ACES ON BRIDGE

“In all pointed sentences, some degree of accuracy must be sacrificed to conciseness.” — Samuel Johnson

Having opened light, North finds himself stuck for a rebid since three clubs would promise extras or a fifth club. When South rebids his diamonds (why look for hearts when partner has denied them?), North raises diamonds. South then bids four no-trump and finds three key-cards opposite. He could reasonably gamble on a grand slam now, but he gives his partner one chance to escape.

The five-no-trump call guarantees all the key-cards and asks North to cooperate if he can. North heads for the emergency exit, and South subsides in six diamonds.

When West leads the club queen, declarer can see the two possible heart losers. He cannot establish the long spades as there is no late entry to them. So, declarer should look to ruff his losers in dummy. It would be a mistake to ruff only one heart, since declarer would then have to rely on the diamond jack dropping in three rounds.

There is one more catch: South must not ruff the third round of hearts low. That would be fatal if (as here) East were to overruff and return a trump. South should ruff high and then cross back to hand to ruff another heart with the diamond eight.

So, after winning the club ace, declarer immediately sets about the hearts, ruffing the third high. He then trumps a club small in hand to ruff his fourth heart. Whether East overruffs or not, the defense will come to just one trick, thanks to South’s powerful diamond spots.

? ANSWER: Pass at any vulnerability. You cannot fight the boss spade suit effectively, especially when facing a passed hand. Making a two-suited overcall will only give the opponents a fielder’s choice. I’d need about an ace or king more in one of my long suits to act.