ACES ON BRIDGE

“Rarely, rarely, comest thou, Spirit of Delight!”

— Percy Shelley

The bidding was abrupt in this deal, but the final contract proved interesting. South’s two-diamond response was only forcing for one round, so North’s reverse showed extras. That stimulated an aceask, followed by a graceful leap to seven no-trump.

When West led a safe diamond, declarer could count 12 top tricks if diamonds broke. The heart queen could fall in two rounds to provide a 13th, or declarer could take a double finesse in spades, but he could not try both. In isolation, a spade to the 10 would offer the best chance. However, that would be akin to putting all of declarer’s eggs in one basket. South preferred to test the hearts and keep some squeeze chances in reserve.

Topping the diamond nine with the ace, declarer unblocked the heart king, crossed to the spade ace and cashed the heart ace, pitching his club four as West shed a diamond. Declarer then returned to hand in clubs and ran all but one of the remaining diamonds, reducing to two spades, a heart and a club in dummy. When the last diamond hit the baize, West had to unguard his club queen to keep the spades guarded. Dummy’s spade 10 could now be pitched, having served its purpose.

A spade to the king then turned the screw on East, who had to let go of his third club to retain his heart queen. The club king then brought down the queen and jack, South’s lowly club two scoring the final trick. Declarer had brought home his grand slam on a double squeeze.

ANSWER: Open one heart.You would lose the sixth heart if you started with one spade. You have enough playing strength to open one heart and reverse into two spades, thanks to your concentrated long suits. When Grant Baze popularized the phrase “six-five, come alive” he knew what he was talking about.