ACES ON BRIDGE

In this, the last of our deals on this theme, a defender can counter declarer’s accurate play so as to present him with an almost irresistible losing option.

West declines to overcall one spade. North is free to respond one no-trump, and South makes the practical rebid of four hearts.

West leads the heart jack, and a familiar problem faces declarer. He has nine tricks once the spade king is knocked out, and the diamond ace will provide another, if only he can reach it. Leading a low spade to the queen succeeds if the king is onside, but if East covers the queen with the king and returns a trump, declarer will be stuck in his hand.

South knows the solution — to advance the spade jack. If a defender takes the king, the spade queen will provide access to the diamond ace. If the spade jack holds, declarer can ruff a spade in dummy. Unless spades are 5-2, this line is foolproof.

West has been around the block a few times and eyes this spade jack with suspicion, wondering why declarer would play this way. South must be trying to create an entry to the dummy. West must smoothly withhold his king; then declarer will play small from dummy rather than overtake in an attempt to reach the diamond winner. In so doing, declarer loses his cast-iron contract. Unluckily for South, East overruffs the third spade, and the contract can no longer be made.