ACES ON BRIDGE

Today’s hand, from the Dyspeptics Club, failed because declarer did not pause for sufficient thought at trick one. South picked up his usual powerhouse and found himself in three no-trump a moment later. West led the spade four, to the six, seven and nine. Declarer followed up with the heart king, then continued the suit. When the jack failed to drop, he could see no serious alternatives to pressing on with the development of that suit. A fourth heart let East in, and the spade through declarer’s tenace saw the game consigned to the trash heap. After the event, North was less than impressed: Can you see why? As North commented, South should have risen with dummy’s spade 10 at trick one. If it holds, you are in the hand you need to be in to try for a safety play in hearts. Since declarer needs only four heart tricks for his contract, and overtricks are essentially unimportant at this form of scoring, making the contract is the paramount consideration. When dummy’s 10 holds, South knows that West holds the missing spade

LEAD WITH THE ACES

honors, so East is the danger hand and needs to be kept off lead. At trick two, it is best to play a low heart from dummy, and if East follows low, insert the eight. West wins, but no return from that side of the table can harm him. South can win the return in hand and cash the heart king. When both defenders follow, he can enter dummy in diamonds to enjoy the heart suit.

ANSWER: In general, there is a simple rule about how to invite game with a balanced 10-count facing a 12-14 hand. This is akin to (the humorous magazine) Punch’s advice to a young man about to get married: “Don’t!” One could similarly argue that no balanced 10-count is really worth an invitation. With a maximum of 24 HCP and no great source of tricks, passing is the disciplined action here.