ACES ON BRIDGE

I don’t believe in principle, But oh, I do in interest. — James Russell Lowell

One of the most satisfying ways to generate extra tricks for the defenders comes when they maneuver a trump promotion — or force declarer to do the dirty work himself. In today’s hand, the trump seven became a master, even though declarer had a ninecard fit and a combined 100 honors.

North-South were playing a style where a two-spade rebid would have been nonforcing. After South’s very aggressive three-spade call, both players got rather carried away on the deal, eventually settling in the delicate slam. Of course, had they not done so, there would have been no story.

West kicked off with the club 10 to the queen, king and ace. With both major suits behaving in such friendly fashion, declarer could have succeeded by establishing dummy’s hearts and playing for an even trump break. His actual line seemed to improve on that chance, however.

South won the club ace and ruffed a diamond. He then crossed to his heart king to trump another diamond, then cashed the heart ace and ruffed a heart with the spade eight — a luxury that it turned out he could not afford. He then ruffed his last diamond, and in the five-card ending he led a winning heart from dummy.

When East ruffed in with the spade queen, it let declarer discard his losing club. Now with the remaining trumps 2-1, declarer seemed to be in control. However, West discarded the diamond king on this trick, and at this point another diamond from East promoted a trick for West’s spade seven.

ANSWER: You must go past three no-trump here, to raise diamonds. Your hand is spectacularly good for play in a suit — especially if you happen to be facing short spades.You could argue that since you have denied four hearts already, a four-club call should be a cue-bid for diamonds. While I wouldn’t risk that, I do think this hand is fully worth such an action.