BRIDGE
Aces first
Andrew Robson
ONE relatively common situation that all bridge players hate facing is whether to lead an unsupported ace against a slam. The more distributional the opponents have sounded in the bidding, the more appealing it becomes to lead the ace and play for a 'fast set'. But it was the only lead to give declarer a chance on this week's deal.
Dealer South Both vulnerable * Q J 6 5 3 VA Q J 7 • 6 3 4 3 4 10 7 4 V9 6 5 4 • J *A 109 6 South 14 4NT 64 3 4 West pass pass pass 2 • K 8 2 • K 109 Q 8 5 8 2 2 North 44 54. pass 8 7 4 East pass pass pass
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A K 9 V 10 • A Q 5 *K J 7 The Bidding Four-four-four-one distributions often disappoint in the play, and South probably should have passed 44. East missed his opportunity to double 54 for the lead and soon his partner's opening lead of #A hit the table. West switched to +.1 at trick two and declarer won *Q. How should he proceed? At the table declarer tried to cash •A, preparatory to cross-trumping the hand. West trumped to defeat the contract. His basic strategy was correct, but cashing •A at that point was an unnecessary risk. Because West would be most unlikely to lead +A if he also held 4Q, declarer should play for East to hold +Q. He crosses to dummy with VA and successful- ly leads a # to +J. He cashes +K, dis- carding dummy's last •. He attempts to cash 4A, West trumping with 47 and dummy overtrumping with 4J. Declarer now trumps a V, trumps a 4* trumps another V, trumps his last *, trumps dummy's last V with 4K, cashes 4A and takes the last trick with dummy's 4Q. "
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