ACES ON BRIDGE

Consider in abstract how to play today’s diamond suit of J-9-8-6-3 facing A-K-4 to give yourself the best chance of four tricks. The best play is to cash the ace, in case an honor falls, then cross back to the other hand in a second suit and lead the nine, letting it run unless the next opponent shows out.

Now look at today’s deal, where South ended in six no-trump and West led the heart three. Declarer needed to generate two extra tricks from diamonds, so he played low from the table and won East’s queen with the king. A top diamond saw both opponents follow suit, but only now did declarer realize he was short of the entries to hand that he needed for the safety play in diamonds.

He was therefore reduced to playing the second top diamond, hoping for the suit to break. However, when East showed out, the contract was doomed.

Declarer had exactly the right idea, but miscalculated the needed entries to the South hand. Try the effect of the heart jack from dummy on the first trick. Whether East can cover or not, declarer has ensured an extra entry to hand when he needs it.

He now cashes a top diamond, comes to hand with a heart and leads the diamond nine. West plays low, and, as planned, declarer follows low from dummy. If it loses, he can claim the balance. When the nine wins, he can cash dummy’s diamond winner, return to hand with the spade queen and force out the diamond queen to claim 12 tricks.

ANSWER: Do you see my megaphone? I am about to speak very loudly and clearly. Never overcall at the two-level in direct seat on a suit like this. A takeout double may lead to your missing a 5-3 diamond fit, but that is hardly the end of the world. Conversely, overcalling here may get you into all kinds of trouble. I would pass a one-spade opener, by the way, considering there to be no serious second choice.