Bookworm Bridge Conundrums #54
This conundrum was written by Eddie Kantar and was originally publishe...
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The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff
Opening Lead: ♥ 10
truism about needing to play the cards up if you overbid them. A truer word was never spoken about today's deal, where South's jump to four spades would not appear in any textbook — a three-spade bid looks ideal for these values.
The lead of the heart 10 went to dummy’s ace. Declarer saw the need for reducing his trumps in hand as quickly as possible if the diamonds did not produce a miracle, so he took the risk of ruffing a heart with the spade six, the highest trump he thought he could afford.
When that passed off peacefully, declarer cashed the club ace. Next came a diamond to the king, a club ruff, then a diamond to the ace and another club ruff. The sight of the diamond queen on the second round of the suit, coupled with East’s discard on the third club, gave South a warning. Eventually he decided that the fall of the spots had strongly suggested East was likely to have begun with a 4-5-2-2 shape. He therefore ruffed the next diamond with the spade ace, and the expected news was confirmed when East pitched a heart.
Another club ruff with a low trump let South take a diamond ruff with the spade 10. Whether East overruffed or discarded, declarer would be able to score his spade eight at the next trick and come to 12 tricks — a triumph for overbidding!.
Bid with the aces
Answer: 1NT
Some people would tell you that they know whether it is right to open one no-trump or one heart with this hand. I don't feel strongly either way, but my general approach is to open a five-card major when I have a 5-4 pattern in the appropriate range. This hand is something of an exception — the strength of the two doubletons and the absence of intermediates both argue for the no-trump call.
This Hand of the Day was originally published on aces.bridgeblogging.com.
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i though 15 to 17 points
was the only NT opening.