ACES ON BRIDGE

“Valor consists in the power of self-recovery, so that a man cannot have his flank turned, cannot be out-generaled, but put him where you will, he stands.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

On today’s deal, North-South reached the wrong contract without doing anything unreasonable in the auction. South had soft values in his doubletons and an awkward rebid after opening one club, so he got his values off his chest at his first turn to speak with a strong no-trump opening bid. Most experts would follow this approach — the only issue being whether they felt guilty or happy about it!

Now North transferred to spades and offered a choice of games with three no-trump, where they played. After a low heart lead, South’s first task was to divine the heart layout. The percentage move in this scenario might be to play small, the logic being that it is a blind guess which play to make if West has led from five, but West is less likely to have underled ace-fourth than queen-fourth. Still, our hero guessed right by calling for the king, but he was not yet home.

Declarer could have played for both diamond honors onside, but that line seemed unattractive to him. An alternative was to play a club to the king and advance the spade three; however, West would be unlikely to duck after his partner’s encouraging signal at trick one.

So declarer ran his clubs, hoping to bring about some pressure, and West was inexorably squeezed without the count. West pitched a spade, then two diamonds, hoping East had the guarded jack. Declarer then ran the diamonds and emerged with an overtrick.

ANSWER: This hand meets my criteria for a light third-hand oneheart opening. We have a fair primary suit and have no objection to competing for the part-score. Partner should be aware that we may shade our values in this position: If he does double the final contract, our two aces represent a respectable amount of defense.