ACES ON BRIDGE

“There’s many a slip ‘twixt the cup and the lip.” — Greek proverb

In the match between Australia and Japan at the Asia Pacific Congress of 2012, both teams needed a decent win to qualify for the knockouts. Today’s deal proved crucial for the Aussies.

Australia’s Ron Klinger had declared four spades from the North chair in the other room. That looks like an easy way to score 620, but one should not count one’s chickens before they are hatched.

Klinger won the diamond lead in hand before passing the spade jack, which held. He then quite reasonably played another spade to the 10, which also held. Klinger could not afford to play another round of spades, lest West win and play a fourth round, leaving declarer a trick short. So, he played on diamonds, West ruffing the third round. Now a heart through sealed Klinger’s fate. West ruffed the fourth round of diamonds before the fifth round could be played for the heart discard. Down one, minus 100.

At the featured table, the double fit persuaded Tadashi Teramoto to drive to game. West led the heart six, which went to the queen, king and ace.

Now when declarer played on spades, West won the second round — not the best line but not disastrous, as long as he returned specifically a trump. However, his switch to the club king and a second club ended the defense. Teramoto ruffed, drew trumps and then ran the diamonds for 10 tricks and 12 international match points to Japan.

The near-draw between the two teams was enough to keep either team from qualifying.

ANSWER: Bid four clubs, a splinter. You have enough shape to drive to game, even facing a thirdchair opening. The alternative of a fit jump would leave you badly positioned for slam auctions, and you might want to raise a sign-off to game anyway. (Note that some would play the double jump by a passed hand as a void, using an artificial call such as three no-trump for any singleton raise. Partner can ask if interested.)