ACES ON BRIDGE

Take the West cards for a defensive problem today. You have produced an aggressive double jump raise of partner’s overcall to help him judge whether to sacrifice over four spades. With little shape and three aces, East is happy to take his chances on defense.

Your lead of the diamond jack is ruffed high in dummy, and declarer proceeds to draw two rounds of trumps ending in his hand, then advances the heart eight. How should you defend? Declarer presumably would not play this way if he had the heart ace, and if he did, there would not be much chance for the defense. The same can be said for the club ace. While the defense could hope to score two clubs and two heart tricks, the distribution may not permit that. Declarer could have a singleton club, or the suit may be frozen when he holds jack-doubleton.

Assuming partner has all three missing aces, the goal is clear — to prevent declarer from making use of dummy’s long heart. That can only be done by forcing dummy’s final trump before the hearts have been established. West must rise with the heart king and continue diamonds, playing through the void. Declarer ruffs, but then East can cash both the minorsuit aces upon gaining the lead in hearts.

To play low on the heart (unthinkingly following the dictum of second hand low) would let the contract make. East would have to expend his heart entry first and would be unable to continue diamonds from his side of the table.