ACES ON BRIDGE

In three no-trump, declarer took the spade queen lead in hand and returned the suit, letting West’s 10 hold. When West continued spades, declarer finessed the nine, then cashed the ace, as East pitched two discouraging diamonds. Declarer next played the diamond ace and another diamond.

West won and thoughtfully cashed the heart ace. Since South could not afford to unblock the king, as then a heart continuation would set up a fifth defensive trick, he played low. That allowed West to cash his remaining diamond honor before continuing hearts, and South was now endplayed to yield a club trick.

South was right to play on diamonds, but neglected a vital preliminary. He could have set up a counter to West’s neat defense by leaving himself with a diamond exit. If you assume East began with three low diamonds for his discards, he must have 2=3=3=5 shape. It is therefore safe for declarer to cash the club ace-king, removing West’s exit cards, then advance a low diamond toward the dummy.

West takes the diamond queen and can no longer gain anything by playing the heart ace and another heart.

If he does, declarer wins the king and plays the diamond ace and another diamond, putting West on lead to revive the dummy.

If West shifts to a low heart, declarer wins the heart king and plays the diamond ace and another diamond. That compels West to lead a heart and set up dummy’s heart queen, thus allowing access to the long diamond.