ACES ON BRIDGE

When South took advantage of the favorable vulnerability to overcall four spades (for which one could hardly blame him), North took him seriously and jumped to slam. No one had done anything ridiculous, but the final contract was hardly one that Lloyds of London would have had any interest in underwriting.

In fact the slam has almost no play — 12 out of 13 of West’s cards defeat the slam, but can you criticize him for leading his singleton heart? I certainly cannot — and anyone who would is a results-merchant of the highest order!

Even after that start, declarer had to play perfectly to envisage a possible way home. He ruffed the first heart high, then led a low trump to the seven to ruff a second heart, and made his next critical play when he ducked a club. East won the first club and returned the suit, allowing declarer to win in dummy and ruff a third heart. Declarer drew the second round of trumps by leading the 10 to the jack to ruff a fourth heart with his last trump, and West was forced to under-ruff to preserve his diamond guard and master club. That only postponed the evil day: South crossed to dummy with the diamond ace to cash the spade ace and pitch his club, squeezing West in the minors.

This play is called a dummy reversal. Declarer scored seven trump tricks by ruffing four times in the South hand and drawing trump with the three-card suit.

ANSWER: Your partner’s double of two diamonds suggests extras with no convenient call. Typically, he will be 4-4 in the majors and at least a limit raise in hearts. Since you have a maximum in high cards and decent shape, together with great controls, bid three hearts to suggest those extras.