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The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff
Opening Lead: ♠K
It has been many decades since the death of one of the world's stars, Oswald Jacoby. Ossie played in the first Culbertson challenge match in 1929, but continued to win national titles into the 1980s, when dying from cancer.
Not only was Jacoby the youngest-ever actuary, but his skill with numbers led to his being referred to as a human computer. He lied about his age in order to serve in World War I, and re-enlisted to serve in counterintelligence in both World War II and the Korean War.
The following hand demonstrates his skill, and illustrates the danger of a defender painting too clear a picture of his hand.
North’s two-diamond bid showed hearts, allowing Jacoby as South to volunteer a bid at the three-level over East’s revealing two-suiter bid. The defense against four hearts started well enough with two top spades and a ruff, and East switched to a diamond. Jacoby won the ace and made the essential play of a heart to the seven, East pitching a club. This was followed by the heart ace, East discarding a second club.
When Jacoby led a trump to his king, East could see that if he discarded a diamond, declarer would be able to ruff out his diamond honor, so he let a third club go. Declarer ruffed a club in dummy, came to his diamond king, ruffed a second club, dropping the ace, and his hand was now high.
Lead with the aces
Answer: 2♠
Today's hand looks as if it might belong in a club slam; but if partner does not have a spade control, you might not be able to make any game at all. Start with a cue-bid of two spades to ask partner to define his hand in terms of spade stoppers. After that, you can bid or jump in clubs.
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.
