ACES ON BRIDGE

*Good diamond raise

Opening Lead: Spade two

In today’s deal, South is stuck for a good bid at his second turn. After West’s aggressive overcall, North’s cue-bid shows values and a diamond raise, and South can take care of clubs, but he has no sure stopper in spades and no extra values. Nevertheless, he has to take a chance by bidding three no-trump; perhaps his partner has a little help for the spades.

West chooses to lead the spade two, believing that South is prepared for a club lead. East wins the king and shifts to the club jack, covered by the king and ace. West continues with the spade ace and another spade, clearing the suit. Now declarer must run nine tricks before the defenders get in and cash out the spades.

If each opponent has two diamonds, South must lay down the ace and king. If East has queen-third, South must take a finesse. How can South know what to do?

South starts by laying down the diamond ace, then cashing the three hearts ending in the dummy. When West follows, it is known that he started with at least five clubs, at least three hearts and at least one diamond.

West’s decision to clear spades surely indicates that he started with four of them, hence only one diamond. A further point is that West overcalled at the two-level with a mediocre suit and not very many high cards. He would be more likely to make such a bid with a singleton in South’s bid suit than with two losing diamonds.

On the basis of all this evidence, South takes the diamond finesse and makes his contract.

ANSWER: Lead the heart five. Dummy has shown short diamonds, and declarer will likely be looking to take ruffs in the short holding. Leading a trump will cut down the ruffs. It does not appear that the black suits are breaking, in which case declarer may struggle to establish either suit. So there is surely no rush to cash out.