ACES ON BRIDGE

“The only fence against the world is a thorough knowledge of it.” -- John Locke

In today’s deal, South gave his slam a decent shot, but ran into accurate defense. Later that night, South realized that he could have made his contract, but the damage was already done.

After South opened a strong no-trump, West intervened with three hearts. North might have settled for a slam try, but instead he bid five no-trump to show a two-suiter. That got his side to their easiest slam, but when East found an inspired double, North thought there would be a heart ruff or a bad trump break around, so he ran to six no-trump.

When West led the heart king, South won and took two club finesses. They both succeeded, but when the bad break came to light, things looked bleak.

However, South spotted that there might still be hope if East could not reach his partner in hearts (and the auction had suggested as much). South cashed his club ace and all his diamond winners, ending in dummy. Then he exited with the club 10 to throw East on lead.

If East had exited with a low spade, declarer would have had the rest of the tricks. But East found the elegant shift to the spade queen, blocking the suit and leaving declarer a trick short.

So what was South’s error? He should have taken just three rounds of diamonds, leaving himself an entry to hand. That would have removed East’s exit cards and allowed for the successful endplay in clubs.

ANSWER: This pattern does not handle well after a one-club (or worse, a one-diamond) opening bid. Settle for the least lie and open one no-tump. Yes, you may find yourself getting too high if partner has a long major. You may also miss game if you treat the hand as a balanced 12-14. And the club intermediates argue that going low would be a slight underbid.