ACES ON BRIDGE

In today’s deal, declarer must not optimistically bank on one out of two club finesses working.

Instead, he must look for the 100% solution.

When North transferred to three diamonds, then showed a heart void with a slam try, South decided his three aces and the filling diamond queen were enough for slam. West led what he thought would be a passive heart king, and declarer could count eight trump tricks plus the three aces. If East held at least one of the missing club honors, the slam would be easy, but he looked for an extra chance.

South discarded the spade jack from dummy and won his ace. Next, he ruffed a low spade, then played a trump to the queen. This way, he would have an extra entry to hand if the diamond jack dropped, useful to ruff the fifth spade good on a 4-3 split. Next, he carefully ruffed another spade high and drew the remaining trump. When declarer continued with a low club to the nine, West took his queen but was then endplayed. If West led a spade, then either the fifth card could be established or a ruffing finesse would be available if West exited with an honor from an original five-card holding. If West continued hearts, the jack would score, while a club would run around to declarer’s tenace.

It would have been a mistake to cash the spade ace before ruffing a second spade. That would free up a safe spade exit for West. Indeed, the spade discard at trick one was vital to the success of this line, to achieve the endplay against any lie of the spades.

ANSWER: There is nothing wrong with defending on this hand, so passing would be reasonable, if pessimistic. I would be inclined to double, though, meaning it to be extras, takeout of diamonds. You can imagine that a hand opposite with a couple of jacks and either its own five-card suit or three spades might make a surprising number of tricks for your side, while one no-trump might still come home.