ACES ON BRIDGE

In today’s contract, declarer had bid the hand intelligently to the right contract, but when dummy came down, he thought the route to nine tricks was a safe one. Unfortunately for him, he tackled his suits in the wrong order, and so he failed in his mission. Against three no-trump, West led the spade three, and South could see that nine tricks were easily available: In addition to the four top tricks in the majors, four extra tricks could very likely be developed in diamonds, and one further trick in clubs. So on winning the opening lead with dummy’s spade ace, declarer called for a diamond. East won and returned a spade. The jack lost, and South was forced to win the spade continuation. When the club finesse also lost, the game was sunk. If declarer had noticed that spades could not be continued to advantage from the West hand, he would have taken the club finesse at trick two. It loses, but no return by West is damaging. Say a heart comes back: The best approach is to play low from dummy, win the jack with the ace, then set about diamonds. Now, as long as diamonds break no worse than 3-1 (when the defenders could duck the diamond ace three times), nine tricks are there. Once again, it would have paid to make a detailed plan when dummy came down. As declarer, you have every right to take your time to do this — even to the extent of discouraging dummy from playing the spade ace until you are ready.