Bridge

In today’s deal from the third round of the 2007 Vanderbilt, Kyle Larsen was faced with a tough defensive problem, partly because the “normal” play looks obvious and the winning play is counterintuitive. Larsen sat East, defending four hearts.

Rose Meltzer as West led the fourth-best club four. It appears natural to try to win the club ace and then attempt to cash three spade tricks. Larsen looked a little deeper. He realized that with only 21 high-card points unaccounted for, the most likely shape for declarer was 4-6-1-2 with good hearts and a top spade. Meltzer, Larsen figured, was 3-1-5-4.

For South to bid four hearts, he was almost sure to hold the spade ace instead of the spade king – or else his final action would have been indefensible.

Larsen saw that if he won the club ace and did not let West cash the second club, South would be able to discard his club loser on the diamond ace after a successful finesse of the queen. Conversely, if Larsen won the club ace and did play another club, declarer would discard two spades on the good queen of clubs and the diamond winner in dummy.

So Larsen made the brave decision to put in the club 10 at the first trick and was very relieved to see it win. He then cashed the club ace and played a third club to kill the menace in dummy. Now the defenders would eventually collect two spade tricks no matter what declarer did.

Bid with the aces

South holds:

Answer: Take a deep breath and bid one no-trump to show the basic nature of your hand, a balanced 12-14 points. Yes, it is a little disquieting to have absolutely nothing in spades, I agree, but just consider how much more misleading it would be to repeat your diamonds or to introduce a second suit, when what you actually have is a totally balanced hand.