Aces on Bridge — Daily Columns

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, June 27th, 2013

by Bobby Wolff on July 11th, 2013

It's better to look at the sky than live there.

Truman Capote

South North
Both ♠ A 10 9 5 4 3
♥ 9 3
♦ 8 5
♣ J 9 7
West East
♠ K Q
♥ K 5 4
♦ J 9 7 4
♣ Q 10 6 3		 ♠ J 6
♥ A J 10 8 7
♦ Q 10 6
♣ 8 5 2
South
♠ 8 7 2
♥ Q 6 2
♦ A K 3 2
♣ A K 4
South West North East
1 NT Pass 2♥ Dbl.
2♠ 3♥ Dbl. Pass
4♠ All pass    

♥4

The Scandinavian journalist who first wrote up this deal commented that according to Norse mythology, stormy weather and thunder are caused by Thor and his hammer Mjolnir, and he was sure that Tor Helness' parents had this in mind when he was given his name.

Tor was actually playing for Monaco, though, having managed to transfer his bridge nationality to play for the team led and sponsored by Pierre Zimmermann. And at the bridge tables in Dublin, Tor proved that every day was Thursday — literally Thor’s day in Norwegian — since Monaco duly won the main teams event. Today’s deal is from the match between Monaco and Russia. Against four spades the West’s lead was a low heart to East’s ace. East returned the jack, covered by the queen and king.

Needing a safe exit, West played the spade king to dummy’s ace, and another spade from dummy was taken by West’s queen. West now led a diamond to the queen and ace, after which declarer cashed the spade eight and ruffed his last heart.

The club four disappeared on the spade 10, and West had to surrender. Whether he pitched a diamond or a second club, declarer could take the rest, a classic example of a crisscross squeeze. In the Open Series, Helness was the only declarer who managed to bid and make 10 tricks. Only a diamond lead and diamond continuation when West scores his trump trick can defeat the game.

You were looking forward to defending one heart doubled, but partner's second call strongly suggests significant extra shape and little defense. You'd be happy to bid one no-trump with slightly better clubs, but you may be too good for a simple preference to two diamonds. If you jump to three diamonds, partner may be able to work out that you have heart length.

BID WITH THE ACES

♠ J 6
♥ A J 10 8 7
♦ Q 10 6
♣ 8 5 2
South West North East
1♦ 1♥
Pass Pass 1♠ 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 2013. If you are interested in reprinting The Aces on Bridge column, contact reprints@unitedmedia.com.

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10 Comments

Iain ClimieJuly 10th, 2013 at 12:19 pm

Hi Bobby,

I was going to complain about North overbidding but as I made an overtrick in 5DX last night on tat (Axx Jxxx AJxxxx None opposite x KQ9x 10xxxx 109x) since trumps were 1-1, I’d better not. The column hand is interesting, though.

I think declarer is OK on the last but 1 trump if he has at least two honours in hand, at least one of which is a club. If he has (say) Dxx CAKx at that point and throws the C4 he can use one club to return to hand, then ruff D with last trump and club back to the winning diamond if West unguards diamonds. Perhaps east should play a club back at T2 when South wins and plays SAx. West exits with a D to the Q and Ace, south plays HQ and west now has to play another diamond even though south might have K10 left. Scary, to say the least. If South gives the 2nd heart to east in this line, the 2nd club will break things up.

I thought it was more of a ruffing squeeze than a classic criss-cross (although I can see bits of both) but it was a great hand to feature.

Regards,

Iain

Iain ClimieJuly 10th, 2013 at 12:31 pm

Sorry, one caveat. If the defence just play D’s from T2 onwards, I think this may be enough too – South has to have 2D in the end position I quoted.

Bobby WolffJuly 10th, 2013 at 1:06 pm

Hi Iain,

Your analysis is, as usual, excellent.

As far as name of the coup exercised (squeeze), somehow criss-cross sounds more apt and sophisticated than does ruffing. Some time ago, my mind took to considering the names of various squeeze endings and thus cataloging them as to why and, believe me or not, it seems to leave it up to the author as long as, at least, one of usually several main features of the gambit is included.

Here, the criss-cross nature of the play seems to pinpoint and thus trump the hum drum term of ruffing, which is fairly commonplace in effecting many squeeze endings.

However, it may be best to leave it up to romance, where the original term squeeze, may have begun.

Please consult your no doubt, lovely wife who, according to you, has deserved no less than a medal for dealing with you through the years. Mine should also get, at the very least, an honorable mention.

Iain ClimieJuly 10th, 2013 at 2:59 pm

Hi Bobby,

Thanks for this. I seem to recall poring over Clyde Love’s great book many moons ago and recall something like (at NT with 4 cards left): declarer SA HJx DA, dummy SJx HA Dx and victim (either) SKQ HKQ. After the DA, the play is clear cut, although rather less so if the victim is down to Kx Qx or similar with their partner having only small cards..

Thanks for the domestic compliment although one thing I’ve learned is that not all ladies can handle public comments (even good ones) in any way – “you posted about me on a blog!?” Tact or silence may be needed.

Regards,

Iain

jim2July 10th, 2013 at 3:42 pm

If I ever bid 3D as recommended in BWTA, I guarantee you that pard would be 4-1-4-4 and we would end up in a heap of trouble.

Bobby WolffJuly 10th, 2013 at 6:27 pm

Hi Jim2,

If partner happened to be 4-1-4-4, shouldn’t he be especially inclined to reopen with a double, that is, if he looked at his hand first, and thought he saw a 4-1-6-2 but, being color blind, had 2 of his hearts in with his diamonds?

Perhaps the migratory world has gone high tech, forcing all of us to prepare for all out war.

Bobby WolffJuly 10th, 2013 at 6:32 pm

Hi Iain,

What you thought you read was from a book entitled, “Wolff’s Fables”, highlighting beautiful mythical animals.

Iain ClimieJuly 11th, 2013 at 9:14 am

Hi Bobby,

Is this the column re-aligning with the day’s shift that happened a while back or is it a Ghostbusters moment (there’s something strange in. The neighbourhood ….)?

Regards,

Iain

Bobby WolffJuly 11th, 2013 at 1:35 pm

Hi Iain,

I love your comment, especially the Ghostbusters moment.

And speaking of ghosts, I am leaving in the early AM on Thursday for Orlando, FL to participate in this year’s Senior Trials.

Our team, although optimistic, will need a little luck and much talent. However I hope to be able to recount the road to Bali and its problems, directly in our path.

However, Judy is, as usual, bringing her computer so I intend to, at least try, to keep up with the correspondence. Her daughter, Robin just gave Judy an Ipod which looks and acts much too futuristic for my tastes.

If any of you hear distant screams, things probably won’t be going as I wish.

Best,

Bobby

Iain ClimieJuly 11th, 2013 at 5:51 pm

Hi Bobby,

Best of luck and I await progress reports with interest. Hopefully any instructive hands will be those where your opponents could have done better.

Iain