ACES ON BRIDGE

“We are perpetually moralists, but we are geometricians by chance. Our intercourse with intellectual nature is necessary; our speculation upon matter are voluntary and at leisure.”

— Samuel Johnson

This, our last deal from the Fall Nationals of 2021, comes from the first final session of the Mitchell Open board-amatch. It features Barry Rigal at the helm, partnering Bruce Rogoff.

Take the driver’s seat. You play seven no-trump after showing extras with your jump to six no-trump and partner, counting on you for the club ace, headed for seven diamonds.

There can be little advantage to playing there, with no long suits to help ruff out opponent’s holdings and no ruffs to take in the short hand, so you convert to seven no-trump at this form of scoring and receive a diamond lead.

The best line is to win in hand, cash the top hearts (pitching clubs) and run the diamonds to reach a five-card ending.

Dummy has four spades and a club, while you have two spades, a heart and the ace-queen of clubs in hand.

There is no need to try a third-round spade finesse, as likely as it may seem that it will win.

When you play off the three top spades, East shows out on the third. So, you know that West is down to one club to preserve the spade jack.

Further, the last spade winner has forced East (who had to keep a heart, or your heart in hand would be good) down to one club. You pitch your heart when East throws a club.

At this point, you can triumphantly lead dummy’s club to your ace, knowing the king will fall.

Have you managed to execute a non-simultaneous double squeeze to bring home a grand slam? No. The club finesse was right all along, and anyone can take a finesse.

ANSWER: A call of three diamonds would be too little, and any other number of diamonds would both misdescribe the hand and prevent you from finding a spade fit. Start with a double and then pull a heart bid to diamonds.You hope that your partner will be able to introduce a four-card spade suit if appropriate.