ACES ON BRIDGE

In three no-trump on a heart lead, South’s first plan is to develop the spades to make his game. If he can set up three spade winners, he will then need only one more trick; and he may then try to get that trick in clubs. The first step is to win the first heart trick in dummy in order to play on spades. When West wins his ace and returns a heart, declarer can see that two additional tricks will be needed, and the clubs probably won’t do the trick. Hence he must try to develop two diamond tricks. South should try to make West win the first diamond, to knock out the danger hand’s entry before the hearts are established. If East wins the first diamond, he will establish the hearts, and West will eventually get in with his top diamond to run the hearts. South must tackle diamonds by leading a low diamond from dummy, since East should be given the chance to err by ducking. If East slips up, West will be forced to duck the first diamond or his hand will be dead, and South will make the contract without further difficulty. Having stolen a diamond trick, declarer can succeed by changing tack again, by playing on clubs. He emerges with two spades, a diamond and three tricks in each of the other suits. Had South led the first diamond from his own hand, West would let East win the first diamond. Now the defense would clear the hearts while West retained his entry.