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The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff

Opening Lead: ♦Q

Today's deal from the Lederer requires no skill in the play, since I am confident every reader of my column would find a way to take 13 tricks. But bidding to the grand slam is another matter. Let's take a look at the sole pair who not only managed it, but found their way to seven no-trump

There is a bit of a myth that Zia Mahmood is a law unto himself in the auction, but he showed that he could bid constructively on this hand. However, it was David Gold’s judgment that made it all possible. The opening no-trump showed 15-17, but the aces and kings, coupled with the two four-card suits and the builders in the long-suits mean that this was an accurate assessment of the hand’s true worth.

When Zia transferred to spades, Gold re-evaluated his hand, breaking the transfer with a jump to three spades. He did have another sequence to show a suitable hand for spades with a maximum in high-cards, so he was limited by failing to do that.

After two cuebids, Zia bid Roman Keycard Blackwood for spades, finding the two missing aces, then asked for specific kings that had not been previously cued. East (who had already showed the diamond king) now showed the heart king, and Zia thought he could count six spades, three hearts, two diamonds and two clubs, and indeed was able to claim the grand slam when spades broke 2-1. This won the pair the award for the best-bid hand.

Bid with the aces

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

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