With two fits, extra tricks

To start today, look only at the South hand. Partner opens one diamond, you respond one spade and he raises to two spades. What would you do now?

It is well known by most players that a double fit — when you have at least eight cards in two suits, and often more cards in at least one of those fits — is more delicious than premium ice cream.

Who is that screaming, “Impossible! Impossible!” on the terrace?

We all have our bidding styles and preferences, but this one will meet with almost total agreement. You should continue with three hearts. Then, when partner raises to four hearts, announcing the double fit, it is reasonable for you to jump to six spades — real bridge players don’t need Blackwood!. Also, surely partner does not hold an aceless wonder.

How would you try to make six spades after West leads the club queen?

You win with dummy’s club ace and draw trumps, noting the 3-0 split. Should you then play the heart ace and another heart or finesse twice through West?

As you can see, with this layout both lines are successful. The software that I use is available free of charge at suitplay.com. It was written by Jeroen Warmerdam from the Netherlands and is recommended by me.

It says that you should run the heart 10 first, and if it loses to the jack, you finesse again on round two, with a 79% chance of success.

This is better than cashing the heart ace first, because East might have honor-third, when you would have to guess what to do.

— APRIL 3, 2024