ACES ON BRIDGE

Today, we continue our theme of reasons not to draw trumps. South makes the practical overcall of four spades after East’s heavy weak two. West leads the heart seven to his partner’s ace, and back comes the heart nine. East is no doubt hoping to deliver a ruff, but this defense seems best even on the actual lie of the cards.

Declarer ruffs and sees that he will lose only two club tricks, making exactly. However, drawing trumps would likely be fatal on a 4-1 spade split. If West took his club honor first and tapped declarer a second time in hearts, East would have the whole heart suit to cash upon winning the next club.

South should start setting up his sidesuit before removing dummy’s trumps, by leading the club queen at trick three. If West wins and plays a heart, declarer will ruff and lead the club nine. East wins and plays a fourth heart, but declarer can absorb the force in the short hand, preserving his trump length to draw all of West’s. No other defense is any better.

If the defenders were to duck the second club, declarer would still be unable to draw trumps. He could, however, simply ruff a club with dummy’s spade 10 for his game-going trick.

If dummy had the spade eight instead of the 10, it might still be reasonable to play this line — but declarer should start clubs by leading the nine, in the hope that East takes the trick instead of West. If that happens, the defenders no longer have an effective force coming.

ANSWER:

After your partner’s rebid of one no-trump, a jump by you to three spades would not be forcing. Set up a force by bidding the new minor (here, two clubs) and then jumping in spades to initiate a slam try. You might be tempted to drive to slam, but there is room to explore, so why not use it?