ACES ON BRIDGE

Let us be happy and live within our means, even if we have to borrow the money to do it with. — Artemus Ward

The response of two no-trump to one of a major can sensibly be played as game forcing with a fit. Opener shows his shortage, if any, jumps with a good second suit, or signs off in four of a major with a minimum and no shortage.

After you jump to four spades at your second turn, you must plan the play on the lead of the heart queen. A good plan is to take two club finesses, but that will fail today.

A better idea is to win the first heart in hand, then draw trumps ending in hand and continue with a low diamond. If West follows with a low card, you will insert the 10. Here, East will win the queen and return a heart. You will win the heart king and ruff a heart. The sure trick line now is to play the ace and another diamond. West can win, but can then do no better than exit with a club. You play low from dummy, and East wins the trick and is endplayed either to lead clubs or give you a ruff-sluff.

What happens if West plays the diamond jack at trick four? You should take the trick with the diamond ace, then cash the heart king and ruff dummy’s last heart.You next lead another low diamond from hand, and the defense will be done for. West can rise with the king and play a club, which you will duck in dummy. After East wins that trick, he can do no better than cash the diamond queen, but at that point, he must concede the rest.

ANSWER: The cue-bid is typically looking for a spade stopper for no-trump. Had the next hand not doubled, you might have bid three clubs rather than three diamonds. (Your partner cannot have clubs and diamonds, or he would have reversed into two diamonds.) After the double, it feels right to pass and give partner a chance to describe his hand. If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, email him at bobbywolff@mindspring.com