ACES ON BRIDGE

Ron Rubin declared four hearts from the South position here, after a strong no-trump opening and a spade overcall from West.

It seemed as though declarer was staring four pointed-suit losers in the face, in the form of two spades and two diamonds, but Rubin managed to work an endplay.

Rubin drew trumps in three rounds, cashed the club ace-king and ruffed a club. When West discarded a diamond, Rubin played a low diamond to dummy’s jack. East won that with the king and sensibly switched to a spade, but Rubin simply played his nine. West won cheaply but then had to either return a spade into declarer’s tenace or cash the diamond ace to establish declarer’s queen for a spade discard.

Had East played a diamond through instead, for West to play a third, declarer would have ruffed and played a spade to the nine to endplay the spade-bound

West. It might seem as though West would have done better to keep all of his diamonds. Then, a diamond return from East would set the game, as

West would remain with a diamond exit-card. However, if West defended that way, declarer could have changed tack. Rather than going for the endplay around the diamond suit, he would have been able to lead the spade nine out of his hand at trick seven. West would have had to win, and since a spade lead would be immediately fatal, he would have had to open up the diamonds, establishing declarer’s 10th trick by building a diamond winner for him.

ANSWER: It could work well to bid three hearts, but I would not want to risk missing a spade fit, or even a diamond fit if we just belong in part-score. (Otherwise, I might have walked into a penalty double.) I would double for takeout, intending to pass partner’s three-diamond or three-spade advance, but I would at least consider raising a response of three hearts to game.