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The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff
Opening Lead: ♠K
Today's deal comes from the American trials to select a team for Bermuda Bowl. Both tables declared four hearts from the South seat after a simple overcall in spades by West. In one room West cashed the two top spades, then shifted to a trump won in dummy. A successful finesse of the diamond queen was followed by a trump to dummy and then the club 10. West, Lew Stansby, won and could exit safely with a diamond. Now declarer could not avoid a second club loser.
The initial three tricks in the other room replicated those of the first. But here, Bobby Levin cashed a second heart in dummy, finding the 4-1 trump break. Abandoning trumps, Levin successfully ran the diamond 10 and followed with a diamond to his queen. A trump to dummy and another diamond brought forth the king and ace.
Before playing on, Levin analyzed the bidding. West had made a simple overcall. He was likely to hold six spades. If he had any fewer, then East would probably have supported his partner. That being so, with a six-card spade suit without the club king, West might well have made a weak jump overcall. These clues were enough for Levin to place West with the club king, so he got off play with the club queen. Well reasoned — West won and was endplayed into either returning a club or giving a ruff and discard.
Bid with the aces
Answer: 1NT
There is no need to jump around like a kangaroo here. When you rebid one no-trump, you suggest more than a strong no-trump. (If you had less, without primary support, you would pass.) Partner should assume you have these values. If he then elects to play in spades, you ought to have no reason to argue with him.
This Hand of the Day was originally published on aces.bridgeblogging.com.
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