The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff
Opening Lead: ♦3
Today's deal comes from the world junior championships, featuring interesting problems in both rooms from the match between England and China. In the first room West opened one diamond and North made a light takeout double. East raised to two diamonds and South doubled for takeout. When North bid three clubs, South continued with three spades, and North raised to game. This was a poor contract, which duly went one down on a diamond lead.
In the other room, West also opened one diamond, but here the English pair handled the bidding better, and Tom Paske (South) became declarer in three no-trump on the auction shown.
On a diamond lead, declarer put up dummy’s jack and East covered with the queen. Declarer ducked the first diamond and won the next round, the opponents’ carding suggesting that diamonds were 4-4. Given East’s silence in the auction, declarer laid down the club ace, and when the jack dropped, he could drive out the king and later take the spade finesse. Three spades, three clubs, two hearts and one diamond added up to nine tricks and 12 IMPs to England.
In isolation, the right play in clubs for three tricks is to take two finesses, but in light of the bidding, South’s play was clearly right since West had opened the bidding and East had already shown up with the diamond queen. With only 15 points missing, it was almost certain that West had the club king.
Lead with the aces
Answer: ♥ Lead
Tempting as it is to lead the singleton in partner's suit, you have a natural trump trick and really do not need a ruff. If you have listened carefully to the auction, it is more likely that you have the heart ace and king to cash, to go with your near-certain spade trick. Even if partner has the heart queen, not the ace, a heart lead will surely be best.
This Hand of the Day was originally published on aces.bridgeblogging.com.
