ACES ON BRIDGE

*Artificial game invitation with five hearts Opening Lead: Diamond nine Here is another deal from the European Winter Games.

Over South’s one-no-trump overcall, North transferred to hearts before following up with two spades, an artificial invitation to game. North opted to pass when South showed three trumps and a maximum with 4-3-3-3 shape.

West naturally led his partner’s suit, the diamond nine running to South’s queen. Declarer started on clubs, East winning the third round with the ace before switching to a spade. As declarer, how should you play from here?

It looks as though spades are 4-4, since West did not lead the suit. If you put up the spade king and it holds, you will surely go down unless East’s singleton heart is an honor, with the defenders poised to take three spade tricks.

You therefore insert the spade jack, forcing West’s ace. If a diamond comes back now, you can afford to play the heart king and another heart, perhaps intending to insert the 10 if West follows low.

So West must clear spades at once. You duck the second spade and take the third. If East must win the fourth spade, you should cash the heart king and play a spade to him, forcing a diamond exit around to dummy’s jack. If instead West holds the boss spade, cash the diamond ace and play a spade to him.

On the forced low-heart exit, insert the eight from dummy, picking up any holding but a singleton nine to your right.

To make four hearts on a diamond lead, declarer has to knock out East’s club entry early. He will then have to guess both majors — no easy task.

ANSWER: You could pass, having found a fit of sorts, but you might still have enough for game. I would bid two hearts, natural and weak, to keep the auction alive. If you play forcing no-trump such that there is a risk that partner has only three diamonds, bidding becomes slightly more attractive. If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, email him at