ACES ON BRIDGE

This week’s deals all come from the European Open Championships (“open” meaning anyone can play), which were held in Istanbul last June.

Not everyone would have duplicated North’s decision to bid to five hearts, but it got South to the par spot, as four spades turned out to be cold. North’s decision was perhaps made clearer by East’s having shown a two-suiter in spades and a minor, since there could be a double fit. How do you estimate declarer’s chances? A club lead is clearly fatal for the defense, while repeated spade leads allow South to use two trump entries to dummy to eliminate spades, then pass the diamond queen. When East ducks, declarer runs the diamond eight; if West ruffs in, he is endplayed.

After the initial lead of the diamond nine, declarer has 11 tricks available by covering at trick one — but only as long as East falls from grace and wastes his diamond king. However, if East ducks, declarer cannot draw trumps and finesse twice more in diamonds; on any other line, the defenders take a ruff and one trick in each black suit.

At the 10 tables in the events where five hearts was declared, five made and five went down; of course, we do not know how many Easts were tested by declarer covering dummy’s card.

At this table, declarer missed the possible winning line by failing to put up the diamond queen, but he still gained a game swing on the deal. That was because South’s teammates had scored up four spades in the other room. ANSWER: Lead the diamond ace. The opponents do not appear to have a diamond stopper. Even if they do, this may be your best shot at taking a fourth trick. Partner could have a singleton or the diamond king. If the sight of dummy suggests that attacking the diamonds will not work, it may not be too late to change tack.