The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff

It is insulting to tell a declarer that he has taken a practice finesse, since that means he has risked his contract for a finesse that he did not need. Sometimes what may seem unnecessary to one person is essential to a declarer who has seen further into the problem than his colleague. Witness today’s deal, where slam seems a decent bet until the opening lead tilts the balance against declarer.

Opening Lead: ♣9

West leads the ♣9, top of a doubleton, against South’s 6♠, leaving declarer to find a way to avoid losing a trick in each minor. After drawing trumps, declarer should take the heart finesse (which superficially looks like a practice finesse) and run the rest of his trumps.

The reason for taking the heart finesse is to leave declarer with a master in both red suits — he needs to keep a high heart in hand to exert pressure on East.

After 2♥, a club, and five rounds of spades, East has to keep 3♣ and thus can hold only two red cards. Declarer can now execute what is sometimes called a striptease coup. South cashes the winners in the red suit East has discarded, forcing East to pitch his other red-suit losers. Then South takes the rest of his red winners, reducing him to all clubs in the three-card ending. Finally he runs the club eight around to him, forcing him to concede the last two tricks to dummy’s club tenace.

Bid with the Aces

This Hand of the Day was originally published on aces.bridgeblogging.com.

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