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The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff

Opening Lead: ♥7

One of the most difficult decisions as a defender is to know when to switch the point of attack when your opening lead appears to have been successful. Take this hand, from the European Championships match between Iceland and Norway.

In response to his partner’s overcall, West, Norway’s Terje Aa, led a heart and declarer, Sverrir Armansson, correctly allowed Jorgen Molberg’s nine to hold, expecting the suit to be divided 5-2 or 6-1. Had East continued hearts, declarer would have prevailed. So long as East held no more than one club honor, Armannsson would have had time to set up two club tricks. Although East could establish his hearts, he wouldn’t have the entry to enjoy them.

But Molberg found the killing switch to a spade. With a heart trick in the bag, the defenders were able to establish two spade tricks before declarer could set up his clubs.

In the other room Norway’s Geir Helgemo, North, opened one no-trump and East did not overcall. After a Stayman sequence, North ended in three no-trump and East led the heart queen. Without an overcall to warn him, declarer had no indication that hearts divided 5-2. The most likely heart division was 4-3, so the odds favored winning the first trick rather than ducking and risking a spade switch. But luck was with Helgemo. When declarer led a low club from dummy, West did not work out to fly with his king, and East won the trick (yes, ducking would have been better), allowing declarer to prevail.

Bid with the aces

This Hand of the Day was originally published on aces.bridgeblogging.com.

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