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The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff
Opening Lead: ♥4
The Scandinavian journalist who first wrote up this deal commented that according to Norse mythology, stormy weather and thunder are caused by Thor and his hammer Mjolnir, and he was sure that Tor Helness' parents had this in mind when he was given his name.
Tor was actually playing for Monaco, though, having managed to transfer his bridge nationality to play for the team led and sponsored by Pierre Zimmermann. And at the bridge tables in Dublin, Tor proved that every day was Thursday — literally Thor’s day in Norwegian — since Monaco duly won the main teams event. Today’s deal is from the match between Monaco and Russia. Against four spades the West’s lead was a low heart to East’s ace. East returned the jack, covered by the queen and king.
Needing a safe exit, West played the spade king to dummy’s ace, and another spade from dummy was taken by West’s queen. West now led a diamond to the queen and ace, after which declarer cashed the spade eight and ruffed his last heart.
The club four disappeared on the spade 10, and West had to surrender. Whether he pitched a diamond or a second club, declarer could take the rest, a classic example of a crisscross squeeze. In the Open Series, Helness was the only declarer who managed to bid and make 10 tricks. Only a diamond lead and diamond continuation when West scores his trump trick can defeat the game.
Bid with the aces
Answer: 3♦
You were looking forward to defending one heart doubled, but partner's second call strongly suggests significant extra shape and little defense. You'd be happy to bid one no-trump with slightly better clubs, but you may be too good for a simple preference to two diamonds. If you jump to three diamonds, partner may be able to work out that you have heart length.
This Hand of the Day was originally published on aces.bridgeblogging.com.
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