ACES ON BRIDGE

“If all men count with you, but none too much.”

— Rudyard Kipling

Today’s deal, played at many tables, comes from a recent national tournament. The key to the defense was how to signal properly in order to find the best way to defeat three spades. The defenders were playing standard signals and third-andlowest leads (wherein the defenders lead low from three or five cards and top of a doubleton, or thirdhighest from four cards). These methods tend to help the defenders get a count from the lead, whereas fourth-highest and second from a bad suit may help define the attitude of the opening leader.

Against three spades, West led the heart king; this went to the five, three and two. Using upside-down count, when West next led a low heart to East’s ace, declarer playing the 10, there was some ambiguity as to whether East had begun with A-9-3 or A-3. But third-and-fifth leads should come to the rescue!

After winning the heart ace, East shifted to the club six, to declarer’s three, the jack and the ace. East then took the diamond king with the ace and continued with the club five.

When West won his king, he could be sure East didn’t have only two clubs, because South had so far already shown seven spades, two hearts, two clubs and one diamond. The spot-card lead in clubs let West be sure his partner had four clubs; therefore, declarer had only two clubs. Thus, he could try to cash the heart queen, with confidence that this was his only chance to defeat the contract.

ANSWER: First things first: Don’t jump to three no-trump unless you have absolutely no faith in your partner’s declarer play! That said, with game-forcing values and a weak major, I see no reason not to bid one diamond here. You may or may not introduce your hearts over a one-no-trump rebid from your partner, depending on whether North would bypass a major with a balanced hand at his second turn.