Aces on bridge

“Ah, what a dusty answer gets the soul

When hot for certainties in this our life!”

— George Meredith

Without West’s weak two-spade opening bid, it would have been natural to take two spade finesses in six no-trump and feel somewhat aggrieved when they both lost. But West’s opener puts a different complexion on the deal, and although West might have opened with a spade suit of king-sixth or queen-sixth, that eventuality is rather unlikely at the vulnerability. Why rely on that, when you can achieve almost complete certainty?

When West leads the club 10 against six no-trump, the sensible way forward is to win in dummy, then cash four rounds of diamonds. West has to find three discards, and he can comfortably release his three small spades. Declarer now needs to find out more about West’s shape. He cashes the club king, all following, then the ace and king of hearts. When the heart jack puts in an appearance from West, South should suspect that West was dealt a 6=2=1=4 shape - kudos to West if he has dropped the jack from an original four-card suit!

A heart to the queen confirms the suspicion. Of course, if West had followed suit, there would have been 12 top tricks. But what should West pitch? He must discard a club in order to keep his spade holding intact. So now we can cross to the club queen to lead a spade to the 10. When West wins the trick, he is endplayed to lead from his remaining honor into South’s tenace, and the slam comes home.

ANSWER: After one no-trump is doubled for penalties, you can pass if you want to play there, and use your methods over one no-trump, with redouble as a way to force a call of two clubs, to escape to either two clubs or two diamonds. My best guess would be to redouble, planning to redouble two clubs for rescue. If partner wants to play two diamonds, he will bid it. If not, he will run to two hearts, you hope.