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The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff

Opening Lead: ♣J

Today's deal comes from an international report. Against three spades Geir Brekka began with his singleton club jack, ducked all around.

Now West was uncomfortably positioned. A spade continuation would allow declarer to fulfill his contract, since inevitably a few tricks later West would find himself endplayed, obliged to play a heart or diamond, allowing declarer access to dummy to pitch his club losers.

A diamond continuation was also unattractive. So West decided to switch to a small heart. Dummy played low, East played his heart two, showing an odd number of cards, and declarer won the trick with his king and led his singleton diamond.

By now Brekka already knew declarer’s shape: six spades, two hearts, one diamond and four clubs. So he took his diamond ace, played his heart ace, and carefully continued with his spade 10 (NOT the five). Declarer won the trick with his jack and cashed the spade ace.

Brekka had realized that if he now followed with his small spade, at the next trick he was going to be endplayed by declarer with his spade king. He would then have to play a heart or a diamond, providing a much needed entry to dummy, letting declarer pitch all his club losers. Brekka therefore dropped his trump king under the ace, trading one trick for three and defeating the contract.

Bid with the aces

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

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