ACES ON BRIDGE

In today’s deal, the vulnerability persuaded North to drive to game rather than invite it. Luckily, with both rounded-suit kings onside and West’s decision to lead a club, declarer stood a chance. To succeed, he simply needed to bring in three heart tricks.

Declarer took East’s club 10 with the queen and promptly led out the heart ace and another heart. West took that with the king and cleared clubs. Now, as the cards lay, declarer was toast.

Many would tackle the hearts this way, but the percentage play is to take a combination finesse through East (especially when the lead indicates he is probably longer in that suit). Declarer should finesse the spade queen at trick two. He then lets the heart seven run. Whether this forces the king or the jack from West, declarer wins the club return and leads a second heart to the nine. Assuming that holds, he unblocks the heart ace and crosses to the spade ace to enjoy the fourth heart. A successful diamond finesse brings him home.

When hearts are 3-3, the recommended line loses only to king-jacklow with West, while the heart ace and another heart will lose not only to king-jack-low with East, but also honor-third — if declarer misguesses. Regarding 4-2 splits, the combination finesse through East is also better, as it picks up any doubleton honor in either hand except jack-low with West. Meanwhile, cashing the ace first loses against king-doubleton with West, as well as honor-doubleton with East (when declarer misguesses).

ANSWER: This is a simple raise to two hearts, but you may wonder whether you should act differently if playing Bergen or forcing no-trump. With no shape and a collection of jacks, the four-card support justifies no more than a constructive raise to two hearts in my opinion.Yes, you have four trumps, but this still looks like a simple raise, not a Bergen 6-10 raise. Soft defensive cards and bad trumps argue for caution.