ACES ON BRIDGE

“Knowledge is not happiness, and science But an exchange of ignorance for that Which is another kind of ignorance.”

— Lord Byron

It took some skillful card play to bring home today’s game.

After West put the pressure on with his two-spade overcall, North made a negative double, and East raised to three spades. South’s three-no-trump call was certainly a gamble, but it got his side to a reasonable spot.

After winning the spade lead in dummy, declarer considered leading up to the diamond king. If he found East to hold ace-third of diamonds and the club king, the defense would have no counter. East could either take the diamond ace, giving declarer nine quick tricks, or play low, allowing declarer to pocket a diamond trick and then turn to clubs, setting up three winners there. However,

that line required a great deal. Declarer preferred to play on clubs immediately.

If the suit did not run for five tricks, he would hope to bring some pressure to bear upon the defenders.

Declarer began with a club to the queen, the best play in clubs for no losers.

West took the king and cleared spades, but declarer simply ran all of his clubs.

West pitched a heart and a spade painlessly enough. However, he did not have a safe discard on the fifth club. A heart would allow declarer to cash four tricks there, while the diamond ace would be just as fatal. So West parted with another spade winner, whereupon declarer knocked out the diamond ace for his ninth trick. The defense could take two spade tricks and nothing more. West had been caught in a squeeze in three suits.

ANSWER: Bid two hearts. You would certainly be more inclined to bypass a four-card minor than a major. The upside of being raised to four hearts with a big fit is greater than the downside of playing in an inferior part-score when partner has precisely three hearts and short spades. Incidentally, if you feel this is not an opening bid, I won’t disagree!

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