ACES ON BRIDGE

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” — T.S. Eliot

Both Souths reached three no-trump in a teams game. On the lead of the diamond three, they both decided to try to develop spades. The shortage of dummy entries meant they would need to tackle spades from hand. If they found a 3-3 split with West holding the spade jack, declarer would not need hearts to behave. Even if spades were 4-2, there would still be slight residual chances.

Both declarers won with the diamond ace and advanced the spade queen. The first West covered, declarer ducking to retain a link with the dummy. West pressed on in diamonds, declarer winning the third to lead a heart to the ace for a finesse of the spade 10. Next came the spade ace, South pitching a club. When East showed out, declarer reverted to hearts, hoping to keep West out. Whether East played the heart queen now or on the next trick, declarer could set up the suit while keeping

West off play.

It was not obvious, but

East should have pitched the heart queen on the third spade to ensure

West would gain the lead with the third heart. Still, there was something else the defense could have tried.

At the second table, West ducked the spade queen. Declarer could have made it home now by working on hearts, but South led another spade, taking West’s king and leading a third. When East showed out, South had no way to recover. He could duck the diamond continuation, but East could subsequently unblock in hearts, letting West in to cash the setting tricks.

ANSWER: Bid two hearts. This is best played as forcing, even when facing a minimum preempt. He can revert to three diamonds without a fit as a last resort, bid a fragment, or raise your suit with a decent doubleton. He can even bid no-trump with a maximum and the right hand. You plan to drive to game in no-trump, hearts or diamonds, though if non-vulnerable, you might pass a rebid of three diamonds.