Bookworm Bridge Conundrums #94
This conundrum was written by Mark Horton and was originally published...
You can now play the hand of the day on BBO+ and compare how you get on with the players in the article.
The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff
Opening Lead: ♦K
In today's deal from the Cavendish teams, North-South look destined to reach three no-trump whether East pre-empts or not. The attractive alternative would be if they can stop off to double their opponents should they go overboard in diamonds. Having said that, though, when the defense to three no-trump starts with West setting up the diamonds, nine tricks seem a long way off. Nonetheless, in the match between the teams captained by Wayne Chu and Gerald Sosler, both tables reached the no-trump game and did remarkably well.
When Craig Gower as South was declarer, Kay Schulle led a top diamond. Gower took the second diamond, then led the heart queen, covered by the king and ace, and next played off the top spades to try to exert a little pressure on West. When Schulle pitched two diamonds, declarer worked out why.
Gower determined that West had to be preserving a heart guard, so he cashed the 10 of hearts, then took the heart finesse. Next he played off the last heart winner and threw West in with a diamond. She could cash her diamond winners, but would eventually have to lead clubs, setting up the queen for declarer and conceding the ninth trick.
Remarkably, this nice play simply minimized Gower’s losses on the deal, since in the other room David Berkowitz had made exactly the same play in three no-trump doubled, landing nine tricks.
Bid with the aces
Answer: 3♦ or Pass
Your partner's cue-bid asks you primarily for a spade stopper. If you do not have one, you should describe your hand as effectively as possible. Here, with only half a spade stopper, you should bid three diamonds, waiting to see where partner wants to go next. Passing is an equally sensible approach if you consider your trump support unsatisfactory.
This Hand of the Day was originally published on aces.bridgeblogging.com.
You can now play the hand of the day on BBO+ and compare how you get on with the players in the article.
