ACES ON BRIDGE/ OPINION

Fourth-suit forcing by a passed hand can be played in different ways. Some use it as natural and non-forcing, but a reverse (as here) is best used to show a really good raise for partner’s last bid suit. The direct raise then shows less. False preference for opener’s first suit is sometimes an option, but not if the fit in the second suit is much greater.

In today’s deal, North’s fourth-suit forcing sequence shows his maximum pass, so South pushes on to game.

West leads the club two to his partner’s ace and receives his ruff. He cashes the diamond ace, and a diamond to dummy’s king lets South shed a heart. South cashes the spade king, and when the spade jack drops, he must decide whether to play for the drop or follow the principle of restricted choice and finesse.

While an even spade split at this stage would ensure the contract, West’s decision to cash the diamond ace may indicate that a bad trump split is on the horizon, or he might have just shifted to a passive trump without an honor.

Declarer duly finesses the spade 10 and then cashes the ace. A diamond ruff sees East show out. Next comes the club king for a heart discard, followed by a club ruff, as West parts with two hearts, baring his heart king. Declarer then cashes the diamond queen, and East must in turn reduce to his last heart to retain his club guard. South sheds his club and leads to the heart ace, knowing the king will put in an appearance. Contract made!

ANSWER: Bid one spade, intending to jump to three hearts at your next turn to show a limit raise with three hearts. Your controls and side-suit singleton make this hand just a fraction too good for a simple raise to two hearts. Take away the diamond jack, and I would make the simple raise. Most 10-counts do not qualify for an invitational raise, but this one does.