Hand of the day #599
You can now play the hand of the day on BBO+ and compare how you get on with the...
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
As I'm sure my readers will have noticed, the deals I run on Saturdays tend to be slightly more complex than those in midweek. I have a mental image of my readers having slightly more time to drink their cups of coffee, and focus a little more carefully on the newspaper.
Today’s deal features a contract of four spades reached with just half the deck in high-cards. Once the spade finesse succeeds and trumpS break 2-2, South has excellent play for 10 tricks — but what is the best line? The answer may surprise you.
After the opening lead of the diamond king to South’s ace, declarer goes after trumps. He leads the spade queen, which holds, then leads a spade to the ace. Next comes the heart ace and a heart ruff. Now declarer exits with a low diamond to West, who wins the queen and plays the 10.
Declarer ruffs, ruffs a second heart as West pitches a club, and then leads his last diamond. West plays the nine and dummy discards a club rather than ruffing. West now plays the diamond three and declarer discards dummy’s remaining club while throwing a low club too. West is left on lead and whether he plays a low club or the club ace, declarer will be able to make a trick with the club king.
Declarer finishes up by making seven trump tricks and one trick in each of the side-suits.
Bid with the aces
Answer: 2♦ or 3♣
Partner has suggested a minimum, most likely with six or more clubs. Your choice is a simple and slightly pessimistic raise to three clubs to invite game, or a bid of two diamonds to look for spade support, planning to raise clubs later in what would then be a forcing auction. It's a slight stretch, but I'd take the more aggressive position at teams, and only invite at pairs.
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.
