ACES ON BRIDGE
Everyone has his day, and some days last longer than others.
— Winston Churchill
In today’s deal, South passed, then made up for lost time at his next turn. On lead, West had a choice between the minors and selected a club to the ace and queen. East shifted to a trump, West’s nine forcing the ace, and declarer came to hand with the diamond ace to play a heart; West flew up with that ace to continue clubs. Declarer took the club king, and his next move was to cash the spade king. When the queen did not fall, he got to work establishing the diamonds. A diamond to the king was followed by a diamond ruff.
When West showed out, declarer changed tack, going for a cross-ruff. He planned to score three more minor-suit ruffs, but with West holding the master trump and poised to overruff in clubs, nine tricks were all he could manage.
If South had assumed West held the spade queen after East’s trick-two switch, he would have done better to take club ruffs in his hand before drawing a second round of trumps. He can ruff a club low at trick three, then lead a heart. If West wins and returns a heart, declarer can cash the second high trump, then the club king. Should clubs break, declarer can set them up. Otherwise, South can count the West hand as 3=6=2=2.
The best play now would not be to trump a club (because West could pitch a diamond and ruff in on the winning diamonds). Instead, declarer should take his best chance in diamonds by finessing and running diamond winners while he still has a trump re-entry.
ANSWER: The vulnerability and form of scoring may affect my choice, but my best guess is to try the no-trump game. You hope you will have the time to establish your long clubs while retaining control of the spades.You do not really have enough defense to pass for penalties, considering your poor spade intermediates.