ACES ON BRIDGE

West found an effective lead on today’s deal after North had made a cue-bid raise to show diamond fit. Unfortunately for West, declarer had a neat counter. It is traditional to lead small from this spade holding, so as not to block the suit when partner has honor-doubleton, or indeed, to avoid giving declarer the chance to build extra tricks in the suit. (Picture South with something like the spade ace-jack-10-nine.) I myself might have led a heart from the West hand, having failed to garner a raise or double from my partner.

On the layout shown, a low spade lead would have been fatal, but West chose the king. Say declarer plays on normal lines from here, winning the first trick and taking a double finesse in diamonds. East wins the first diamond and returns a spade, and now West must duck to maintain communication. When East gains the lead again, a further spade lead gives the defense five tricks. South saw this possibility looming and nonchalantly ducked the first trick. This put the second spade winner at risk, but it was all for the good cause of breaking the defensive link. In fact, the holdup was a good double-bluff, in that it convinced West that his partner held the spade 10 — why else would declarer duck the first trick? West continued with the spade queen rather than shifting to hearts. A relieved declarer could now win and knock out the diamonds in peace, since there was no longer an entry to the spades in the West hand.