ACES ON BRIDGE

“Delay is preferable to error.”

— Thomas Jefferson

Today’s unusual third- hand play is made for purely technical reasons to create an entry to partner’s hand. It derives from a deal in Eddie Kantar’s terrific book, “Kantar on Kontract.”

At a different vulnerability, West might have considered a four-spade sacrifice. It is just as well he did not do so here, because four hearts can be defeated with good defense. Consider the hand from East’s point of view.

You watch your opponents bid to the heart game, and partner leads the spade two, playing third highest from an even number and lowest from odd. He surely has five spades, then, and is likely to hold the spade king or spade queen, based on the bidding.

You have three sure tricks yourself, so if partner has the spade king, your side should take five tricks. But if your partner has the spade queen instead, it is going to be difficult to get them back on lead before declarer pitches his diamonds on the clubs.

In order to generate an entry to partner’s hand, insert the spade jack at trick one! South wins the king and takes a losing heart finesse. Now, you lead a low spade over to that presumed queen for the killing diamond switch.

Had you won the spade ace at trick one, you could say goodbye to any entry to the West hand. South could just about hold the spade king and queen, but then you would need partner to hold the club ace, so the contract would surely go down anyway. You would have done no more than invest a non-vulnerable undertrick.

BID WITH THE ACES

ANSWER: Overcalling two clubs could easily lead to your side missing a heart fit or even a heart game. Partner will pass with many uninspiring hands with heart length where game is favored. It is better to double, bringing hearts into the game. If partner bids two diamonds, you can try three clubs — an acceptable overbid, I believe.