Bookworm Bridge Conundrums #69
This conundrum was written by Julian Pottage and was originally publis...
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: ♠K
North's first-round call was a negative (takeout) double, suggesting the unbid suits. South responded with a cue-bid in the enemy suit to show a strong hand and eventually came to rest in the 5-2 heart fit.
How would you play four hearts when West starts with three rounds of spades? Let’s say you ruff the third spade, reducing yourself to four trumps, the same number as West. How should you play the trump suit now? Remember not to make the rote play!
West is the danger hand, the defender who can force you again in spades and thereby promote the setting trick in trump if either defender started with four trumps. You should therefore play the heart suit so that West cannot gain the lead. You lead the trump jack from your hand and run it into the safe (East) hand.
When the cards lie as in the diagram, the finesse will win. You play a second trump to dummy’s king, return to your hand with a diamond, and draw a third round of trump.
West is left with a trump winner, and you hold one low trump, but that is no problem. You simply play your minor-suit winners and West can take his master trump when he wishes.
You can see what will happen if you miss this avoidance play. West will gain the lead with the trump queen and play yet another spade, setting up a second trump trick for the defense.
Bid with the aces
Answer: 2♠
If facing a third-in-hand opener, you should take care when raising with three small trump and minimum values. Here your cards appear to be working, so I would bid two spades, but with my heart king in the diamond suit, I might judge to pass. If you have a defensive hand, your partner is entitled to assume you have either at least moderate trumps, or a nonminimum, when you raise.
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.
