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The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff
Opening Lead: ♠K
In a team game, West opened one spade, was passed around to South, who was willing to risk bidding at least six hearts, but had no way to let North know what was needed for seven. By bidding only hearts and clubs before jumping to slam, he tried to give the impression that he was worth a drive to slam, but was missing a trick in one of those two suits.
North got the message that his partner had longer hearts than clubs, but felt obliged to pass six hearts in spite of his diamond ace because he could not be sure his partner’s hearts were entirely solid. Of course, seven hearts can be made with a 3-2 club split, but on the lead of the spade king, it was up to South not to waste his energies on what might have been and to focus on making the contract he was in.
South found the solution when he ruffed the opening lead and, before playing any trump, cashed one high club, then led a low club, and eventually ruffed a club in dummy with the heart nine to make his contract.
By playing one high club and one low one, South guarantees the contract unless clubs break 5-0. This is clearly the best available play, since if declarer draws even one round of trumps, the defenders can arrange to prevent the club ruff in dummy. The overtrick is irrelevant unless South is playing pairs — and maybe even then!
Lead with the aces
Answer: ♦Q
With partner limited in his possible high cards (he didn't act over one club despite apparently being short in clubs), your best chance looks to be in diamonds. Leading the diamond queen may cost a trick or solve a guess for declarer, but nothing else is likely to give you a chance to set the game.
This Hand of the Day was originally published on aces.bridgeblogging.com.
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