ACES ON BRIDGE

See how you handle this declarer play problem from the finals of the 1998 Mcconnell Cup.

You open one heart. West overcalls two diamonds, and partner jumps to three spades. In the context of negative free bids, you play this as natural and game-forcing. You rebid four hearts and play there, on the diamond-king lead. After taking the diamond ace, East following, how would you play?

You cannot afford to release control of the clubs, lest West gain the lead and cash two more diamonds. In fact, the contract has very little play, but your best bet is to lead a low spade from the dummy. You need the spade ace to be on your right to stand any chance, and you do not have the entries to take a ruffing finesse if both the ace and queen lie with East.

East ought to duck the first spade because grabbing the ace is necessary only if you have nine tricks on the side. However, should East fly up with the spade ace and shift to a club, you can win with the ace, cross to the heart ace and cash the spade king. Thanks to the providential lie of the majors, you can wind up with an overtrick, all thanks to the power of the closed hand.

At the table, the German declarer tried the spade king from dummy at trick two, which did not trouble the defense. Given that East-west went for 800 in five clubs in the other room, this board proved to be a disaster for the eventual silver medalists in both rooms.

ANSWER: With good suits, little defense against a high heart contract, and enough strength to have a chance of winning the auction, you have the perfect ingredients for an Unusual two-no-trump overcall. You might find a making game or a worthwhile sacrifice, or just interfere with the enemy auction. The usual risks of going for a number or giving away the layout are outweighed by the gains today.

“Each of us feels the good days speed and depart, and they are lost to us and counted against us.”

— Martial