ACES ON BRIDGE

Ron Rubin declared this hand well in an online pairs game. At the helm in three no-trump on a spade lead, Rubin saw that if the diamond finesse lost, the clubs could be wide open. Rubin therefore tried to make a spade return more attractive by dropping the queen under dummy’s king at trick one, hoping to look like a man with ace-queen doubleton. Then came the diamond jack, unblocking the 10 when East played small.

No doubt Rubin regretted his trick-one enterprise when the finesse won, but he did not give up. The run of the diamonds put West through the wringer. Declarer could let go of a heart and a club easily enough, while West could shed two spades, a heart, and a club.

However, the final diamond forced a fatal discard. A heart would give up two tricks right away and result in further pressure for all 13 tricks, while a club discard would see declarer establish the club jack and later squeeze West again for 12 tricks.

Naturally, West unguarded spades, whereupon Rubin cashed two rounds of that suit. At this point, West should have let go of the club queen to ensure one trick for his side, but he actually pitched another heart, and declarer could run four heart tricks.

Thus, Rubin emerged with 13 tricks and an 87% board. He would have scored above average with 12 tricks on the triple squeeze as well. Surprisingly, the majority collected only 11 tricks, even though those players did not sacrifice their third spade trick!

ANSWER: You do not need opening values to come in over one no-trump in the balancing seat. Shape should suffice, so bid two clubs for the majors. Passing could easily cost you a part-score swing. In direct seat, the equation is far more complex, but I believe the odds favor acting here. Incidentally, as a passed hand, balancing would be even clearer.