ACES ON BRIDGE

As West, would you intervene over a one-no-trump opener of any range, with both sides vulnerable, if you could show the majors? Both tables in the Marlboro Venice Cup did so, and their reward was to drive their opponents out of four spades, into a makeable three no-trump.

In the 1995 Bermuda Bowl final, both Canada and USA reached four spades. Nick Nickell as North received a diamond lead, and the defense took their ruff for one down. By contrast, Eric Kokish reached four spades from the South seat. Jeff Meckstroth led an unlucky club nine at trick one, an entry-destroying coup.

Eric Rodwell won and switched to a diamond, searching for a ruff. Kokish won in hand, and rather than laying down the spade ace, he cashed the club king, then played the spade ace and a second spade. When Meckstroth won and shifted to a heart, the critical question was whether the diamonds were 6-1, given that the suit had not been led to trick one.

If not, it would be safe to take the heart ace, lead a diamond to hand, then play on clubs. Kokish had to determine whether Rodwell would have shifted to a diamond rather than play a second club if the suit were not 6-1. Also, Rodwell’s high diamond, might have had reverse suit-preference overtones, suggesting that the heart king was with West. Kokish eventually rose with the heart ace and played a second diamond. Now the defense could ruff and cash a heart trick — for a rather fortunate two down for USA.