ACES ON BRIDGE

It has always been a mystery to me how men can feel themselves honored by the humiliation of their fellow beings. — Mahatma Gandhi

This contract of three no-trump from the second round of the Swiss Teams event from the 2009 European Open Championships appears relatively easy to make. But on defense, Romania’s Veronel Lungu and Viorel Micescu weren’t ready to roll over.

Lungu led a fourth-highest spade two against three no-trump, and declarer played low from dummy, taking East’s jack with the queen. It now seemed natural to go after diamonds. East took North’s king with his ace and played another spade, ducked around to West’s king.

If the defenders had continued the attack on spades, declarer would have had no choice but to rely on hearts and would have cashed out his red-suit winners. Instead, though, West switched to a club at trick four. Declarer ducked in dummy, and

East took his queen and reverted to spades.

The defenders were now up to four tricks, but declarer still seemed to be in pole position. However, when South won the spade ace and crossed to dummy with the heart ace, East dropped the jack, perhaps more in hope than expectation.

But it worked: Declarer decided that he had only four heart tricks, and so needed to set up a club trick. Since West had earlier failed to clear the spades at trick four, it seemed logical to place the club ace with East. Accordingly, declarer abandoned hearts prematurely and advanced the club king.

When West won his ace and cashed his last spade, another “unbeatable” game had bitten the dust.

ANSWER: The hand may be relatively balanced, but you have no reason to assume no-trump is correct. Since only two suits have been bid, you should bid three hearts here to show heart values. Partner can bid no-trump, or three spades to express doubt about three no-trump (you will respond three no-trump) or go past three no-trump if he is short in spades.