ACES ON BRIDGE

“Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment — that which they cannot anticipate.”

— Sun Tzu

At the 2012 Asia Pacific Congress, the spade blockage meant four hearts was not easy to make here. When the defenders led clubs, declarer could not go after spades conveniently because of the lack of entries back to his hand. Even if the spade finesse worked, East could block the suit by covering dummy’s first spade play.

So, each declarer played a trump, hoping it would be ducked. Both Easts won and returned a club, which declarer won to draw trumps. When East did not cover the spade 10, declarer was home free.

Strangely, though, declarer could have succeeded legitimately. After winning the club continuation at trick three, he must ruff a club, draw trumps, lead the spade jack (covered all around) and then ruff the fourth club. Now the run of trumps puts pressure on both opponents.

On the last trump, as South throws his small diamond, which defender keeps two spades? If neither, declarer overtakes the spade jack and scores the two. If East keeps spades guarded, declarer unblocks spades and leads a diamond, covering East’s card. West can then crash his partner’s diamond jack or lead low to his partner, who must concede the last trick to declarer. If East pitches a spade, West does best to keep two spades and pitch the diamond king.

Now declarer unblocks spades and then leads a diamond, ducking East’s card. West can overtake and give declarer the last two tricks, or he can duck and give South trick 13 himself!

ANSWER: Giving false preference to two hearts keeps the auction open. But is your side likely to make game? I’d say it is strongly against the odds. It is better to pass and stay low in a sensible trump fit. If one of your low spades were a heart, a two-heart call would be clear.