ACES ON BRIDGE

“Most of us seldom take the trouble to think. It is a troublesome and fatiguing process and often leads to uncomfortable conclusions. But crises and deadlocks when they occur have at least this advantage, that they force us to think.”

— Jawaharlal Nehru

Barry Rigal reported this deal from Hawaii. With just one deal to go in the board-a-match qualifier, you need a win on the final board to reach average and earn a spot on the roster for the final. Can you do it? Your teammates have collected 500 from four spades doubled, so if you do better, you are in. If the same, you face a tiebreaker.

West leads the heart king and shifts to a MUD diamond seven. Naturally, East cashes two diamonds then disappointedly reverts to hearts. You get to ruff, but then what?

After cashing the diamond king to pitch your heart, it seems natural to take the spade ace and continue with the jack. But if you do, East wins, forces you twice when in with the top trump, and collects 500. Your best chance here may be to give up on any miracle in spades. East probably has both honors, anyway. Instead, after cashing the diamond king, exit with the spade jack! If East wins and leads a red winner, you can survive. You ruff in dummy and cross to the club queen. Having saved a tempo, you can drive out the remaining top trump while retaining control, for minus 300. East’s best defense was to win the spade queen and exit in clubs. Now you are locked in dummy and must concede the ruff and the master trump. Did you get a good night’s sleep?

ANSWER: Whenever your side is doubled for penalty, a redouble is for rescue. You must run, and your options are three clubs, three diamonds and two no-trump to suggest no preference. I prefer the last of these, although I can also imagine bidding two spades and redoubling to get partner to pick a minor.