Bookworm Bridge Conundrums #93
This conundrum was written by NICOLAS LHUISSIER and was originally pub...
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
During a Nationals event, this deal was the last of a four-board extra-time segment. It determined the match, and yes, while four spades might have been easier, let's assume that East would have sacrificed in five clubs had he been offered the chance. Plan the play in five diamonds after a top club lead.
Declarer ruffed the club lead and could see that there was no realistic danger to cope with except 4-0 trumps. He led the diamond king from dummy at trick two and was more hurt than surprised by the trump break. What would you expect to happen next?
He led a second diamond and ducked East’s jack. When the defense found the most challenging continuation of a second club, South found the only route home by following with his remaining club and pitching a heart from dummy!
Now, when a third club was led, he could ruff in hand, then cross to dummy, and draw trumps with the aid of the diamond finesse. He scored a club ruff, four trumps and six major-suit winners. This is the first time I’ve seen that particular maneuver exercised with such expert trump control. Normally, one takes the ruff in the short trump hand, not the long one.
Notice that if declarer ruffs the second club, he can no longer draw trumps. Since he cannot cross back to hand in spades, the defenders will score both a heart trick and a second trump trick for down one.
Bid with the aces
Answer: 2♥
Bid your hearts before your diamonds for two reasons. The first is that 10 tricks are easier to make than 11; the second is that it is easier to get diamonds into the auction economically at your next turn. You may not be able to describe your hand precisely, but you can get the thrust of your shape across by bidding three diamonds if your partner rebids two no-trump.
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.
