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The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff

Opening Lead: ♣2

John Armstrong, aged 56, died of a brain hemorrhage just days after returning from representing England in the 2008 European Championships. With his partner John Holland, John finished in second place in the Butler rankings (for average IMPs won) — quite an achievement for a pair from a team that finished in 12th place.

Armstrong was on the team that won the Silver Medal in the 1987 Bermuda Bowl World Championships — Britain’s best performance since taking Gold in 1955. And he was also on the teams that produced Britain’s most recent best Open results in European Championships — runner-up in 1987 and winner in 1991. (The British Open Team’s previous win was back in 1963.) Today’s hand is from that 1991 victory.

Armstrong, the declarer in three no-trump, could see eight tricks — he must come to at least two in hearts — but where to go for the ninth? Britain was on Vugraph at the time and the commentators made an assortment of erudite suggestions. But John’s solution was simple: he won the club lead and continued with ace and another spade. East won with the king and returned a club. John now ran the heart jack, which East could not afford to win. When the heart jack held, declarer played a third spade. West took the queen, but with the heart ace still in dummy, John could not be denied access to his established spade jack. Contract made.

Bid with the aces

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

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