ACES ON BRIDGE

“Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith let us to the end dare to do our duty as we understand it.”

— Abraham Lincoln

Continuing our set of par deals, South picks up a monster here. Playing the Kokish method, in which a two-heart rebid is either natural or a big balanced hand, South would have been able to take a slower route. This would leave North with more room to explore for the best fit. Lacking such gizmos, South jumps to game at his second turn. A three-no-trump opening would be inappropriate here because that would normally show a solid minorsuit rather than a strong balanced hand.

West leads a fourth-and-second diamond seven to his partner's ace and declarer's 10. Back comes the diamond jack. A spade shift might be better in theory, but it would accomplish nothing today. Declarer has nine top tricks with the aid of dummy's clubs, but he lacks a quick entry to reach them. He can establish two heart tricks instead, but that would not make for enough tricks, and West might be able to set up and cash his long diamonds if declarer loses the lead to him in each major. In fact, as the cards lie today, a heart play at trick three would be fatal. West would win and clear diamonds with the spade king as a reentry.

The key is to try to create an entry to dummy with the spade jack. Declarer has a lock for nine tricks by unblocking his three top club honors and then advancing the spade queen. West must hold off, lest declarer reach the stranded club tricks using dummy's spade jack, but now declarer has gained a tempo. With a second spade trick in his pocket, he turns to hearts to set up that suit and score up his game.

ANSWER: Assuming standard methods, you can start with Stayman. If partner bids either major, you will pass. Over two diamonds, you can sign off in two spades. It is an extra-chance play, compared to a direct transfer to spades. However, some prefer to use Stayman and then a two-spade call as invitational and unbalanced with five spades. If you do that, your best bet here would be just to transfer to spades.