ACES ON BRIDGE

I will not be a common man. … I will stir the smooth sands of monotony. I do not crave security. I wish to hazard my soul to opportunity. — Peter O’Toole

The German ladies won the Women’s World Championships in 2001 in a stunning come-from-behind victory against France. But this deal was from their quarterfinal victory over the U.S.

In one room, Jill Meyers declared three no-trump, and Sabine Auken led a top diamond. Meyers ducked this, won the next diamond and played the heart king out of her hand, hoping East had one of the top heart honors. A good try, but declarer still had to go down one.

Meanwhile, in the other room, Andrea Rauscheid declared four hearts. She won the diamond lead and played to ruff a diamond in dummy, then finessed the heart jack.

Irina Levitina, as West, won the queen and shifted to spades. Declarer won in hand and exited with a low heart, letting Levitina hop up with her ace to play a second spade. Rauscheid took this and cut loose with a third spade. What was the defense to do?

If East, Lynn Baker, won the trick, a ruffand-discard would let Rauscheid pitch a club from hand, while a club lead would obviously be fatal.

So Levitina correctly ruffed her partner’s spade winner. But now, since a diamond would concede a ruff-and-discard, the best she could do was to lead a low club. Accurately defended, but Rauscheid had been given a tiny extra chance in clubs, and she took it by putting in the eight. That extra chance turned out to be relevant, since Baker had to play the queen, and the club jack was declarer’s 10th trick.

ANSWER: Your partner’s four-club bid should not be a cue-bid, but instead, in a competitive auction, it should show the black suits. That gives you an easy fourspade call, since all your values are in the

right place. Despite your heart length, you do not have a defensive trick in that suit. If necessary, you might even contemplate bidding on to five spades. If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, email him at