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
When I am asked what the secret of bridge is, my answer is that it is a game of error. The people who win make the fewest mistakes and, crucially, help their partners make the fewest errors. There is not much you can do when partner is declaring — except put trumps on your right. But on defense it is a different story.
Opening Lead: ♦5
Take this deal from the match between Israel and Canada in a Junior World Teams tournament, where the Israeli East had a chance to cherish his partner. After both Souths opened one spade, the Wests had to decide how much to bid. Wolpert for Canada at our featured table bid five diamonds, but South ended up in five spades.
After the diamond-ace lead, Wolpert decided to shift and (correctly in my opinion) elected to play his partner for the heart ace rather than very good clubs, or a slow club trick plus a major-suit winner. He shifted to his heart, and that meant 11 tricks for declarer.
By contrast, in the other room the Israeli West bid only four diamonds at his first turn. North bid four spades now, and Amir Levin, East, bid five clubs as a lead director, suggesting clubs and a diamond fit. When North-South pushed on to five spades, the defense led clubs and could now set the game. (Note, by the way, that five spades was necessary insurance over five diamonds, which might easily have made.)
Bid with the aces
Answer: ♦A
Did you remember the message from today’s deal? Jump to three clubs, a fit-showing jump, to show heart support and a source of tricks in clubs. You could simply raise hearts, but then how would partner know where your cards are if he has to decide what to do over four spades? As a passed hand, the jump should not just be clubs — you would have opened three clubs with that hand.
This Hand of the Day was originally published on aces.bridgeblogging.com.