ACES ON BRIDGE

“An expert is a person who has found out by his own painful experience all the mistakes that one can make in a very narrow field. “

— Niels Bohr

Bridge players are all too inclined to blame other people for their own misfortunes. At a long-ago Vanderbilt Trophy match, having scored up my own set, I lingered within earshot of some of my Texan colleagues, who were clearly trying to allocate culpability amongst themselves.

When today’s deal came up for discussion, the least tolerant of the four had brought home four hearts after his table’s West had led a trump. He had clearly expected to pick up a swing here. As he said: “After West led a trump, I won in dummy and led a low club. West got in again and played a second trump. Now I cashed my four diamonds, pitching the losing club from dummy, and took a ruff on the board. I thought I played it well. But did you find the trump lead?” he asked his teammates. “We didn’t,” came the response. “After a spade lead, declarer ruffed the second spade low, then gave up a club. East led a low spade, forcing declarer to ruff high. South then had to be extremely careful; he had to lead a trump to dummy — playing for the 4-1 trump break — then cash three diamonds, ending in the North hand. (It doesn’t work to finish in hand, as the defenders will get a second trump play in prematurely.)

“Finally, he ruffed a spade high, ruffed his fourth diamond in dummy and ruffed a spade in hand. Frankly, I think our declarer had a harder task than you!”

For once, there was no response.

ANSWER:

Your partner has suggested six good diamonds and some extras, maybe 14-16 points or so. Do you have enough to try for game, and if so, which one? It might be right to bid three hearts to find your way to three notrump facing a club stopper, but you have no quick tricks on the side once the club stopper is knocked out. I’d pass, reluctantly, but I’d bid if the heart king were the ace.