The Aces on Bridge: Friday, August 22nd, 2014
We ought to feel deep cheerfulness that a happy
Providence kept it from being any worse.
Thomas Hardy
| North | North |
|---|---|
| Both | ♠ K Q 9 7 ♥ K 2 ♦ 9 3 ♣ A Q J 8 5 |
| West | East |
|---|---|
| ♠ J 10 6 ♥ 9 5 ♦ A Q 10 6 5 ♣ 4 3 2 |
♠ 8 5 4 ♥ A 8 6 4 ♦ J 4 ♣ 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 |
| 1 NT | Pass | 2 NT | Pass |
| 3 NT | All pass |
♦6
When Israel played Canada 15 years ago in the Round Robin of the World Junior teams in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, they played a set of virtually flawless bridge to eliminate Canada from the event. Consider the following board, where a potential Canada gain vanished.
In the other room, when Israel held the North-South cards, they had bid to one no-trump after mentioning all their long suits. This made in some comfort, of course. However, when Canada sat North-South on the auction shown, Darren Wolpert tried two no-trump as North, perhaps because his team needed a swing, Ben Zeidenberg 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 this in turn allowed East to discard an encouraging club. Without that clue, it is not clear that West would have been able to decide between a club and a major suit at trick four. In the latter case, declarer would have collected nine tricks. However, West trusted his partner’s signal and shifted to a club. Now the defense had set up their fifth winner when East got on lead with the heart ace.
Well done, everyone — but one down and a small pickup to Israel instead of a big gain the other way.
This hand seems just a little too good for a jump to two spades (which is typically a hand with shape in the 12-14 range). This looks like a jump to three spades, since you want partner to bid game with anything approaching extras in the way of shape or high cards.
BID WITH THE ACES
| ♠ K Q 9 7 ♥ K 2 ♦ 9 3 ♣ A Q J 8 5 |
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♣ | 1♥ | Dbl. | Pass |
| ? |
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Hi Bobby,
I’m up late (UK time anyway) watching a film version of Tosca as opera can be great fun – all sex and violence in a very up-market way and directed by Benoit Jacquot. At the same time, I revisited today’s hand. It is hardly surpising that N/S reach 3N with a combined 25 count, rather more surprising that one pair stopped cautiously in 1N although the DK is clearly under the cosh. Can N/S manage to make 4H, though, as 5-2 fits are often under-rated? I suspect it isn’t quite there, even setting up a club quickly for a diamond discard, or can south manage somnething with the diamond pips and an eventual trump coup? All double dummy, of course, but possibly one for “Deep Finesse”.
regards,
Iain
Or even 4S, although that probably needs even more luck?
Hi Iain,
Years have dulled my patience quotient and one defensive heart duck together with, after winning the 2nd heart, a diamond through will put paid to that line, making a 5-2 heart game, not in the cards. However, it may be possible to make 4 spades, probably played from the short trump hand and when I have a few minutes I’ll delve deeper into that mystery.
Warm regards!
However, it is an interesting 3NT since declarer can give up grabbing a free diamond trick, in order to win 8 major suit tricks plus the club ace. All very artistic and one doesn’t have to be a good ballet dancer to succeed
Hi Bobby,
I can see this happening to 4H if declarer plays on trumps early, but I was thinking more on double dummy lines e.g. spade J led won in hand, CA, Q (covered and ruffed), maybe / maybe not 2 more rounds of spades but then a diamond off table. West wins cheaply but ace and another diamond allows a ruff with the HK and declarer is close now. A heart to the Ace and a heart back (won by the King) instead probably scuppers things, though, so point taken! As I said, it’s getting late and the fake blood may have distracted me.
Thanks anyway, however,
Iain
Iain
When this was first published, I tried both major suit games and couldn’t quite make any. The closest was 4S, but I did not try it from the short hand.
Hi Jim2,
Sorry for the time warp, but I do not think 4 spades will make, even from the short side, since with a heart lead an immediate duck with East’s ace will thwart the declarer’s best opportunity. That same defense, a low heart lead, from East will also thwart North’s attempt for 10 tricks in spades, also, of course with the lead of the diamond jack and a third round continuation of diamonds.
Bwta:
I am not sure… too good ?
what is worth your King of Hearts ?
Hi Bobby. I’m looking forward to getting back to the bridge table once the kids are older. 🙂