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The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff
Opening Lead: ♥Q
Today's deal demonstrates an unusual use of the suit-preference signal. I am sure you are all broadly familiar with the concept of issuing suit-preference signals when giving partner a ruff: You play a low card to get him to switch to the lower outstanding suit, and a high card when you prefer the higher suit. But today's signal showed a different position.
North-South quickly bid to game after South had opened a somewhat idiosyncratic strong no-trump. With all his side’s defensive strength, West started with a top heart, and continued with a heart to East’s 10. East cashed the heart ace and had to decide which suit to play now. The natural switch was to a club, and now declarer had nine tricks when he ran his clubs and read the ending accurately.
What has this got to do with suit-preference signals? you might ask. The point is that West should have shifted to the higher of his two small hearts at trick two, for suit-preference reasons. If East had seen him play the heart nine, then the two, this would have warned East that his partner wanted a play other than a club switch and should have alerted him to the possibility of a layout in which South had a running club suit, similar to the one that existed. If that was the case, a diamond switch would be the only hope at trick four.
Bid with the aces
Answer: 3♣
Your hand looks as if it is worth a second call, since you might well find that your side can make nine tricks in clubs while your opponents could make eight tricks in whichever red suit they settle in. While a double here would be takeout, you should only make that call with four spades, or with better spades and worse clubs than this. A simple call of three clubs looks right.
This Hand of the Day was originally published on aces.bridgeblogging.com.
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