ACES ON BRIDGE

“To pull the chestnuts out of the fire with the cat’s paw.”

-- Moliere

In today’s deal, West led the spade seven against three notrump, to the queen and ace. Declarer next played a heart to dummy’s jack, then the heart 10, East following with the seven and the three to show count, both ducked by West. Declarer next led a heart to his queen, East discarding the spade two. Plan the rest of the defense as West after you win the heart ace.

In real life, West woodenly returned a second spade, and declarer soon claimed his contract. West should have seen that declarer certainly had a second spade trick coming, but more importantly, East would not have pitched a spade if continuing the suit was the way to beat the contract. East’s spade discard here might carry suit-preference clues to his partner, so the low spade ought to suggest values in clubs. Even so, it is quite difficult to see the best way to generate the necessary three tricks from clubs.

West needs to find declarer with ace-doubleton in clubs, but he needs to be careful in case declarer has A-J or A-10. To cater for that eventuality, West must switch to the club nine. This will go to the queen and declarer’s ace. The best declarer can do now is cash the winning heart and play on diamonds. However, West will win the fourth round and continue with the club king and another club. With East’s 10-7 poised over dummy’s 86, declarer must lose two more club tricks and go one down.

ANSWER: If you were facing an opening bid in first or second seat, you might keep the auction open with a tactical response of one notrump (though being vulnerable might hold you back). But facing a third-in-hand opening, where you have already heard each opponent pass at his first turn, there is a good case for being more ready to pass here. The opposition is far less likely to bid game now.