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The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff
Opening Lead: ♥2
In today's deal from the 1998 Cavendish Pairs tournament, Bob Hamman stretched to open the unappealing North hand one diamond. The combination of positive actions from East and West meant that when Nick Nickell tried three clubs at his third turn, Hamman did not care if this was intended as forcing, but passed gratefully.
Nickell took the opening heart lead in dummy and played a spade at trick two. East hopped up with the king and shifted a trump. Nickell could now win the club king and cross to the diamond ace to play the club ace. then the club jack, and drive out the club queen. Upon regaining the lead, he would play spades from the top. West could obtain the lead three times with his black winners and force declarer twice, once in either red suit,, but Nickell drew the last trump and then led top spades at every opportunity. At trick 13, West was left on lead with the spade six in his hand, and Nickell scored up his contract with the spade nine.
Unlikely as it may seem, East can beat three clubs by returning a spade at trick three. West wins the spade jack and leads a low spade to promote the club nine.
In these sorts of positions, one tends to do whatever declarer does not want you to do. Here the fact that declarer is playing the side-suit seems to mean that you should not do the same thing, but should play trumps, does it not?
Bid with the aces
Answer: Double
Here a double by you is takeout, suggesting values and either the other two suits, or at least one of those suits plus secondary support for partner. Your plan might be to raise diamonds if partner bids them, and pass two spades, since your singleton king almost certainly won't be pulling its full weight.
This Hand of the Day was originally published on aces.bridgeblogging.com.
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In hand 798, it was north who opened one diamond.
In hand 798, it was north who opened one diamond.
I think you meant North, and not East. Or, the hands were rotated after you wrote your initial analysis.
Good catch, thank you everyone, we updated the article