ACES ON BRIDGE

Some would open the South hand two no-trump, but that could easily lose hearts. North raises hearts preemptively, pushing East to compete with three spades. While South could try three no-trump now, he settles for the heart game.

West leads the spade queen, and East thoughtfully overtakes, trying to force an entry to his hand. South wins and unblocks his club honors, aiming for a later endplay. He crosses to a top heart (East starting a high-low as suit preference for the spade 10) and takes a club ruff, followed by another trump and a fourth round of clubs. When East shows out, declarer throws his spade.

If West now carelessly continues with the spade jack, declarer will discard on that as well, so West continues with a low spade to his partner’s 10. South ruffs, then crosses to a heart to lead a diamond.

Now, knowing his side needs three diamond tricks, East must put up his jack. Declarer can no longer duck the lead to West, so he must go down.

Had East ducked the opening lead, declarer would have done the same, then endplayed West with the fourth club. As it went, declarer could have thrown a diamond on the fourth club anyway. West would then have to decide whether declarer had the spade 10 and no diamond king, in which case a diamond shift would be needed, or if the actual layout existed, and a low spade would be necessary. He probably would have assumed East’s play to trick one implied possession of the spade 10.

ANSWER: Your side could have a great sacrifice in the works over the opponents’ heart game, or maybe even a making game of your own! Bid two spades — you should be happy for partner to compete, with your singleton in the opponents’ suit. When they find a fit, you are likely to have one yourself. If your five-card suit were a minor, you would double instead.

BOBBY WOLFF