The Aces on Bridge: Friday, March 7th, 2014
Awaiting the sensation of a short, sharp shock,
From a cheap and chippy chopper on a big black block.
William S. Gilbert
| West | North |
|---|---|
| Both | ♠ A Q 3 ♥ K 7 6 ♦ K 2 ♣ 10 9 8 5 3 |
| West | East |
|---|---|
| ♠ 10 8 5 ♥ 10 8 4 ♦ Q J 8 6 3 ♣ Q 6 |
♠ K J 9 4 ♥ J 9 5 2 ♦ A 10 ♣ J 7 2 |
| South |
|---|
| ♠ 7 6 2 ♥ A Q 3 ♦ 9 7 5 4 ♣ A K 4 |
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass | 1♣ | Pass | |
| 3 NT | All pass |
♦Q
At teams one of my least favorite contracts is two no-trump. The chances of making precisely eight tricks are remote, and even if three no-trump is a poor contract, it may make after a poor opening lead or a misdefense.
Here was a good example of how the smallest of differences in spot cards can make game playable. In this case the key card was the diamond nine, when West started with the diamond queen against three no-trump. East took dummy’s king with the ace and continued with the diamond 10, which held the trick. He then switched to the heart two; take over from here.
It looks obvious that West started out with Q-J-8-x-x in diamonds and that the defenders cannot unscramble their five tricks. If you can score five club tricks you may make your contract without a finesse. But can you see any extra chances?
Best is to win the heart switch and cash the club ace and king. Here West’s queen comes down, leaving a defender with the master club — and you hope that it is East. Since that player’s switch to the heart two looks most consistent with a four-card suit, you cash your other top hearts before exiting with a club. East can cash just one more heart trick before having to lead a spade into dummy’s tenace, giving you a second trick in that suit.
Having shown a limit raise via the forcing no-trump, you should be delighted to cooperate with any slam venture that partner might have in mind. Bid four diamonds as a cue-bid for spades, and be prepared to take another forward-going bid, if offered the chance.
BID WITH THE ACES
| ♠ A Q 3 ♥ Q 7 6 ♦ K 2 ♣ 10 9 8 5 3 |
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♠ | Pass | ||
| 1 NT | Pass | 2♦ | Pass |
| 3♠ | Pass | 4♣ | Pass |
| ? |
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Bridge-related
Hi HBJ here again…
So can the defence do better by switching to a club at trick 2 ?
For if declarer plays along the same lines putting in East with a club jack, either East has been given an easy exit with a heart……or if he is able to cash an established heart , now the return of the diamond 10 can be overtaken by West to secure two tricks in that suit to beat the contract.
This hand seems to be a battle of wits ….end plays …..exit cards and timing.
Hi HBJ,
You suggest a clever defense to a declarer’s play which hadn’t yet started its progress. But what if South wins the club and then leads a small diamond right back at them.
Granted that would be a dangerous play by South, but there is an old proverb in high-level bridge, that if the defense is clever enough to make a brilliant play, the declarer is entitled to reply with the same degree of brilliance.
Thanks for your continued contributions to the beauty of the game.