ACES ON BRIDGE

“Irrationalism will use reason too, but without any feeling of obligation.”

— Karl Popper

Continuing with our theme of impossible suits, today’s deal features the splinter bid. Sometimes referred to as an “unnecessary jump,” it shows a good hand with shortness in the suit bid, agreeing partner’s last-bid suit or a suit that has already been confirmed as trump.

South’s two-no-trump call can be played sensibly as forcing, asking for more information. North’s four-club call can hardly be natural, with three clubs available for that purpose, and is therefore showing shortness. South now knows all his cards are working; nevertheless, his drive to slam, after checking on key-cards, is a bit of a gamble.

West leads the club king and shifts to a spade. Declarer has little trouble from here, winning the spade and diamond aces in order to ruff two clubs in dummy. He can then draw trumps and run the spades.

West’s opening gambit was ineffective, and he should have known that it would be, given the bidding. He would have done better to lead the unbid suit — spades. Although this would hardly hit declarer’s weak spot, it would attack his entries. Still needing to ruff two clubs on the table, South would have to give up a club at trick two, whereupon a second spade lead would put him out of touch with the slow spade winners in dummy. Declarer would likely draw two rounds of trumps, and when they split 3-1, he would try to throw his diamonds on dummy’s winning spades. However, West would be able to ruff, spoiling the party.

ANSWER: It is clearly best to pass here. In general, it does not pay to overcall one no-trump with 5-3-3-2 shape. This hand is more geared toward defense, and four hearts is a long way away. Bidding is likely to cause you to go minus or sustain a penalty. You might elect to balance with this hand, since partner may not find the best lead, but that is a different matter.