ACES ON BRIDGE

North-South might reasonably have played three notrump here. This is a contract that makes if diamonds are 4-4 or if, as here, the player on lead has an unattractive three-card holding. But in the bidding, South showed a very strong hand with extra playing strength in hearts by jumping to three no-trump. Had he held a strong, balanced hand with a five-card suit in the 18-19 range, he would simply have bid two no-trump. North guessed to convert to four hearts, a contract that looks very unlikely to make on accurate defense. As it turned out, though, the 2-2 trump break gave declarer some interesting chances, based on the fact that both black suits are frozen — neither side can play on them without losing a trick. Against four hearts, West led a trump — not a bad move, as either black suit would have been immediately fatal — and declarer won to play a diamond. The defenders elected to win and play a second heart. When trumps broke, a second diamond forced whichever defender

LEAD WITH THE ACES won the trick to decide between opening up a black suit and playing a diamond. Since leading either black suit would have conceded the 10th trick, the defenders accurately played a third diamond. South ruffed, then played ace, king and a third spade. East had to win this trick, and now had to open up the clubs. South ran the lead around to the queen in dummy and claimed the rest.

ANSWER: A call of one heart here shows extras, more than a simple overcall of one heart would have promised. But your hand is far better than that. It is arguable that a jump to two hearts doesn’t do your hand justice, and that the alternative of cue-bidding two clubs, then bidding hearts, might set up a game force. So the jump to two hearts will have to do.