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The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff

Opening Lead: ♥7

Many people find percentages at bridge dull. They may have a point, but today we are going to look a little closer at the old adage "Eight ever, nine never."

When you are missing four cards in a suit, you should normally play for the drop of the queen, but when missing five cards in a suit, you normally finesse for a key card rather than play for the drop.

However, note that use of the word “normally.” It is particularly true that when you are missing four cards, the slightest indication that one opponent has greater length in that suit than his partner — as few as a two-card differential — should sway you to play the defender who is short in that suit for the queen.

Let’s look at the first of this week’s deals from the Seattle Nationals. West’s jump to four clubs showed that suit and spades (so-called Leaping Michaels).

I suppose I’m getting old, but East and especially South seem to be well short of their bids. On lead against six clubs, West was hoping he had two tricks and that his partner might come through with a little something, given his vulnerable weak two-bid … not tonight, Josephine!

On a heart lead, declarer won and cashed the club ace, but then should he finesse or drop? This one is easy. Since East has six hearts and West two, West has much more room in his hand for the trump queen than East, so the finesse is a heavy favorite to win.

Lead with the aces

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

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