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The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff
Opening Lead: ♦6
Today's deal saw North and South conduct an intelligent auction to the best game. As a passed hand South was able to bid a natural and nonforcing two clubs in response to the one-spade opening. (The partnership did not play Drury — whereby the call would show a spade fit and a maximum pass.) Thereafter both players bid naturally, and North (who had already denied four hearts) eventually felt able to raise hearts, assuming his partner would not introduce a four-card suit at his second turn and should thus hold a 5-6 distribution.
Against four hearts the defenders did well to lead and continue diamonds. South ruffed the third round and correctly played on clubs before drawing trump. He led to the club ace and back to his king as East sensibly discarded a spade. Now came the heart ace, dropping West’s nine, followed by a club ruff with the heart king, East discarding another spade.
Declarer next played ace, king and a third spade, ruffing low in hand, and had now taken eight of the first 10 tricks. He was down to the Q-7 of trumps and one club, while dummy had two spades and the trump eight. It looked to declarer as if East was down to just trumps, so he led his last club and ruffed with dummy’s heart eight. East overruffed and returned his low trump, but declarer could put in the heart seven with some confidence and claim the last two tricks.
Just for the record, a club shift at trick three sets the game.
Bid with the aces
Answer: 3♠
You have a hand with some slam potential, but the overcall has somewhat dampened your ardor. Nonetheless, jump to three spades to set up a force and hope that your partner can cue-bid in support of your spades. If not, settle for game.
This Hand of the Day was originally published on aces.bridgeblogging.com.
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