TO ACE OR NOT TO ACE

reasons for this: 1) if it cashes, the opponents cannot make an overtrick, and 2) the sight of dummy might make the correct defense easy to find. Against that, the lead might set up tricks for the opponents. In addition, the right defensive continuation might not be apparent even with the dummy in view.

Consider today’s deal, from a team competition at the recent tournament held in Austin, Texas. At one table, North rebid just three hearts and South settled for game in spades. West led the 10 of clubs and the declarer tried to cash a few club tricks. East ruffed the third club with the queen of spades and declarer finished with eight spade tricks and two club tricks — making four. At this table, where North-South reached slam, West led the ace of diamonds. The sight of dummy did not help, and West shifted to a club, no doubt hoping that both East and South had exactly one club. If so, this would have severed communications between South and the dummy while East still had a trump. South discarded one heart and one diamond before East ruffed the third club. South over-ruffed. ruffed the 10 of diamonds in dummy, ruffed a club back to his hand, and drew the trumps. Making 6!

West could have defeated the slam with a trump shift, but that was hard to see. What do you think? Ace or no ace?

Bob Jones welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to With Tannah Hirsch and Bob Jones Tribune Content Agency, LLC., 16650 Westgrove Dr., Suite 175, Addison, TX 75001. E-mail tcaeditors@tribune.com.