ACES ON BRIDGE

Whatever you do, do cautiously, and consider the end. — Latin proverb

In today’s deal, West’s Michaels cue bid of two spades shows at least 5-5 shape in hearts and a minor. North bids three hearts to show at least an invitation in spades, and South takes a shot at game.

On the lead of the club king, declarer can see only two sure losers in the rounded suits, together with what appears to be a slow diamond loser. He could be forgiven for thinking that his fate would hinge on the spade finesse, but that would be oversimplifying the situation. A 4-0 spade split is far from impossible based on the bidding, and declarer must demonstrate care to allow for it.

After winning with the club ace, declarer should call for the spade jack, covered by the king and ace as West shows void. Had declarer begun with a low spade to his 10, he would not be able to pick up East’s remaining king-nine-eight. As it is, declarer is still in the game. He must next lead the heart five from hand —the king would not suffice.

West would like to win and continue clubs to give

East an overruff, but doing so would set up a discard for South on dummy’s heart queen, after which the slow diamond loser could eventually be discarded. So West plays small, whereupon the heart queen scores. Declarer leads another spade, covered by the eight and queen.

Now declarer only needs to enter dummy with the diamond king and take a third spade finesse. After drawing East’s final trump, declarer can knock out the club queen to come to 10 tricks, losing one trick in each of the side suits.

ANSWER: I am loath to open my shorter suit, but the rebid problems after a one-club opening and likely one-spade response persuade me to try one heart here. Make the hearts a bit worse and the clubs a bit better, and I would go the other way. The hand is strong enough to open, and if you do not, the opponents may bounce to game in spades before you get the first blow in.