The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff
Opening Lead: ♣4
Today's deal from the Yeh Bros Cup tournament in Yokohama features Bauke Muller of the Netherlands, who was awarded the equivalent of a knighthood. He is the only Dutch player to have played on both of their world-title-winning teams, in 1993 and 2012.
Here he declared six spades on the lead of the club four, East-West playing third from even and low from an odd number. He drew trump, ending in hand, then took a diamond finesse. When the defenders won and continued clubs, West followed with the club two — confirming an original four-card suit. Now declarer ruffed out the hearts and trumped a club. In the three-card ending, Muller knew East had begun with three spades, two hearts, and four clubs, so he could successfully finesse against the diamond 10. But had West concealed the club two, the count might have been far harder to confirm.
Paul Hackett of England also played slam here, from the North seat, on a trump lead. He won in hand and went to the club ace to take a losing diamond finesse. Back came a trump (yes, a club would be better) so Hackett won and played three rounds of hearts, ruffing in dummy. Then he played the last trump, followed by the diamond jack and a diamond to the ace. Now he cashed the last trump, and both defenders were squeezed. With East guarding diamonds and West guarding hearts, neither could keep a second club. So declarer scored the club eight for his 12th trick.
Bid with the aces
Answer: 4♥
On this auction, the two- heart call shows no extras at all. Your partner would make this call on any hand with four hearts, even the barest minimum opening. You should bid four hearts — but it should not surprise you that your partner is more likely to go down in game than make 12 tricks.
This Hand of the Day was originally published on aces.bridgeblogging.com.
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