ACES ON BRIDGE

At both tables in a teams game, South reached four hearts. In one room, West had overcalled rather than showing a twosuiter. The other West made a Michaels cue-bid to achieve the same result. West in our featured room had planned to bid spades, then introduce clubs, until the auction got uncomfortably high. When each North cue-bid to show a limit raise in hearts, that let South bid game. West led the club king to declarer’s bare ace, and each declarer went in search of a 10th trick. Both declarers drew trumps, ending in hand, and took a diamond finesse, one of the nine, one of the queen. Both East players won cheaply and exited with the spade nine. One declarer demonstrated why he had trouble getting partners by playing low from hand — dummy’s king was allowed to win the trick. After ruffing a club, South lost a second diamond finesse to East. The spade return saw West take two spade tricks, giving declarer the opportunity to moan about his bad luck.

The other declarer showed there was no luck involved. Knowing East had at most two spades, he put up the queen on the spade shift. What could

West do? If he ducked it, declarer would make two spade tricks and his contract. It would work no better to win and continue spades; upon gaining the lead in diamonds, East would not have a spade to return.

At the table, West took the spade ace and tried to cash a club. Declarer ruffed, then knocked out the outstanding diamond honor and claimed 10 tricks.