Aces on Bridge — Daily Columns

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, May 23, 2009

Dealer: West

Vul: E/W

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

 

South West North East
  2* Pass 2**
4 Pass Pass Dbl.
All Pass      
*Clubs, 10-15 points
**Relay, 8-plus points

Opening Lead:K

“I shall remember while the light lives yet

And in the nighttime I shall not forget.”

— Algernon Swinburne


I recently mentioned in this column that Tim Seres of Australia had died. I have now been provided with a number of hands played by Tim and will make them available to you over the coming months.

 

Tim was the quintessential rubber bridge player; all Tim wanted was to find himself in the highest contract that had play. He reckoned he would be able to do the rest!

 

In today’s deal Tim followed the fastest route to four hearts, the game he thought he could make. The club king was ruffed and he next successfully led a diamond to dummy’s 10, followed by a spade to the nine and king. After ruffing the next club, Seres played the spade ace, followed by the diamond ace and a third diamond. East ruffed and returned the heart queen, which Seres won. He next led the spade five to the 10, East ruffing again.

 

Seres had arrived at a four-card ending in which he had three trumps and a diamond in hand; two spades, a heart and a diamond in dummy. East could not lead a trump, so played a club, ruffed by Seres in hand with the six and overruffed in dummy with the nine.

 

When Seres led the spade jack from the board, East was left without recourse. If he trumped the spade, declarer would overruff and draw trumps. If he discarded, declarer would pitch his diamond and make the last two trumps by leading a plain card and overruffing East.


ANSWER: It may look bold to bid twice with only four points, but remember that any partner worth his salt has guaranteed an opening bid and at least three spades for his first double. Not only does he not have to bid, but he should not bid at his second turn if he has nothing more than he promised. You have extra shape, so it is up to you to take up the slack by bidding two spades.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

J 10 7 3 2
9 4
K 10 7 4
8 6

 

South West North East
  1 Dbl. Pass
1 2 Pass 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.