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: ♥K
At the Dyspeptics Club complaining about bad luck is something of an art-form.
Here South grumbled that he should have followed his instincts instead of wasting time getting a complete count of the hand when the diamond queen was with West, the short hand, instead of with East, the long hand. While he had a point, of sorts, he had missed a simple clue at the end that would have eliminated any guesswork.
Against four spades West led the heart king, continued with the ace, then played a third round to kill off dummy’s now established nine. East ruffed, South overruffed, and started on trumps. West won the second round and got off lead with his last trump, while his partner discarded two diamonds.
When South tested the clubs, he found they were 4-2. At this point it was clear that West had started with three spades, six hearts, two clubs and hence only two diamonds. Playing, as he thought, with the odds, declarer crossed to the diamond king and finessed the jack, only to lose to West’s now bare queen.
Either opponent could have held the missing queen, granted, but before testing the clubs, declarer should have played off his last trump, throwing a diamond from the table. Then, after running the club winners, in the three-card end position East has to keep his club jack, so must come down to only two diamonds. Now, irrespective of its whereabouts, the diamond queen must fall in two rounds.
Bid with the aces
Answer: 3♦
A hand that can't open or overcall at its first turn can't sensibly jump at its next turn to show a single-suited hand. Here the three-club call is a fit jump — say, four-card spade support and ace-queen fifth of clubs. You have a little in hand for your overcall, but not enough shape to drive to game. Bid three diamonds to show where you live, and let partner determine if he has enough to bid game.
This Hand of the Day was originally published on aces.bridgeblogging.com.
If you’re a BBO+ member, you can now play the Hand of the Day directly on BBO as part of your membership benefits.
Go to the BBO+ section, select BBO+ Games and Events, then click Play Today’s Deal to give it a try and compare your result with the players featured in the article.
