ACES ON BRIDGE

In reporting on this deal in the Daily Bulletin from the Yeh Bros Cup in 2017, the editors spoke just a little too soon when they indicated that declarer might need second sight to bring home his game.

As Geir Helgemo showed, basic numeracy might suffice in the right circumstances. A total of 10 declarers brought home four spades — though twice it was declared from the North seat, when the club tenace was protected and declarer had significant extra chances.

The play in four hearts in the match between Sweden and Monaco saw the Monaco West lead a diamond rather than a club. The Swedish declarer missed his chance when, after winning cheaply in hand, he knocked out the heart ace. He won the next diamond, then completed drawing trumps and led out the spade king. At this point, he realized the avoidance play of a low spade to the nine would fail if East won and played a third diamond, leaving the spades blocked. So, he played the spade ace and a third spade. West could win and play a club through to doom the contract. In the other room, the defenders did lead clubs. East cashed his ace and led a low club. After the defenders played on trump, declarer found East, a passed hand, with two aces and, inferentially, the club jack (or West would have led the club queen to trick one). West was likely to hold the spade queen, or East might have opened. So Helgemo advanced the spade jack from his hand, and could now play the spade suit for no loser.