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The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff
Opening Lead: ♠2
At pairs the target is to take as many tricks as possible when you are in a normal contract, and to insure your contract only if you know doing so will score well. At all other forms of scoring, try to insure the contract at all costs.
In today’s deal when North opened a weak two hearts, South would find that his partner held a decent suit (by using the Ogust relay, as here, or Keycard Blackwood) and should then play six no-trump to protect his vulnerable diamond holding. Well bid, but most players would play to take 13 tricks in six no-trump, without realizing that there might be a better approach — albeit one that might lead to their taking fewer tricks.
When West leads a low spade, declarer should win the queen and run the clubs, throwing spades and the diamond four from table. On these tricks West throws two spades and a diamond. What next?
Best is to cash the spade king, discarding a heart from table. You have reduced to a six-card ending, dummy having five hearts and one diamond, West four hearts and the diamond ace-queen. When you lead the spade ace and West throws the diamond queen, make sure to discard a heart from the board, giving up the overtrick to improve your chances of making the slam. Now, after the heart ace and king reveal the bad break, throw West in with his diamond ace to lead into dummy’s heart tenace.
Bid with the aces
Answer: 3NT or Pass
It's a close decision — to gamble with three no-trump, or to pass. The form of scoring might affect my decision. At matchpoints or nonvulnerable at teams, passing is reasonable; while at rubber bridge, or if vulnerable at teams, bidding three no-trump is probably with the odds.
This Hand of the Day was originally published on aces.bridgeblogging.com.
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