ACES ON BRIDGE

After South’s voluntary twospade call shows six spades and more than a sub-minimum, North must do more than make a cautious raise to three spades. However, some care is needed to bring home four spades after the heart-six opening lead since South might lose a spade, two hearts and a club. At trick one, East inserts the heart 10, retaining a link with his partner, and South wins with the king. Declarer realizes that he can obtain one discard on dummy’s diamond king. What should it be?

South should plan to pitch a heart (not a club) on dummy’s diamond king. South’s plan is virtually failsafe as long as he ensures getting his discard before the opponents can take their heart tricks.

So, at trick two, South cashes the spade ace. He cannot draw a second trump, being unable to give up the lead, and starting trumps by finessing could increase the chances of an adverse club ruff. After unblocking the diamond ace, declarer leads a club to dummy’s ace; he must reach dummy to take the discard on the diamond king, and he dares not risk losing the lead. South then pitches a heart on the diamond king. Declarer can now set about drawing the rest of the trumps. He drives out the spade king, whereupon the opponents try to take their heart tricks. South ruffs the heart ace with the spade jack, then draws the last trump and sets up a club trick for his contract.

This line might fail if the defenders can arrange a club ruff, but it is surely the best option in theory.