Bookworm Bridge Conundrums #61
This conundrum was written by Barbara Seagram's and was originally published in ...
You can now play the hand of the day on BBO+ and compare how you get on with the players in the article.
The Aces On Bridge by Bobby Wolff
Opening Lead: ♣K
Today's deal was a fascinating clash between Zia Mahmood and Tony Forrester, with the latter coming out on top, as he did in the event as a whole. A big win in the last round gave the Gold Cup team a clear victory, allowing Andy Robson to equal Zia's record of seven wins.
When Forrester led the club-king lead against three no-trump, Zia won and fired back a club, which Forrester ducked. Quite reasonably, Zia took the diamond finesse now. Forrester won and faced an awkward problem. He cashed the club queen (on which dummy threw a heart) to avoid being thrown in with that card, then exited with the spade jack. This should have been fatal. Zia put on the queen, but failed to unblock the 10 from his hand.
Had he done so, he would have been able to get home in two ways. The first would have been by leading the heart king, and when West wins and returns the heart jack, declarer ducks and West is endplayed. Or Zia could have crossed to the spade ace, cashed all his minor-suit winners, and exited with his last spade. If that were the 10, West could duck it, but as it is, declarer would have been able to put West on lead and come to his ninth trick in the majors.
Zia did not know the diamonds were 5-1 at this time, but the spade-jack exit might have given him a clue to the layout.
Bid with the aces
Answer: 2NT/2♠/2♣
You have three choices: an invitational two no-trump; a reverse to two spades to show the major-suit pattern; and a cautious two clubs, planning to come in again if partner does not pass this call. The first two bids are right on values; the third leaves you space to explore. Put me down as a two-club bidder, but don't ask me to justify it!
This Hand of the Day was originally published on aces.bridgeblogging.com.
You can now play the hand of the day on BBO+ and compare how you get on with the players in the article.
