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The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff

Opening Lead: ♠6

A neat elimination play saw South home in today's deal. But declarer had to play her cards in an order that disguised her intentions, so that her plan was less likely to be foiled.

Against four hearts West led the spade six, top of nothing, to the four, nine and king. Declarer immediately returned the suit. East won and was reluctant to open up diamonds, so played another spade, ruffed in dummy. There appear to be four losers, but South’s plan was to cash her minor-suit winners and, if trumps broke 2-2, hope that the player who won the second heart trick did not have the third club, so would be forced to give her a ruff and discard.

Had she set about her minor-suit elimination early, the defense might well have divined her plan and arranged for West, the player with the third club, to win the second heart.

To disguise her intentions, after ruffing the spade, she called for dummy’s heart jack, giving the appearance of finessing for the queen. An unsuspecting East played low, and on winning with the king, West equally unsuspectingly returned a diamond. Winning in dummy, declarer cashed the club ace, and when no honor appeared from East, continued with the king, then a diamond to her ace. The scene was set, and now a heart to East’s ace brought about the desired result. Whatever that player led, declarer would pitch her club loser and ruff in dummy.

Bid with the aces

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

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