Bridge

Today’s deal is based on one from Terence Reese’s “Master Play,” an excellent book on card play.

As is often the case when declarer has a combined seven-card trump fit, the play often focuses on the defenders’ maneuvers, and declarer’s counters to retain control. Here, South played in four spades after North’s decision not to risk playing no-trump. Hearts were led and continued by the defense, and South had to ruff. He played on trumps next, but when East showed out on the third round, prospects were not good. The only hope now was to trap the opponents into an error.

Without drawing the fourth trump, South played off the ace and king of clubs and led a third club to the jack. West seized on the chance to make his small trump, but South was then able to return to hand to cash his winning clubs, and he lost just a diamond trick at the death.

It is clear that if West refrains from ruffing the club, South is badly placed: He is in dummy and cannot return to hand without using his last trump. South, however, did not play the hand well. If he had foreseen the position, he would have played off the top clubs before drawing the second trump. A third club follows, and if West declines to ruff, South can return to hand with a trump. Declarer can afford to lose a club trick, but not control of the hand.

Bid with the aces

South holds:

Answer: Your partner’s pass suggests a slightly better hand than if he had signed off in three hearts. So you should bid on to game now as you have a little in hand for your invitation to game. You can either bid three no-trump as a possible final contract or rely on your 5-4 fit and bid four hearts.