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The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff
Opening Lead: ♣6
If you asked the top players in the world how much their success was due to competence, how much to brilliance, I suspect most would say that simply mastering the act of drawing trump, taking finesses and cashing winners would suffice to succeed at all but the very highest levels of the game.
Still, sometimes one needs imagination, or flair, to bring home the impossible contract or to defeat the laydown game. Today’s deal decided the qualifiers for the 1991 Venice Cup (the Ladies’ World Championships). Had Great Britain not gained a game swing on this deal, they would not have qualified.
The Spanish ladies had played in five diamonds from the North seat, and the defense did their best by leading three rounds of clubs. To succeed, declarer must draw only two trumps before testing the spades. When they do not split, she can ruff out the spades and cross back to dummy by drawing the last trump. The Spanish declarer failed to get it right and went one down.
Pat Davies of Great Britain declared four spades from the South seat, after East had shown a two-suiter in hearts and clubs. The defense also led three rounds of clubs, giving declarer an easy plus 420. But how would declarer have played if the Spanish defender had cashed two clubs and deviously switched to a low diamond? If you believe East is 2-5-1-5, you might easily rise with the diamond ace and rely on the spades to behave.
Bid with the aces
Answer: 1♥
I would not necessarily advocate opening this hand in first or second seat because of the uncomfortable rebid over a response of one spade. In third seat, passing is not an option, although whether you open one heart for the lead or one diamond is a matter for your partnership — or your conscience. Put me down as a one-heart bidder.
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.
