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The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff
Opening Lead: ♠5
Here is an example of a computer outplaying a human — although as the original reporter (Onno Eskes for IMP magazine) said, the human being did a pretty good job too.
At the 1997 Dutch Mixed Pairs Championship, only Tjeerd Kootstra made 10 tricks in four hearts without assistance from the opponents. West led a spade, and East won and shifted to the diamond 10. Kootstra took the ace, played a heart to dummy’s ace, and exited in hearts. East took his king and reverted to spades, taken by South’s ace. The last trump was pulled, and now Koostra played a small club from hand, covering West’s eight with dummy’s nine. East won his 10 and played a third spade. Declarer ruffed, cashed the club king, and finessed in clubs to find a discard for his diamond loser. Nicely done.
When Eskes gave the board to GIB (Ginsberg’s Intelligent Bridgeplayer) the play began the same way. But at trick six GIB ruffed the spade 10 in dummy, drew the last trump, and played a club to dummy’s king. Next, GIB ducked a club to West’s jack, leaving that player endplayed to lead into the diamond tenace. This line wins against any doubleton club honor with West or a 3-3 club break, and does not require the guess of whether to finesse in clubs or play for the drop on the third round.
Bid with the aces
Answer: Pass
In this position, a pass by you does not suggest a place to play — not that you would object vehemently to defending that contract. (After all, it isn't game.) Instead, your pass simply indicates you have nothing to say. If partner runs to one heart, you won't sit for it if doubled — though it is not clear where you will end up.
This Hand of the Day was originally published on aces.bridgeblogging.com.
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