ACES ON BRIDGE

Strong, three-suited hands are always hard to bid. South opens two clubs since he doesn’t want to risk being passed out by a weak hand that is long in either hearts or clubs. North temporizes with a two-diamond response, then jumps to four clubs as a splinter in support of spades. North’s strong bidding should encourage South to bid a slam. Indeed, South should really consider a grand slam since North needs very little more than he actually holds for seven spades to be an easy contract. However, his partner’s diamond cue-bid isn’t the most helpful news, and after two further sign-offs from North, South contents himself with the small slam. That is certainly a good decision today, since with this particular combination of cards in the defenders’ hands, 12 tricks is already a hard target. In playing six spades, South should count winners rather than losers. This is the correct procedure whenever you expect to do some ruffing in both hands. The best approach is to win the diamond ace at trick one, pitching a club, then take the

LEAD WITH THE ACES

club ace and ruff a club, followed by the heart ace and a club ruff low. The danger of the second club ruff falling to an overruff cannot be avoided, but the chance of a 6-2 club break is not that significant. When the club ruff stands up, lead a heart to the king, ruff a heart high, then a diamond high, and take a heart ruff with the spade seven. East can overruff, but declarer’s remaining trumps are high.

ANSWER: Opinions vary on what is acceptable for a preemptive opener and what is not. You’d like a good suit for a two-level pre-empt in first or second seat, but you may relax the restrictions if the vulnerability is favorable. When you have a good suit, should a side four-card major stand in your way? It is up to you, but while I might pass in second seat or at unfavorable vulnerability, in first seat, I’d act here.