Bookworm Bridge Conundrums #56
This conundrum was written by Patrick O'Connor and was originally publ...
You can now play the hand of the day on BBO+ and compare how you get on with the players in the article.
The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff
Opening Lead: ♥3
For today's deal put yourself in the East seat. After South had opened a strong no-trump, North's call of two no-trump showed diamonds, and South's three clubs indicated a maximum with a diamond fit, meaning that if his partner could invite three no-trump, he would accept that invitation. West, your partner, leads the heart three and declarer plays low from dummy. Plan the defense.
Everybody knows the rule “Third hand plays high.” Are there exceptions? Yes, and today’s deal provides one.
Consider what suit your partner has led from: you can see all the low hearts from the seven down. Your partner must have led from a four-card suit, which can only be either A-10-8-3 or Q-10-8-3. In either case there is nothing to be gained from playing your jack, since declarer will take the trick whatever you do. But can you see why it is important for you to withhold your heart jack? If you do not do so, you will be left with four small cards — and each is smaller than the three cards your partner has left. Consequently, your suit will be blocked, and declarer will knock out your partner’s diamond winners while you cannot cash out your suit. Take a look at the full deal to see why playing the heart jack at the first trick would let declarer make his game.
Lead with the aces
Answer: ♠Q
Leading a spade rates to cost a trick a fair amount of the time when declarer might take a finesse. But, then again, it helps to establish your side's long suit, and you know partner has the entries to finish the task. Since the lead of any four-card suit might cost a trick or tempo or both, lead your spade.
This Hand of the Day was originally published on aces.bridgeblogging.com.
You can now play the hand of the day on BBO+ and compare how you get on with the players in the article.
