ACES ON BRIDGE

Have you ever experienced a sinking feeling when an opponent who is not generally ranked in the top echelon of players suddenly produces a devastating defense against you?

Recently, a fellow writer, Maureen Hiron, remarked that she encountered just such an incident. She had opened a strong no-trump and, after a Stayman inquiry, showed her hearts, but North’s three no-trump ended the auction. West led the diamond four; you might find it interesting to see if you can duplicate East’s defense. Without apparent thought, East took his ace and switched to a low spade. Hiron played low, West won with his king and returned the spade eight. South tried the nine from dummy, tempting a cover, but East played low and Hiron was forced to overtake with her ace. Next she tried a cunning heart jack, but West hopped up with his ace and concluded the deadly defense when he led back another spade for East to take his spade winners and defeat the contract.

Later, East explained the logic of his play, saying that since the diamond four had been led and he could see the three and the two, declarer must hold four cards in the suit as well as four hearts.

South was also marked with three clubs (or else West would have attacked from a five-card suit at trick one) and, therefore, just two spades. However, what made the hand really easy was that East had played this hand the day before in a practice class!