ACES ON BRIDGE

“Great abilities are not requisite for an historian. Imagination is not required in any high degree.”

— Samuel Johnson

Today’s deal shows the importance of thinking ahead.

South pushily tried for game over his partner’s two-diamond call, which denied rather than promised extra values. North confidently accepted the invitation.

Declarer won the opening lead and ran the diamond 10, which held, then repeated the finesse. East won and thoughtfully played the heart ace, then jack. Declarer ducked, but now when a top spade came through, both defenders had winners in one major to cash. Declarer could no longer exploit the fall of the club queen.

Declarer can do better. His best chance is to go after clubs, hoping the queen falls doubleton. When the club aceking drops the queen, he is almost home.

He unblocks the club jack and runs the diamond

10. If East wins, declarer has nine tricks. If East ducks to muddy the waters, declarer must take his spade king and then cross to the diamond ace rather than risking another finesse. He will then emerge with two overtricks after the fall of the diamond king.

In this line, if the club queen had not fallen, declarer simply would have cleared clubs. If the diamond king were onside, the defense would be unable to play a spade. In this scenario, the defenders might still prevail, though, with inspired defense. If West could win the club queen, he could shift to the diamond king, a tough defense to find, or he could play a heart. East could then unblock hearts and lead a diamond through.

ANSWER: Double. This gets all three suits into play, even though your hearts are almost as bad as they could be here. A two-club overcall could see you playing a 5-1 fit when you have a much better combined holding in one of the red suits. Do not give a second thought to the fact that you have only three hearts. Three trumps and a ruffing value are almost exactly equivalent in playing strength to four-card support.