Bookworm Bridge Conundrums #89
This conundrum was written by Mark Horton and was originally published in t...
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: ♠10
The Rueful Rabbit, who had recently taken up two-over-one game-forcing, was proud to show off his mastery of the methods. His two-club response was forcing to game, and he could rebid his clubs to show extras. When North removed three no-trump to four clubs, it was incumbent upon the Rabbit to cuebid four diamonds, but when he simply raised to game, North had no choice but to pass.
On the lead of the spade 10, North put down his dummy somewhat apprehensively and asked what contract they should have been in. The Rabbit said “six,” and dummy absentmindedly played the spade six! The stickler for the rules in the East seat insisted on the six being played, and the Rabbit did not feel inclined to argue.
Remarkably, though, from that point on the contract could not be defeated – since even if East could work out to discard and West shifts to a diamond, declarer simply wins and draws trumps, then crosses to the heart ace, plays the spade ace followed by the queen, and pitches two diamonds on these tricks. The loser-on-loser play gets rid of all of declarer’s diamonds.
However, if declarer takes the spade ace at the first trick, East will ruff and play on diamonds to leave declarer without recourse. If declarer covers with the spade queen at trick one, he will then have to read the position very well to come home with 11 tricks.
Bid with the aces
Answer: 2♠
Facing a weak two-bid, at any vulnerability except unfavorable, you do not have enough to drive to game. The simplest way to show values and explore the most practical games is to bid two spades. This is natural and forcing for one round if not to game and will give partner room to define his hand further.
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.
