The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff
Opening Lead: ♠2
At three of the four tables in a local league event, North became declarer in three no-trump. With a 3-3 club break and East holding a singleton heart honor, this contract is makeable, but no declarer succeeded. The unsuccessful declarers won the spade lead in dummy, crossed to the heart ace and played a diamond. Had South's diamonds been solid, this line would make sense because spades might have been blocked (with West holding jack-third of spades), but here there is no guarantee that playing a diamond would make the contract. Taking a second-round heart finesse and then playing on clubs was the indicated line, perhaps.
At the fourth table South became declarer in four hearts after the murky sequence set out here. West led a spade to East’s ace, and a spade was returned. Declarer now played two rounds of clubs ending in dummy and then a diamond. East made his side’s only defensive error when he rose with the ace and played the spade jack, ruffed by declarer. Declarer now took two top diamonds, the second of which was ruffed by West with the eight and overruffed with the king. A third round of clubs was cashed and a fourth played, which East ruffed with the heart queen. Remarkably, this was the defense’s only trump trick! All declarer had left was 10-9-7 of trumps while dummy had the A-6 of trumps and a diamond. Whichever black suit East played, declarer had to make the rest of the tricks.
Bid with the aces
Answer: Double
Every partnership playing negative doubles should have a firm agreement that when relatively short in the opponents' suit, one is obligated to reopen with a double — unless the opponents' tempo has made it clear that it is their hand, not yours. On this auction, partner is surely a favorite to hold a penalty double of diamonds, isn't he? So double now.
This Hand of the Day was originally published on aces.bridgeblogging.com.
