AceS On briDge

“It’s not denial. I’m just selective about the reality I accept.”

-- Calvin of “Calvin and Hobbes”

In today’s deal, North elects not to use Stayman after hearing the two-no-trump opening because of his balanced shape. After a diamond lead against three no-trump, South must try to develop tricks in both hearts and clubs. He can reach dummy only once, with the diamond ace. The question is whether to use the entry for a heart or club finesse.

If declarer uses the entry for a club finesse, he has an even chance to gain a club trick. If the finesse succeeds, he will win two club tricks instead of only one. But if he instead tries a heart finesse, he may gain nothing at all. The point is that a single finesse in hearts may produce nothing for South that he cannot get by leading the suit from his own hand.

For example, if East has a doublyguarded heart king, the finesse will work, but East will still score his king sooner or later. It is only if East has the doubleton heart king that the finesse gains immediately; and even then, South is only up to eight tricks, since his fourth heart will not be high.

South has no way of knowing which finesse will work, so his play is a matter of guesswork. But it is pointless to try for something that won’t be of material assistance. It is best to use dummy’s entry for a club finesse; when it holds, play the ace then queen of hearts. Win the diamond return and duck a club, to make the game whenever either hearts or clubs breaks favorably.

ANSWER: How many tries toward slam should you make? The best way forward, I think, is to cuebid four clubs, planning to give up over a four-heart signoff. Remember, your partner knows he has shown 0-7 or so already. With two major honors, such as an ace and a king, you can assume he would deduce to advance beyond game. And note that we haven’t even considered the danger of club ruffs!