ACES ON BRIDGE

Today’s third-hand play again focuses on communications. When South overcalls one no-trump, North employs Stayman, then raises to three no-trump.

While East could have just four small spades, he likely would have passed initially without a fifth spade, so West leads a low spade. Declarer calls for dummy’s 10, trying to induce a cover. To have a chance to set the game, East must play low. West cannot hold four spades, so East marks his partner with a three-card holding and retains the link to his long suit, hoping West has the spade ace. Declarer’s best shot now is to exit in spades, trying to create pressure in the endgame. West must win his ace, and if he continues spades, he makes the defense very hard. East must run all the spades, or declarer can either establish a heart trick or endplay West in clubs. After cashing the last spade, East must then exit with a heart, not a club, to break up the looming squeeze on his partner. While East should probably get this right, West can make it easy for him by following the rule: “Do not cash the fourth winner against three no-trump until you know where the fifth is coming from.” If West can deduce the position, he should exit with the club king after taking the spade ace. Declarer can win and run his diamonds, hoping for some legitimate pressure or a defensive error. However, West can come down to two hearts, while East keeps his spades plus a club, and declarer cannot prevail.