ACES ON BRIDGE

Today’s deal is from the 2015 Bermuda Bowl semifinal between England and Poland. Though Poland won narrowly, Tony Forrester outplayed his Polish counterpart here.

West led a second-highest spade six, and Forrester ducked East’s king. He won the spade continuation, then advanced the diamond king, followed by the diamond 10, both holding. Next came the clubs: ace, king and nine. East won the last with the queen and continued with a spade to Forrester’s queen. Declarer cashed the club 10, then exited with his diamond. West won and cashed the fourth spade, but he then had to broach the hearts, leading the eight in the two-card ending. Forrester guessed correctly, reasoning that if West had the heart king, East would have arranged to win the fourth spade.

In the other room, declarer won the first spade lead and started with three rounds of diamonds. Declarer ducked the spade return, won the third spade, and erred by playing the heart 10, covered all around. East cashed a spade and exited with a heart. He only had to wait for the club queen as the setting trick.

Forrester played the hand well, but he could have cashed the spade queen before exiting with that third club. This way, if West had the club queen, he would be forced to open up the hearts. As the play went, if West had won the third club, he could have cashed the diamond ace and been able to exit in spades to force declarer to play hearts for himself.

ANSWER: Partner has shown a good hand, and yours has also gone up in value, just enough to raise to three hearts.Your heart queen will fill partner’s suit, and the doubleton spade should be useful as a ruffing value. Expect your partner to have at least three of them, with the opponents having failed to compete to two spades. With the diamond ace instead of the queen, you would bid four hearts.