ACES ON BRIDGE

“I was angry with my friend I told my wrath, my wrath did end.

I was angry with my foe:

I told it not, my wrath did grow.”

— William Blake

This week’s deals are all based around holdup plays, both in defense and as declarer. There are many reasons why it could be right to withhold a high card, but the principal one is to disrupt your opponents’ communications. Given that, who had more reason to be aggrieved on today’s hand: North or West? In three no-trump, South took West’s heart-jack lead with the king and led the club four to the seven, king and ace. On winning the heart return, declarer played on clubs and cleared the suit. Although East found the spade switch, all the defense could muster now was four tricks.

West certainly had a case to be aggrieved. If East had allowed the club king to hold, then with only one outside entry to dummy, declarer would have been unable to both establish the club suit and subsequently gain access to it.

Meanwhile, North had some words for South. “If you had covered the club seven with the nine, you would have lost an early club trick, but you would have had a club left to lead to the king later on. Even if this is ducked, as long as clubs break 3-2, you can easily set up clubs. All this line gives up is a possible overtrick when West has the club ace.”

One could argue that since South made his contract, North had less of a case. Also, declarer’s play was not easy to spot, whereas East should have known to duck his club ace on general principle, holding on to a high card to prevent the establishment of a long suit.

ANSWER: Lead the unbid suit, diamonds. Unless East bid three clubs as a lead inhibitor, he has club strength. Your best chance is to set up a diamond for partner to cash when he gains the lead with his hoped-for key-card. Against small slams in a suit, you generally cannot afford to wait and go passive.