ACES ON BRIDGE

In the perfect chess combination, as in a first-rate short story, the whole plot and counter-plot should lead up to a striking finale, the interest not being allayed until the very last moment.

— Frederic Yates and William Winter At teams, South’s decision to bid game was influenced by his partner’s voluntary raise to three hearts, plus the expectation that relevant missing high cards were more likely than not to be onside, as East had opened the bidding. Still, it was an overbid, and it led to a fairly poor contract, but one that was not without play, given the favorable lie of the opponents’ cards. Against four hearts, West led the diamond 10. When East won with the ace, he had a choice of defenses, but only one winning move.

If East had unthinkingly returned a diamond, declarer might have found his way home. When South wins the diamond king, he next leads a spade.

West must rise with the ace, and he can do no better than exit with a diamond. South ruffs, then leads a low heart to dummy’s eight or 10. East wins, but will be endplayed. Either a club or heart lets

South reach dummy, allowing both finesses to be taken in one order or the other.

So, with that said, can you see the defense? Sitting East was my former partner Bob Hamman, who found the ingenious return of a spade, preserving diamonds as the suit in which the defense could exit at a later stage. West won with the ace and exited with a diamond to South’s bare king. Now, when declarer led a heart to the 10, Hamman won his queen and still had a safe diamond exit. South could ruff, but was stuck in hand and had no way to avoid losing at least one more trick. ANSWER: This hand is on the cusp of passing, trying to settle for a plus score, or bidding three clubs to show your 5-5 pattern and non-forcing extras. I’d take the latter route — if for no other reason than that three clubs may be easier to make than two hearts if your partner has two hearts and three clubs.

bobbywolff@mindspring.com