ACES ON BRIDGE

In an intermediate class on play, the bidding was almost identical at every table, as was the lead: the heart nine.

At the first table, the nine was covered by the queen, king and ace. Declarer drew trumps with his king and dummy’s ace. He then led a club from dummy. The defenders took two clubs and had to make a diamond trick. Declarer took six trumps, three hearts and a club for his contract.

At the next table, the heart nine was also covered by the queen, but here East was cannier, playing the heart two at trick one. Now declarer had to lose two clubs and two diamonds for one trick down.The shortage of trump entries to dummy to set up and establish hearts was the killer. In essence, the game came down to needing the club ace onside.

The best play was found at the third table. Declarer played the heart four from dummy under the nine at trick one. After taking his heart ace, declarer drew trumps with the king and queen. He then played his remaining heart to dummy’s 10 and East’s king. East’s continuation of the club queen was covered by the king and ace. After winning the club continuation with the 10, East shifted to diamonds. Declarer took this with the ace, crossed to dummy with a trump and threw his losing diamonds on the hearts, making 10 tricks: six trumps, three hearts and a diamond.

Obviously, if declarer had a second trump entry to dummy, he could afford to put up a heart honor at trick one. But not today.

ANSWER: Make a negative double to bring hearts into the game.You lack the values for a two-heart call, and raising clubs is not as important as finding a major-suit fit. Besides, partner might have only three clubs. You plan to compete in clubs to at least the three-level if the opponents raise spades. Will you bid four clubs over three spades? I think not.