The exception proves the rule

When players are taking their first tentative steps in bridge, they sometimes have a tendency to play their aces at the first opportunity. As they improve their knowledge, they begin to realise that frequently the best role for an ace is to decapitate a king. However, that is not always necessarily the case.

Round J20/S8. Board 16. Dealer West. E/W Vul
	ª 7 6 4 3 © J 10 8 3 ¨ 3 § Q 9 5 3
ª K © Q 6 5 ¨ Q 10 9 7 § A K 10 4 2		ª Q 10 8 5 © K 4 2 ¨ A K J 6 4 2 § -
	ª A J 9 2 © A 9 7 ¨ 8 5 § J 8 7 6

This is a fairly routine deal, with E/W cold for 3NT or Five Diamonds, contract that were bid and made at the vast majority of tables.

One pair stopped short after an undistinguished sequence:

All that can be said is that if you follow the golden rule that an opening bid facing an opening bid, then you will not go far wrong!

Another auction caught the eye for all the wrong reasons:

East certainly subscribed to the theory of fast arrival!

Inevitably some tables attempted a slam:

The Hungarian pair did not exchange much information, and although the jump to Three Diamonds was aggressive, West’s failure to cue bid over Four Diamonds should have sounded a warning note.

South did not double, but did cash his aces.

This was a much more controlled effort - until West’s final bid. Mind you, there are several places where the bidding might have been improved! Once again South did not double, but his side took two tricks.

West did not star on this deal. His choice of opening bid was, well shall we say obscure, and his decision to bid the slam when his partner cue bid in clubs was, well shall we say misguided. This time South was not afraid to double, and he cashed his tricks.

Strangely enough the other Hungarian pair sitting E/W also got to Six Diamonds via another dubious auction. The problem came with the Four Heart cue bid, because West clearly thought it promised the ace.

South knew enough to double, but looking for a big penalty, led the five of diamonds. Declarer won in dummy and ruffed a club. He went back to dummy, cashed the }AK, throwing two hearts, and ruffed a club. He went back to dummy once more and played his winning club to get rid of his last heart. These cards remained:

	ª 7 4 © J 10 8 ¨ - § -
ª K © Q 6 5 ¨ Q § -		ª Q 10 8 5 © - ¨ A § -
	ª A J 9 © A 9 ¨ - § -

West played the king of spades and South, having seen one ace presumably disappear, was not going to lose a second. He took the trick - and nothing more. However, if he had simply ducked the king of spades, declarer would have had to concede defeat. So, it’s not always right to take a king with an ace!

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