ACES ON BRIDGE
Continuing with our theme of deception, here is the Shop-soiled Coup… somewhere between the Bath Coup and the Dirty Coup, which was discussed yesterday.
When the defenders lead a top heart against three no-trump, East’s discouraging seven may be hard for West to read. Can you come to nine tricks before the opponents take five?
You could win the first trick and play a club, hoping to warn the defenders away from that suit.You did open one club, after all. That might persuade West to win and play a heart, or he might shift to a pointed suit, but when you come to play a heart yourself, West might smell a rat; why would you lead clubs but not continue the suit?
Instead, say you follow with the four to the first trick, tempting a heart continuation. Now West will know his partner’s card is a small one, and he will switch. You are unlikely to get a second heart trick before the defenders find the club shift. Instead, at trick one, try following with the 10. West will believe his partner has a high heart and continue the suit; who in their right mind would give up a sure trick by playing the 10 from ace-jack-10?
Just as in yesterday’s deal, West might smell a rat — East should encourage with the heart eight, not the seven, if he holds both of those cards. Since you would scarcely play the heart 10 from ace-10-seven tripleton unless you wanted a continuation, West may decide to switch.
ANSWER: You could double to say your piece at a relatively safe level.You would prefer to have a fourth spade, shorter hearts or more values, though, so there is no shame in going quietly — I would indeed do so facing a passed partner. Having said that, quick and dirty is the safest way to compete; I vote for action here.