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The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff

Opening Lead: ♣K

In today's deal, from the World Olympiad four years ago in Beijing, West has a splendid hand, but until he finds a fit, he can hardly drive his hand to the four-level,

Few pairs judged the East-West cards that well; let’s focus on the match between Norway and China.

In one room Glenn Groetheim as West played four clubs doubled after he had overcalled two no-trump to show the minors, then had doubled three spades. The defenders cashed their hearts and played a third heart, ruffed with the queen and overruffed. That had the effect of promoting a trump trick for the defenders, to go with their diamond winner, for down one.

It was good, but not good enough. In the other room the Chinese West overcalled two no-trump and also balanced with a double of three spades, which East gambled to pass for want of anything better to do. After three rounds of clubs, ruffed and overruffed, declarer played the side-suits, ruffing diamonds high and hearts low, and made nine tricks.

In England v. Romania both East-West pairs defended to three spades (one contract doubled, one not). Both Wests led three rounds of clubs and both Easts ruffed in and were overruffed. In each case declarer handled the trump spots sensibly to bring home nine tricks. None of these three Easts noticed they had a guaranteed way to set the hand. All they had to do was discard a diamond on the third club, instead of ruffing in, to ensure they could collect their ruff and beat three spades.

Bid with the aces

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

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