ACES ON BRIDGE

“Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.”

— B.F. Skinner

It is possible to make a fit bid even after a fit has been found. After West’s preemptive raise to three hearts, East could simply push on to game with his concentrated 5-5. But if South were to accept the transfer and bid four spades, East would

Bobby Wolff

not know whether to pass, double or bid on. He can solve his future problems by bidding a natural four clubs. This does not promise slam interest; it simply advertises strong long clubs. When South presses on to four spades, the spotlight turns to West.

With shortness in partner’s side suit and two pointed-suit honors apparently working on defense, West is not interested in bidding on. Instead, he doubles and leads his singleton. East tops the club queen with his king and sees that declarer cannot have a singleton. West would have led the four from eight-six-four here, and he might not have doubled with that holding anyway.

East therefore cashes the club ace at trick two in case his partner can ruff the third round. If he discovers that both South and West hold club doubletons, East will cash the heart ace and play a third club.

When West discards on the second club, East perseveres with the club 10, suit preference for a heart shift. West ruffs and then leads the heart six to East’s queen. Now East can play another club to promote his partner’s spade queen. Additionally, declarer cannot avoid a slow loser in diamonds. Three down represents ample compensation for East-West’s vulnerable game.

ANSWER: You want to compete the part-score, but your partner might think you have more if you bid three clubs. I would risk that call anyway, but it would be much more attractive to act if you had two ways to show clubs. Many pairs play two no-trump here as a purely competitive hand with clubs, and three clubs as a more constructive hand type. See youth.worldbridge. org/good-bad-2nt-by-bob-crosby for more information.

If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, e-mail him at bobbywolff@mindspring.com. Copyright 2023, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS