Hand of the day #211
The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff This column aims to amuse, as well as to educa...
The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff
In this deal from a local knockout match, the North-South system worked against them when East was able to get his diamond suit in. Thus, after a support double and subsequent three no-trump from South, West knew to lead the diamond nine.
Opening Lead: ♦9
Declarer won the diamond lead on table and could see the issue with playing on clubs immediately. If East held both honors, he would win and clear diamonds. The contract would have very little chance from there. Even if the club honors were split, West could win the first one and continue diamonds.
So South finessed the spade jack at trick two. When that held, he played a club towards the dummy, cunningly giving West a chance to misdefend by playing small from the likes of ace-third. As it was, East won and continued with the diamond queen. Declarer ducked that and won the third diamond. With neither major coming in and East holding the club ace, the contract could no longer be made.
Declarer had missed his chance. He could have afforded to duck the third diamond too, putting West to two discards. West could afford one heart, but the fourth round of diamonds would ruin him.
A further heart pitch or spade discard would concede the ninth trick at once, while letting go his other club would require declarer to read the ending. Declarer would need to cash two top hearts, creating a tenace, then throw West in with the fourth spade to lead around to the heart queen-nine.
Bid with the Aces
Answer: Limit raise of three spades
You have too much playing strength for a simple raise of two spades. However, jumping to game would be a bit much with a questionable singleton king on the side. The healthy middle ground is a limit raise of three spades. While this may get you too high, this action serves to keep the opponents out efficiently.