ACES ON BRIDGE

“It is characteristic of mankind to make as little adjustment as possible in customary ways in the face of new conditions.”

— Robert and Helen Lynd

After identical auctions, both West players in a team game led a fourthhighest spade two against three notrump rather than a second-highest spot-card.

At the first table, when declarer played low from dummy, East won with his king and counted the outstanding high cards. As he had 10 points, dummy had 7, and he knew of 20 or so to his left, West could have at most 3 points. There was very little future in spades; one more spade trick would not defeat the contract. East decided to play West for three or four clubs and a red-suit king or the club queen. So, he continued with a low club at trick two.

Declarer won the trick in dummy to run the diamond jack. West took this with the king and continued the attack on clubs. East won his club ace and king and cashed his remaining club to defeat the contract.

At the other table, declarer planned the play in some detail at trick one, counting eight likely tricks in the form of the spade ace, four hearts and three diamonds. While a ninth could come from one of the black suits, declarer saw that if East had the spade king, that player might find the unwelcome shift to a club at trick two.

So declarer took the spade ace at once, then ran the diamond nine. West won the trick with the diamond king, and declarer claimed the contract: The defenders could take a spade and two clubs, but that was all. Declarer would set up a ninth trick from one of the black suits sooner or later.

ANSWER: Unless they are extremely subtle and devious, your opponents have conducted an auction that suggests they have a heart weakness. As long as you have no reason to suspect them of being confidence tricksters, lead the heart king and try to hit declarer’s soft underbelly.