ACES ON BRIDGE

“I wish I loved the Human Race; I wish I loved its silly face.” — Sir Walter Raleigh

In today’s deal, East’s leaddirecting double of two diamonds gave South a few options. Some could redouble to show a good raise, but South merely completed the transfer to promise support, and North raised to game, hoping his partner had no diamond wastage.

West kicked off with the diamond ace and another diamond. Declarer ruffed in dummy and led a heart to the king, West winning the ace and returning the heart seven to the jack and queen.

South now needed the club king onside if he hoped to play clubs for no losers. If he tackled the suit himself, he would have to guess whether to play for the kingdoubleton onside, finessing the club jack and then cashing the ace; or for a short-suit eight offside, by leading the queen and then running the nine; or even a short-suit 10 offside, by leading to the club jack on the second round. However, a far better play here was to eliminate the hand to force West to broach clubs.

Declarer finessed the club jack successfully and then crossed to hand in spades and ruffed a diamond, West showing a void. Next came three more rounds of spades. West discarded on the third in the hope that declarer would revert to clubs, but South had a full count of the hand. East was known to have precisely 3=2=7=1 shape, so declarer threw West on play with the heart 10, compelling a club lead into the tenace.

There was a way to defend successfully, but it was far from obvious: West had to shift to a club at trick two to set the game.

ANSWER: This hand is not nearly strong enough for a call of two hearts, which should show more values or a longer suit. Start with a negative double, intending to compete in clubs later. To bid two hearts, you would need to switch the heart two for the queen. Even then, you would be on the cusp for that action.