ACES ON BRIDGE

“He saw a lawyer killing a viper

On a dunghill hard by his own stable;

And the Devil smiled, for it put him in mind

Of Cain and his brother, Abel.” — Samuel Taylor Coleridge

This hand was very nicely played by Jill Meyers, who, despite having a hugely time-consuming job in music licensing, has for many years contended for the title of topranked woman player in the world.

Meyers was at the helm in a tricky three-no-trump contract after taking a slightly pushy call at her second turn. On the lead of the club 10, Meyers ducked — an imaginative attempt to try to cut the defensive communications.

She won the club continuation, and as the cards lay she could have succeeded by ducking a heart, but this needed a lot of things going for it to be right — specifically, hearts 3-3 and the diamond ace onside, plus no spade entry in the West hand. Instead, Meyers took the right technical line when she played a spade to the ace and another spade. East’s best move is to put in the jack (Meyers would have been hard-pressed to read this), but he won with the king and shifted to a low diamond to the 10 and jack. Back came a diamond to the king. Then, the club ace squeezed a heart out of East, which had the effect of cutting the defenders’ communications in hearts. Now Meyers cashed the top hearts and exited with a diamond to East. East could cash the diamond ace-nine, but then he had to lead a spade at trick 12. There was no guess for declarer, because East would not have played a spade unless he had to. If he had a heart left, he would have cashed it. Meyers duly finessed in spades for nine tricks and a great board.

ANSWER: Simple diamond raises would be non-forcing, while a jump to four diamonds would rule out three no-trump. Set up a game force with two spades, the fourth suit. Then you will raise diamonds and take it from there. If your partner shows no interest, you do not need to advance beyond game. However, you must give him every chance to show extra shape or high cards.