“Intuition is not infallible; it only seems to be the truth. It is a message which we may interpret wrongly.” – Christina Stead

On this deal from James Kauder’s book “Return of the Bridge Philosopher,” Kauder leads a top club, and partner’s two is a grave disappointment.

To set four spades, a defender, it seems, has to win a trick in diamonds.

It looks correct, therefore, to shift to a diamond.

However, even if declarer’s distribution is 5-3-3-2, four spades cannot be defeated, since declarer can pitch a diamond on dummy’s clubs.

But if South’s distribution is 5-2-4-2, it may be possible to set four spades.

Can you see how?

One possibility is to lead a diamond, playing partner for the jack. Then the defense would be able to win a diamond before declarer can discard two diamonds on dummy’s clubs. However, the diamond shift would be disastrous if declarer held the K-J-x-x of diamonds.

There is a better way to set four spades without risking a diamond lead away from the queen.

West continues with the club ace and a third club, which declarer wins with dummy’s jack while pitching a diamond.

Declarer leads a spade to his king and West’s ace. West leads a fourth round of clubs, which partner ruffs low and declarer overruffs.

South has lost his second discard and is forced to take a diamond finesse.

When that loses, four spades is down one.

If West fails to play the ace, king and another club, and later a fourth club for East to ruff, declarer will be able to pitch two diamonds on dummy’s clubs.

Bid with the aces

South holds:

Answer: You should jump pre-emptively in hearts.

Three hearts is the value bid unless the vulnerability is against you or you don’t trust your partner to deliver shape-suitable takeout doubles.

The opponents surely have a fit in spades or diamonds.

They have not yet found it, though, so you may yet be able to make them guess what to do if you take away their space.