ACES ON BRIDGE

West found an adventurous call on today’s deal. It served to push North-South too high, but then the defense slipped and undid all their good work.

The one-spade overcall was lead-directing and obstructive. East stretched to manufacture a good four-card raise, and South decided to compete to three hearts with all his values outside spades. North then reasonably guessed to raise to game.

West led the spade ace and, upon seeing his partner’s jack (perhaps suit preference with the count already known?), might have shifted to diamonds. However, when he continued spades, declarer took full advantage. The heart queen was allowed to run, and when it held the trick, declarer switched his attention to clubs. On seeing the king, South paused for reflection.

Since West had overcalled on a four-card suit, he must surely have some additional shape to compensate for that action. South got it right when he continued with a low club toward dummy. If West had ducked, South would have had to guess whether East had made a falsecard from king-jack doubleton, but West won the jack and pressed on with spades. South ruffed and unblocked clubs, letting East ruff in, but there was now no return that could hurt him.

He took the diamond switch with dummy’s ace and advanced the heart 10. East could cover, but declarer drew the last trump, crossed back to his diamond king and pitched dummy’s diamond loser on the club queen for the 10th trick. ANSWER: Bid three spades. This just shows a concentration, angling for three no-trump opposite a club stopper. If partner bids four hearts, you can convert to five diamonds — a Moysian (4-3) trump fit seeming to be an unnecessary risk, though it might just be the best game.