aceS on bridge

“Inspiration descends only in flashes, to clothe circumstances; it is not stored up in a barrel, like salt herrings, to be doled out.” -- Patrick White

In 2007, trials were held to determine the second U.S. Open Teams spot, and the squads captained by Seymon Deutsch and Rose Meltzer met in the quarterfinals. On the deal that followed, Bart Bramley and Sidney Lazard for the Deutsch team came off better.

Bramley and Lazard are one of the few pairs who have stuck with a version of Standard American more common in the ‘60s and ‘70s, but they have no shortage of inspiration in both the bidding and the play. Against three no-trump, Bramley led the spade two (standard fourthhighest leads) and Lazard played the king, which held. West’s lead, coupled with the bidding, suggested that South held four cards in each major, and dummy’s diamond suit looked likely to provide six tricks.

Any guesses as to which card Lazard played back at trick two? Yes, it was a club -- but which one? He chose the king, and when that held, followed up with the club eight. To declarer, it appeared that for his club-king switch, East must also hold the ace. So she rose with her queen, and now the game ended two light, courtesy of four club tricks plus the two top spades.

Lazard’s play could hardly cost. With any needed finesse in the red suits working for declarer, a shift to clubs might cost overtricks, but it was virtually impossible for it to cost the contract.

ANSWER: It is a matter of partnership agreement (or dispute) whether an advance by fourth hand into a major shows a minimum of four cards or five. Certainly, one should not bid a bad four-card major here; my belief is that a fivecard holding is the norm. Either way, the most practical option is to bid one no-trump and wait for partner to introduce a major if he has one.