The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff
Opening Lead: ♠K
The Gold Coast tournament in Brisbane, Australia, consisted of a huge Swiss Team event, which reduced the field to four semifinalists after three days.
The winner of the Swiss qualifying event was Hugh McGann’s team, which extracted a concession after three of the four sets of their semifinal. The other match was far more exciting. In the second set of the semifinals, the North-South pairs at all four tables had played three no-trump on a top-spade lead. This contract appeared to hinge on the diamond finesse, with the opponents ready to run spades if it lost. A flat board at minus 100? No!
For the losing semifinalists, Barbara Travis won the spade lead as East, Ashley Bach, who had opened with a pre-empt (which could be a five-card suit) followed with an upside-down spade nine under the king, showing three cards. This was all the help Travis needed, as East had signaled with his only entry (a mistake that many of us might have made).
Declarer rattled off five clubs and watched the discards of West, Michael Cornell, very carefully. He could afford one diamond, but then, if he pitched a spade, declarer would simply set up diamonds, while if he pitched a second diamond, she would play ace and another diamond. And if Cornell pitched a heart, the play made at the table, she would cash the heart ace, then endplay him in spades, forcing him to lead into her diamond tenace. Very well done, indeed.
Bid with the aces
Answer: 3♣
Facing a passing partner, almost all low-level doubles should be for takeout. This one is no exception. You may hate your hand, but you have to bid three clubs as confidently as you can and hope nothing too bad happens to your partner. At least you won't have to play the hand!
This Hand of the Day was originally published on aces.bridgeblogging.com.
