Bridge

Difficult declarer-play problems tend to fall into two camps. The first sort appears to offer no winning position. The second kind presents so many possibilities that one is drowning in choices.

Today’s deal falls into the first category.

When South ended as declarer in six hearts, West led a low spade, and declarer tried a small card from dummy, hoping to force an honor. However, when East contributed the 10, it was up to South to find a lie of the cards that would let him make.

Here, to avoid two spade losers, declarer needed four rounds of diamonds to stand up so that he could discard two spades from dummy and ruff a spade in that hand.

The problem is that if declarer wins the opening spade lead and plays on diamonds before drawing two rounds of trump, then East will be able to ruff in. If South draws two rounds of trump before playing four rounds of diamonds, then gives up a spade, West can hop up with his queen and lead a third trump to kill the ruff.

However, the counter is relatively straightforward: Simply duck the opening spade lead. East will continue spades, but now you win your ace and, without needing to relinquish the lead again, cash two trumps. Then cross your fingers and play four rounds of diamonds to pitch dummy’s spades. Finally, take your spade ruff in dummy, and your hand is high.

Bid with the aces

South holds:

Answer: Raise to two spades. This is very much at the minimum end of the spectrum for a raise, but you would like to try to keep the opponents out of the auction. Your good trumps coupled with your respectable clubs just make the hand worth action. Also, this may be the best way to get partner to lead spades if your side ends up on defense.