The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, April 24th, 2014
Against stupidity the very gods
Themselves contend in vain.
Johann von Schiller
| South | North |
|---|---|
| East-West | ♠ K 7 ♥ Q J 6 2 ♦ K 7 2 ♣ K 7 5 2 |
| West | East |
|---|---|
| ♠ Q J 10 9 3 ♥ A 10 8 ♦ 10 4 ♣ Q J 10 |
♠ 8 5 4 2 ♥ 9 7 5 4 ♦ Q J 5 ♣ 6 3 |
| South |
|---|
| ♠ A 6 ♥ K 3 ♦ A 9 8 6 3 ♣ A 9 8 4 |
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♦ | 1♠ | Dbl. | Pass |
| 2♣ | Pass | 2♠ | Pass |
| 3 NT | All pass |
♠Q
In today's deal, East, with a balanced hand, weak trumps, and a defensively oriented hand, took no action facing his partner's overcall. There is a time and place for aggression in the form of a pre-emptive raise; this is not it. And a pre-emptive raise to three spades on the East cards would likely see that contract doubled for -1100! (The adage "Be wary of sacrificing with a balanced hand" is apt here.)
After the lead of the spade queen, declarer needs to decide what is the best route to nine tricks in his contract of three no-trump. He knows that the defenders will clear his remaining spade stopper at their next opportunity, and he has to develop tricks from not one but two of the side-suits to get his trick total to nine.
The answer comes in the form of an avoidance play: at trick one, declarer takes the spade lead in hand. At trick two he leads out the heart three. If West takes his ace, declarer has nine tricks in the form of two spades, three hearts and the four minor-suit top winners. When the heart queen wins trick two, declarer plays on diamonds, starting with the king to protect against West’s having a singleton honor. That sees him establish two additional tricks in that suit, which is now all he needs.
In effect, declarer steals his seventh trick, then goes about establishing the two extra tricks he needs without the loss of a tempo.
With significant extra values, you can raise hearts directly or can bid either two no-trump or three clubs, planning to raise hearts later. In a perfect world the second strategy might be better, but you may not get the chance to support hearts at a convenient level if you do not raise at once. I would guess to bid two no-trump now, but do not feel strongly about the option of bidding three hearts.
BID WITH THE ACES
| ♠ A 6 ♥ K 3 ♦ A 9 8 6 3 ♣ A 9 8 4 |
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass | 1♥ | Pass | |
| 2♦ | Pass | 2♥ | Pass |
| ? |
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There is another line of play that works, although inferior to your line since it requires W to hold 3C. Simply play diamonds. The opponents win one round and clear S. Now run D and W is squeezed, forced to discard a S. Now play H, and the opponents can only cash 2S, 1H & 1D. This line also works if W has 4D and singleton HA.
Hi David,
As usual, you add valid options to suggested lines of play which would be similar to Jiminy Cricket sitting on Pinnochio’s shoulder giving him advice while he is declarer.
Here, since West made a vulnerable overcall, East did not raise, and the heart ace is the only ace or king held by the defense, it is probably overwhelmingly in favor of being in the overcaller’s hand. Declarer’s play of a low heart toward the dummy is similar to a Morton’s Fork, wherein the defense is faced with a Hobson’s choice, one in which, by definition, there is no winning option.
And from a percentage viewpoint, it is East, not West, who has more empty spaces in his hand (fewer spades) in which to hold the length in clubs rather than West, therein preventing the possible squeeze to which you refer.
Thanks for your provocative thoughts which, to the keen, though relatively inexperienced, bridge observer, provides grist for the mill of deciding which line of play is likely to work.