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The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff

Opening Lead: ♣Q

You'd expect today's contract of three no-trump to be reached at most tables. North's diamond suit offers enough prospects for development that he should raise the two-no-trump opening to game, relying on there to be a decent chance that declarer has some length in diamonds.

West has a choice of attractive opening leads, a major and a minor. West should opt without question for the solid sequence. You should only settle for a major in the case of a tie, not true here.

After East overtakes the club lead, South wins the first club (to avoid a heart switch) and imagines that he will be able to cash out the diamonds. The 4-1 break is a rude shock, but declarer will still be able to come to nine tricks so long as he can take four spade winners. Can you see any possible snag?

If South runs dummy’s spade jack, which spade will he play from hand? If he drops the 10, then East can cover the spade nine on the second round and build a trick for his eight. If South does not unblock his 10, then he must win the second spade in hand and can no longer remain in dummy to play spades.

The solution is painless, though. Simply run the spade nine on the first round of the suit, then lead the jack and underplay it with the 10, retaining the lead in North for the third spade play from dummy.

Lead with the aces

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

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