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The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff
Opening Lead: ♠2
In today's deal, when North doubled a weak two in pass-out seat, South's bid of three hearts promised constructive values since the partnership was playing Lebensohl. With fewer values South would first have bid two no-trump, simply to show a weak hand. After North now optimistically drove to the heart slam, West led the spade two, an obvious singleton.
Had South’s club jack been the diamond jack, both of his spade losers could have been discarded. As it was, South had to resort to desperate measures.
The lead was won with dummy’s ace, and South’s first wish — that the heart 10 would come down doubleton so that two clubs could be ruffed in dummy — failed to materialize. So declarer drew West’s last trump and was about to settle for the club finesse when he was struck with a better idea.
Instead, he cashed the club king and three rounds of diamonds, discarding a losing spade from hand, then led dummy’s fourth diamond. When East failed to follow, South jettisoned his last spade, and West was forced to win the trick. Declarer knew that West now had only clubs left and would be forced to play into his tenace.
If East had shown up with the fourth diamond, declarer would have ruffed the trick and exited with a low club. That would have forced West to win and play back a club into declarer’s tenace, allowing both of dummy’s spades to be discarded.
Bid with the aces
Answer: 3NT
Since you have a respectable raise of your partner's suit, you certainly have enough to go to game, and with weak spades and a diamond honor, you should not be afraid of playing three no-trump, even if you have a 5-3 spade fit. Raise to three no-trump with confidence.
This Hand of the Day was originally published on aces.bridgeblogging.com.
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