ACES ON BRIDGE

Today’s deal from the 2019 Gold Coast features a lowly part-score — but an interesting one.

North did very well to settle for four diamonds opposite an opening bid. However, since three no-trump might have been in the picture, a takeout double of three hearts might have been more flexible. George Smolanko led a low heart against four diamonds. His partner, Peter Buchen, took his ace and returned a small heart so as not to give away the location of the heart queen. Declarer ruffed, tried a diamond to hand to find the bad news, then finessed the spade jack. Buchen won his queen and returned the suit, and now declarer should have known the club king was wrong — what else could West have for his overcall?

The best line now is to lead a low club from dummy to the seven. Then declarer can draw trumps and advance the club queen to pin the 10 — a classic example of an intra-finesse. When declarer instead played the club ace and another club after winning the spade ace, Smolanko cashed his master club to let Buchen pitch his third spade, then gave his partner a spade ruff for two down. Oddly enough, if declarer had drawn trumps and cashed winners, losing two clubs and one trick in each major, down one would have earned him a 65% board! While a sizable percentage of the field came home in three no-trump by North when West supinely passed one diamond, many went down two in game. After the overcall, though, you ought to be able to stay out of game here.