Hand of the day #232
The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff Today’s deal is a declarer-play problem in t...
The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff
One of the most challenging yet apparently simple themes for declarer in no-trump play is to identify the danger hand and to try to plan things so as to isolate that player. The following deal shows a relatively simple example of the technique. It is nonetheless worth a little careful analysis.
Opening Lead: ♥4
The normal contract of three no-trump was reached in very short order after North’s artificial opening bid. On a heart lead, declarer naturally plays low from dummy and takes his heart queen at trick two. How to proceed? To make nine tricks, declarer must generate five tricks from the minors. Consider the consequence of taking the club finesse at once. If the finesse is wrong, the defense might be able to take the club king and clear the hearts. If that suit splits 5-3, with West retaining the diamond ace as his entry to the long suit, the defense must prevail. So the right play is to attack the diamonds first. If West takes his ace, declarer can later finesse clubs into the safe hand. If the club finesse is right, declarer has plenty of tricks, and if it is wrong, East has the lead and cannot hurt you.
By contrast, if it was East who had shown long hearts, you would win the heart queen and take the club finesse first to try to knock the entry out of the East hand.
Bid with the aces
Answer: 3♣
Your partner’s double shows extras and tends to be relatively balanced, since with real shape he would have bid a second suit. Despite that, your club length and relatively weak hearts should persuade you to bid three clubs. You have already shown 7-10 points, so partner can bid on if interested in game.
This Hand of the Day was originally published on aces.bridgeblogging.com.