you rate your skill on opening leads? As West, look only at the bidding and plan your opening salvo. The deal comes from a major U.S. pairs event, won by one of the world’s strongest husbandand-wife partnerships, Lew and Joanna Stansby. Had this deal gone the other way, they would have missed out on first place.

The jump to two spades was weak, and North reasonably bid four spades as a two-way shot, hoping one or other major-suit game would have decent play.

What do you think of West’s lead of the club jack? I can see the logic behind this, but a trump lead holds declarer to seven tricks for minus 500, East taking three rounds of trumps, then cashing three heart tricks upon gaining the lead in clubs.

The principle of always leading trumps against sacrifices, or contracts bid on shape rather than high cards, is a sound one.

A club lead worked out considerably worse, for it allowed declarer to cross-ruff the red suits, scoring three minor-suit tops, six ruffs and a trump trick.

Declarer Lew Stansby won the club king, ruffed a heart, cashed the diamond ace and ruffed a diamond.

Then he trumped another heart, cashed the club ace and ruffed another diamond to hand, with West unable to overruff. Declarer proceeded by ruffing a third heart and a third diamond — that was nine tricks in the bag. Lew now exited with the club nine and sat back to collect a trump trick in the ending, for plus 590 and virtually a clear top.

ANSWER: Do not overcall two no-trump to show the minors. You have far too much defense, enough that you may not want your partner to save, and you also have a hand that is playable for spades. I would certainly double, as I do not like overcalling in either minor.