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The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff
Opening Lead: ♦K
Facing anything but a third-in-hand opening, North would have enough to drive to game over South's opening bid. But as a passed hand, he can, if he wants, describe his values precisely with a fit-jump, showing spades and a source of tricks in hearts.
After West leads a top diamond against four spades, South must duck the opening lead, playing the diamond nine from his hand (so West will not later have the opportunity of underleading his diamond queen). He must then attempt to establish dummy’s heart suit for discards without allowing East to gain the lead for the fatal shift to a club.
When West leads a second diamond, South should win, draw two rounds of trump, and lead a heart toward dummy. Now if West plays the heart king, declarer must duck. If West plays a low heart, declarer may play either the queen or ace (the ace may be a slightly better play, guarding against East’s having a singleton king). However, assuming South finesses the queen successfully, he must next return to his hand with a trump and lead another heart toward dummy and duck when West plays the king. If West discards the heart king on the third trump, declarer must cash dummy’s remaining high heart and lead a club to the jack. West will have two clubs to cash, but then must concede a ruff-sluff.
Just for the record, if West leads the heart king at trick two, South must also duck this trick.
Bid with the aces
Answer: 3♦
A simple jump to three spades would merely invite game — the same hand with a small diamond instead of the ace. Since you are too strong for that action, you should cue-bid three diamonds, planning to rebid three spades over three hearts. If you doubled two diamonds, it would be for takeout, but the cue-bid is clearer.
This Hand of the Day was originally published on aces.bridgeblogging.com.
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