ACES ON BRIDGE/

On the second round of bidding in today’s deal, South must choose between raising clubs and bidding no-trump. With strong stoppers in the unbid suit and mediocre support for clubs, he should go for the nine-trick game rather than the 11-trick game. Of course this is an auction where North can always repeat his clubs at his next turn if his hand is unsuitable.

The appearance of dummy after West’s spade lead should indicate to East that the contract can be defeated only if the defense can run the spade suit when it gains the lead with the diamond ace. East knows that his partner cannot hold much more than a queen outside whatever spade honors he may have.

Since the spade suit may become blocked unless East retains his small spade, he must jettison an honor (the jack is clearly the right card) under dummy’s spade ace. East can then obtain the lead with his diamond ace and will next lead his remaining spade honor through declarer. Even if declarer ducks, East’s last spade will put West on play to cash out the suit.

The defense can thus win one diamond and four spade tricks to defeat the game. But if East parsimoniously plays small at trick one, the spade suit blocks and the defenders cannot take more than two tricks in the suit whatever they do. South emerges with four diamond tricks, three heart tricks and the black aces, for nine tricks.