ACES ON BRIDGE

“In formal battle, discipline is more important than courage.”

— George R.R. Martin

Continuing our theme of fit bids, here is another case where a preemptor can act again upon uncovering a double fit. After North raises to three spades, East bids four hearts. Not only might this direct the lead, but it may also allow West to sacrifice effectively against four spades. As a passed hand, East must have diamond support. As an unpassed hand, four hearts would just be to play, of course.

West comes again over four spades with five diamonds, and North doubles with his balanced hand. Unsurprisingly, South bids on to five spades.

West’s heart lead is covered by the jack, queen and ace. It would be all too easy for declarer to plunk down the spade ace now, but he determines that West must have heart length (since East did not open two hearts) and probably would have led a singleton club if he had one. If so, East must have at least three spades.

Declarer might be tempted to enter dummy in clubs and throw a heart on the diamond ace, but it is better to lead a spade intermediate from hand. If West follows low, declarer will reenter dummy to finesse trumps through East. When West instead shows out, he is known to have 0=3=7=3 shape. Declarer now lets the spade 10 run to East’s jack. East can next cash the heart king but must then provide declarer with an entry to dummy. Now South can run the spade queen to pick up the trumps.

Starting with a low spade to the queen would not work. Declarer would then be able to lead trumps only once from dummy, which is not enough today.

ANSWER: You would like to make a constructive raise in clubs, but a three-diamond cue-bid would be game-forcing and three clubs merely competitive. You might start with a negative double, intending to convert partner’s major-suit rebid to clubs. However, maybe the simple club raise is best after all.