Bookworm Bridge Conundrums #93
This conundrum was written by NICOLAS LHUISSIER and was originally pub...
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The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff
Opening Lead: ♦K
Here is a neat declarer play by Barnet Shenkin's from a Pairs game where he shrugged off the nasty splits to bring home his four-spade contract.
West led the diamond king to Shenkin’s ace — and, yes, as the cards lie, it might have been better to duck this trick). Shenkin then played the spade king at trick two to East’s ace. The diamond jack came next, followed by a third round of the suit, ruffed by Shenkin, who got the bad news in trumps when he cashed the spade queen. Undaunted, he continued with a heart to dummy’s king (it would not have profited West to ruff) and a club to his jack. Shenkin then cashed the club ace and played a spade to dummy’s nine. East was already starting to feel the pressure. He pitched one club and one heart, but was really under the gun when Shenkin cashed the spade jack.
A heart discard was out of the question, so he had to let go a club. Shenkin then exited with the club queen, putting East on play with the king in the two-card ending with the heart Q-10 left, obliged to lead into dummy’s tenace. Contract made; but have you noticed the defensive slip? East should win his spade ace and return the heart 10 — suit preference — to let West ruff. Now a diamond to the jack allows the defenders to take a second ruff and set the hand. That is why ducking the first trick was essential.
Bid with the aces
Answer: Pass
The raise to two spades is a constructive game-try, not obstructive. Accordingly, it suggests around 16-17 high cards with four trump. Your balanced shape and apparently unattractive club holding probably argues that pass would be best. However, you are on the cusp of action (if the club queen were the diamond queen, you would be worth a try of three diamonds.)
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.
