Bookworm Bridge Conundrums #67
This conundrum was written by Eddie Kantar and was originally publishe...
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: ♥Q
When the opponents pre-empt, you are often forced to guess, as in today’s deal. But how unreasonable is it to bid slam here, hoping for the spade queen or spade length in dummy?
The defenders lead the heart queen to your ace. You cash the spade ace and your worst fears are realized when West discards on this trick. What should be your plan next?
You must now strip all the clubs from the hand that has the diamond ace. If East has only two clubs, you need to decide which defender has the diamond ace, but why not cash two clubs to see if you can find out more? Best is to lead the club queen first. After all, West may give you honest count if he thinks his partner needs to know when to take his club winner.
When you cash a second top club, you discover the club break, so it is quite safe to take just one of your remaining club winners (not both!), then lead a diamond. You need West to have the diamond ace — if East had it, he could exit with his last club. When West wins and plays a red suit, you win in dummy, pitching your club from hand and take the spade finesse.
Note that had you cashed your last club before leading your diamond, whoever wins the diamond ace can play a second diamond and force you to ruff in hand, preventing you from taking the spade finesse.
Lead with the aces
Answer: ♥3
Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best. Since declarer is as likely as dummy to be short in hearts, you might as well lead a low heart. Partner can win and continue the suit in an attempt to tap declarer out and maybe establish your small trumps.
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.
