ACES ON BRIDGE

Today’s deal was reported in “Over my shoulder with Hoffman.” Martin Hoffman sat South against Philippe and Benedicte Cronier and opened three spades, ignoring his side four-card suit in order to get his blow in first. Now North took a long time before raising to four spades. Though it was clear North was strong, Hoffman sensed that Benedicte had briefly contemplated bidding as East.

East took the club five lead with her ace and returned the club 10, suit preference. Take your time before making your play, then listen to Hoffman’s inferences.

Although Benedicte knew North had a good hand, Hoffman was sure she had wanted to bid. So she must have had real distribution to consider sacrificing when vulnerable. Six clubs to the ace was likely, but that was nowhere near enough. The club 10 was clearly a suit-preference signal, so did she have the heart ace, too?

Ruffing with the spade jack looked fairly safe, but what if East’s heart signal was not showing the ace? With a singleton heart, East might have returned that rather than a club, but what if she had a heart void? Then she would have had no choice but to play a club, and she would also have enough shape to justify thinking about bidding at the five-level.

Eventually, Hoffman ruffed with the king, played a trump to the ace, a diamond back to his king, followed by the spade jack. West could win and play the heart ace and another heart, but when East was out of trumps, declarer had the rest.

ANSWER: Open three clubs if non-vulnerable. It is not advisable to pre-empt with a sketchy primary suit when you have a good four-card major on the side, but you should have no qualms when the sidesuit is a minor. To pass, hoping to make a two-suited overcall later on, might see you making a unilateral decision at a high level. But this way, partner may be able to raise clubs and up the ante.