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The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff
Opening Lead: ♥4
In the World Championships held in Lille, Patrick Jourdain of Wales reported on the match between the English Seniors (who at that point were undefeated, and had a clear lead in their group) when they met their closest follower, Israel.
At the other table Israel had reached three no-trump. On a diamond lead, given the risk that there might not be time to establish a heart trick (particularly if East could win the first heart to play a second diamond), declarer might well have been tempted into the double club-finesse. However, South chose to play on hearts instead, and with the diamonds 6-2, plus West having no entry, the game came home easily enough.
By contrast, at our featured table, where Gunnar Hallberg and John Holland faced David and Daniela Birman, a simple Stayman auction led to four hearts by South. David Birman led a trump, and Daniela won with the king and switched to the diamond five.
David Birman took the inference first that his partner held the two top trumps, and secondly that had South had a singleton diamond, it would have been right for her either to cash both top trumps before playing the diamond, or to win the first trump lead with the ace. So Birman ducked the diamond with an encouraging card. Now East won the next trump and led a second diamond to the ace and received her overruff to set the game.
Lead with the aces
Answer: ♥Q
When you are dealt a sequence, but partner has overcalled in another suit, you have an awkward choice. Here your diamond length suggests that you may be able to set up more tricks with the heart lead than with the diamond lead. So lead the heart queen, and mentally prepare your apologies if it doesn't work!
This Hand of the Day was originally published on aces.bridgeblogging.com.
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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.
