Aces on Bridge — Daily Columns

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, April 7, 2009

by admin on April 21st, 2009

Dealer:

North

Vul: None

 North
♠ K Q 9 7
♥ K 2
♦ 9 3
♣ A Q J 8 5
West East
♠ J 10 6 ♠ 8 5 4
♥ 9 5 ♥ A 8 6 4
♦ A Q 10 6 5 ♦ J 4
♣ 4 3 2 ♣ K 10 7 6
South
♠ A 3 2
♥ Q J 10 7 3
♦ K 8 7 2
♣ 9

 

South West North East
    1♣ Pass
1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass
1NT Pass 2NT Pass
3NT All pass    
       

Opening Lead: ♦6

“You do your worst — and we will do our best.”

— Winston Churchill

Over the last two decades Junior World Championships have grown from a modest six-team affair to separate events for under-26 players, under-21 players, and even school events. In Beijing last year there were over 100 teams taking part!

When Israel played Canada in the round robin of the World Junior Teams in 1999, the Israelis put together a set of virtually flawless bridge. Consider the following board, where a potential Canada gain vanished.

In the other room, when Israel held the North-South cards, they bid to one no-trump after mentioning all their long suits. However, where Canada sat North-South on the auction shown, Darren Wolpert (North) tried two no-trump, perhaps because his team needed a swing, and Ben Zeidenberg (South) raised to game. The diamond lead to the jack gave Zeidenberg the chance for an excellent play — and he took his best chance, by ducking the jack. Back came a diamond, and West cashed his diamond winners – necessary, even though it set up a diamond trick for declarer — and that in turn allowed East to discard an encouraging club. Without that clue, both major suits might well have seemed to be possible switches. In that case, declarer would have had nine tricks; but West trusted his partner’s signal and shifted to a club. Now the defense had a club and the heart ace to come. Well-done, everyone — one down, and five IMPs to Israel instead of seven IMPs the other way.

ANSWER: You have only a 10-count, but your hand is quite promising at suit-play. Jump to three diamonds, which is invitational not forcing, since with a game-going hand you would start with the New Minor, two clubs. Partner can pass, raise hearts with three, or even try three no-trump with the right hand.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ A 3 2
♥ Q J 10 7 3
♦ K 8 7 2
♣ 9

 

South West North East
1♦ Pass
1♥ Pass 1NT Pass
?      
       

 

For details of Bobby Wolff’s autobiography, The Lone Wolff, contact theLoneWolff@bridgeblogging.com. If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, please leave a comment at this blog. Reproduced with permission of United Feature Syndicate, Inc., Copyright 2009. If you are interested in reprinting The Aces on Bridge column, contact reprints@unitedmedia.com.

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