THE ACES ON BRIDGE

“Coleridge holds that a man cannot have a pure mind who refuses apple-dumplings. I am not certain but that he is right.” -- Charles Lamb .....................

Despite the combined NorthSouth high-card strength, three no-trump is a poor contract. But it is hard to stay out of since North should not try to land on a pinhead by passing two no-trump. So imagine that South declares today’s deal in three no-trump, against which West leads the spade seven.

With one defender holding an established suit, declarer can only run seven tricks before giving up the lead, so two more tricks must be generated from the hearts. Moreover, these extra heart tricks will have to come without letting West obtain the lead.

South therefore must assume that East holds the heart ace and no more spades. To trick two, a heart is led, and if West plays the seven, dummy ducks! East must win the trick, and now declarer regains the lead and plays a heart to the jack, achieving his goal.

Note: If West produces the heart 10 or queen on the first round, dummy covers cheaply. At the next opportunity, declarer plays a second heart and ducks West’s seven. This line risks an extra undertrick, but is the only way to come close to making the contract.

Curiously, there IS a defense to three no-trump, but not one that any mortal would find. West cashes a top spade and leads a second, letting East discard the heart eight. Now West can follow with a high heart when the suit is first led and can no longer be kept off lead.