ACES ON BRIDGE

On today’s deal from the 1995 Venice Cup final, declarer might not have given the play her best shot.

No one in either the open or women’s final managed to stop safely low. Indeed, three pairs bid to game, and no one came close to making it. Pony Nehmert and Andrea Rauscheid stopped short of game despite Rauscheid, North, opening in first seat; Nehmert found a singleton club opposite and stopped in three hearts. By contrast, Kitty Munson opened one heart in third seat, and Carol Simon gave her partner no leeway by driving to game via a four-club splinter.

Strangely enough, if South plays the hand on a diamond lead, the contract is unbreakable. Of course, you can play for a mundane heart queen-jack doubleton, but that will never get you in the papers, will it?

In four hearts, there is no need to rush things. The timing is a little awkward, but it is simplest to finesse the diamond jack at trick one, then play a club. East must take his club ace, and a diamond return is as good as any. South wins the diamond ace, plays a spade to the king, then cashes the diamond king for a spade discard; now the carding makes it safe to ruff a diamond.

Next declarer cashes the club king, pitching a spade, ruffs a club and exits with a spade. The defenders have two spades to cash, but South retains the trump ace-nine-four facing king-10-six, and the defense’s trump trick has vanished (though declarer may have to guess what to do on the shift to an honor).

ANSWER: You may be light on strength, but your shape is almost perfect for a takeout double. You are happy with any advance partner makes, and you would like to contest the part-score if your opponents have a club fit. Act now and get partner in the game, or you may find yourself guessing at the three-level.

If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, email him at bobbywolff@mindspring.com