ACES ON BRIDGE

In today’s deal from a pairs game, I know that South’s three-diamond opening would not get the approval of purists. It is arguable that the hand is not really good enough vulnerable, and holding two three-card majors is dangerous because a possible major-suit game in a 5-3 fit may well be missed. But as the opponents were vulnerable, South had hopes of talking them out of a game, or perhaps prompting them into an indiscretion. Also, the weak majors with all the values in diamonds argued for taking the risk of missing a higher scoring contract. In response, North’s five-diamond bid was well-judged. (A call of three no-trump would have received the fate it deserved.)

West found the attacking lead of the heart three. It seemed right to finesse, and the queen held, so now South played the club king, which was covered by the ace, and ruffed. How would you take it from there?

Curiously, the winning line just involves taking the diamond finesse! At trick three, play a diamond to the ace, cash the club queen and ruff a club. Now play a heart to the ace, ruff a club, then another spade to the ace and ruff another club. That is where the diamond finesse comes in: With West unable to overruff, you have scored the first nine tricks.You are left with the diamond K-J, and all you need to do now is exit with a major-suit card and wait for the last two tricks.

ANSWER: Responder’s jump should be played as a splinter — a singleton in support of the last bid suit. So here, responder should have short spades and heart support.You are never going to give up short of slam, so it looks simple enough to ask for aces (using key-card to check out the trump king if you play that). It is a good rule that nearly all unnecessary jumps are assumed to be shortness, agreeing the last-bid suit.