ACES ON BRIDGE

Some of the most interesting positions in bridge arise when declarer is trying to create an endplay. The following deal shows the defenders needing to determine the problem and then finding the best way to escape from declarer’s toils.

South has a straightforward jump to game when North supports his hearts. If he had the same values but more quick tricks in the side suits, he might consider angling for three no-trump. With three slow side-suit tricks, the heart game should be superior in theory, but as the cards lie, the no-trump game would be easier to play.

West’s natural lead is the spade queen. Declarer wins in hand and cashes the heart ace-king, East discarding a spade. South next tests spades by leading a small one to the ace and ruffing the third round. West correctly discards a club on this trick, so South now exits with a trump to West, as

East throws a small club.

What is West to do now? A club is immediately fatal, of course, and any diamond up to the nine also fails to do the job. South simply covers the card in dummy, and East’s goose is cooked. No matter what East does, South can now play the diamond suit for no losers.

But what if West exits with the diamond jack? (This is the right card whether or not West has the nine, since South cannot have four diamonds or he would have maneuvered to ruff one in dummy.) Now declarer cannot avoid losing three tricks in the minors.

ANSWER: Two spades. You are allowed to have a maximum hand from time to time. It is still permitted in 27 states, I believe. Two aces and a fourth trump are big plus features, but the sterile shape should deter you from stretching to a limit raise. Especially if you play the raise as constructive, it is highly unlikely you will miss a game by doing this.

If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, email him at bobbywolff@mindspring.com