ACES ON BRIDGE

Today’s deal sees declarer drawing a subtle negative inference from the auction. One of the most popular gadgets in North America is called Drury, where a passed-hand two-club response to a major-suit opener shows a maximum pass with at least three-card trump support. In today’s deal, when North admitted to his spade fit, South decided that he was not going to stop short of game. In four spades, South won the heart lead and decided to maximize his chances in the spade suit by leading toward the queen. To do that, he was prepared to burn his diamond entry at trick two. East took the spade queen with his king and forced declarer with a heart. When West followed with the three, the 5-3 heart break was revealed. Now declarer guessed to cross to a diamond honor in dummy and finesse the spade 10. When it held, he did not draw the last trump, instead leading a third round of diamonds. East ruffed in and played a third heart, by which time declarer was confident that West had begun with a 2-5-4-2 pattern. Since East was a passed hand, he was unlikely to have as much as an 11-count. And because he had not doubled the artificial two-club call, West appeared to have a doubleton club honor. So declarer led a club toward the 10. West, who had steeled himself for this moment, ducked smoothly. East won his queen and played back a club, but declarer confidently rose with the ace, to claim the balance when the king appeared.