ACES ON BRIDGE

Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die.

— G.K. Chesterton

On today’s deal, South became declarer in a dicey spade slam after an enterprising, but revealing, pre-emptive overcall.

North opened one diamond, and East bid two hearts in an attempt to cramp the auction. When South bid two spades, North cue-bid three hearts before removing South’s three no-trump to four spades, showing a raise to game with extra values. South had a great deal in reserve and cue-bid five clubs, persuading his partner to bid the slam.

West obediently led the heart jack, taken in declarer’s hand. Protecting against a singleton spade ace on his right, South crossed to the club ace (safer than a diamond, which might have allowed the defenders a ruff) and led a spade off dummy. East went in with the ace and returned a heart, hoping his partner could ruff. Declarer threw a club from his hand and, after winning the heart king, decided it would be too committal to try for a club ruff, since he had so many other chances.

So he drew the remaining trumps, and when East followed to all three rounds, declarer could see that a diamond break or working club finesse was unlikely. He cashed the diamond king and ace, then ruffed a heart to confirm the count of that suit. Finally, South played off his last trump, and West was caught in a squeeze. Forced to keep his diamond guard, he let go of a club. Dummy pitched the diamond, and now declarer played a diamond to the queen. Since East was known to have a club and a heart left, South played a club to his king for his 12th trick.

ANSWER: Your good intermediates argue that you have just enough to compete to two hearts. Your partner is probably relatively short in hearts (a singleton would not be surprising), but your spot-cards guarantee you can hold the losers in the suit to three as long as you can avoid defensive ruffs.