ACES ON BRIDGE

“To set the cause above renown,

To love the game beyond the prize.”

— Sir Henry Newbolt

Though it is always nice to have participated in the deals where the great plays occur, you can sometimes receive more of a challenge when you do not know the hands. Take this deal from the final of last year’s Platinum Pairs, reported by John Hurd.

North-South had a two-overone sequence, allowing North to show his heart support at the twolevel. South was able to pattern out, showing his 2=5=4=2 shape, then made a non-serious slam try over three spades, to limit his hand. North rejected the invitation, of course.

As declarer, you win the club lead in dummy and must decide how to play the trumps. It is normal enough to start with a low one from dummy, intending to finesse the 10. That is right when you need three tricks from the suit. However, the best play for four tricks with this combination is to advance the heart jack! You intend to finesse the eight later, thus picking up ace-queen-nine-low, queen-nine-low and queen-ninefourth onside, in addition to the normal ace-queen-nine.

At the table, Hurd led a low heart from the board, but when East put in the queen, he won the king, then naturally enough ran the heart eight.

When Kevin Rosenberg scored his nine, he not only won a brilliancy prize for his defense, but also earned the admiration of his opponents, Hurd and Jeff Meckstroth, and partner David Gold!

It is interesting to note that East could make the same play from queen-nine doubleton and reap an equally gratifying reward.

ANSWER: Pass. You have the wrong number of hearts and too many side-suit losers to volunteer three spades. You will not make anything unless partner has the values to act again. Should he double again, though, you will have to decide whether to bid three or four spades. Make up your mind in advance, and whatever you do, don’t bid three spades slowly!