The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, February 17th, 2015
There is nothing to winning, really. That is, if you happen to be blessed with a keen eye, an agile mind, and no scruples whatsoever.
Alfred Hitchcock
| South | North |
|---|---|
| Neither | ♠ K J 6 ♥ J 5 ♦ K 8 3 ♣ A 9 6 5 4 |
| West | East |
|---|---|
| ♠ Q 5 4 ♥ A 9 8 7 4 ♦ Q J 7 ♣ J 2 |
♠ 7 ♥ K Q 10 3 2 ♦ 9 6 4 2 ♣ Q 8 3 |
| South |
|---|
| ♠ A 10 9 8 3 2 ♥ 6 ♦ A 10 5 ♣ K 10 7 |
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♠ | Pass | 2♣ | Pass |
| 2♠ | Pass | 4♠ | All pass |
♦Q
John Solodar (a Bermuda bowl winner in 1981) was the hero on this hand from an early round of the Vanderbilt knock-out teams a few years ago. Plan the play in four spades, a spot you have reached on an unopposed auction. The opening lead is the diamond queen. Before you start the play, remember that a little learning is a dangerous thing, and that this hand is full of what Alfred Hitchcock called McGuffins, distractions to lead you away from the real theme of the deal.
The first thing your mind may turn to is the idea of an endplay in the club and/or the diamond suit. The declarer (a many time world champion) in the other room took the diamond ace and tackled trumps early to find that he had a loser. When declarer led a heart from dummy East rose with an honor and played a diamond through South’s 10. Now South’s fate was sealed, since he had to lose a trick in every suit. However, this is actually an incredibly straightforward hand — if you see the point.
Solodar took the diamond ace, cashed the spade ace, played a club to the ace, then led another club to the king and played a third club. East won the trick and cashed a top heart, then shifted back to diamonds. But John simply won, cashed the spade king and played a winning club to discard his diamond loser. 10 tricks made.
Since you have already denied four spades at your last turn, it feels right to raise three spade to four spades. Even if you are playing a 4-3 fit, this will surely be the game with the best chances for your side.
BID WITH THE ACES
| ♠ K J 6 ♥ J 5 ♦ K 8 3 ♣ A 9 6 5 4 |
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♥ | |||
| Dbl. | Pass | 2♥ | Pass |
| 3♣ | Pass | 3♠ | Pass |
| ? |
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Bridge-related
Bobby,
The following line also looks quite attractive:
1) diamond ace
2) heart
3) lets assume east plays a diamond through, king winning
4) ruff a heart
5) play a diamond (first throw in).
6) west will play a club, south winning
7&8) spade ace and spade to the jack (or king of west shows out).
This wins if west has Qx(x) of spades (you have no spade loser)
This wins if east has Qx of spades (he is thrown in in trick 8)
Worst that can happen is that east has Qxx of spades. Then you play king of spades in trick 8, and tackle the clubs (dependent on how the clubs in trick 6 went).
It is not 100%, but pretty close.
The featured play is also not 100% (some cases that clubs are 4-1 and spades 3-1).
Leon is quite right. The only thing he didn’t mention is what to do if W leads a C honor (J or Q). If so, win in dummy, play SA & finesse SJ or, if W shows out on second S, win K and finesse C10. This line fails only if W has CQJ and there is a S loser. Also, as the cards lie, after the opening lead, D are a poison suit. Whoever leads the second round of D establishes the 3d round of D for the other side..
Hi Leon & David,
While you both accurately analyze today’s hand, I am horrified by what happened with the editing of the diamond suit, since I think it impossible for it to have left our auspices while poisoned.
That inexcusable mistake simply could not have occurred, especially since this was a real hand and both declarers would have not had a problem after East returned a diamond, no doubt expecting (and hoping) partner to possess the QJ10.
I apologize for my sour mood, but I am devastated by what happened and need to get to the bottom of it, post haste.
Again thanks to both of you for your on target posts. The falling rain is simply very embarrassing.
Hi Bobby,
The lesson from the hand is still valid, but I learned 30 years ago to beware what gets printed. I had organized a 24 hour speed chess session for charity in a pub and was phoned by a local newspaper for details. At the end, the (female) journalist asked how I’d thought of this oddball idea. Ever the smart Alec and wit (or 50% of the latter according to my wife), I said it was clearly an idea born of a beer or two too many. No prizes for guessing what was printed verbatim and gleefully pinned up by colleagues in the office.
You continue to instruct and entertain, and this far outweighs any slight slips.
regards,
Iain
Hi Leon, David and Iain,
Gulp! I have found the enemy and that perp is me. About six months ago, I proof read (for the 2nd time the 2/15 columns) which, of course included what became today on the internet and OKed the exact same hand, shown bright, clear and as awful as any bridge hand can be.
The good news is that my ego will take a large hit, but, of course, the bad news is how happy it will make all my detractors. And, as unusual as this apology may sound, it seems even worse to me, than it would have been if I had blown a major championship by making some idiocy.
At my age, maybe it is time I got to know myself.
Hi Iain,
Thanks for your continued support.
And even if your no-doubt lovely wife is correct, you (according to my signature below) are still twice as with it as moi.
Best,
Quarter Wit
Hi Iain,
Your marvelous tale indicative of “many a true word is spoken in jest” eases the upset of the situation. You have an incredible way of poking fun at yourself and it is a much to be cherished quality. Just think of how dull all of our lives would be without the challenge of bridge although no doubt it may be responsible for shortening our existence on earth!
Cheers,
Judy
Dear Quarter Wit,
Don’t be so hard on yourself. For almost twelve years, I can testify as a qualified key witness to your incomparable talent in so many walks of life (in sincerity for what you believe in, in your uncompromising efforts to preserve the honor and majesty of bridge and your unique talent for survival and victory over sixty years at the table against the best in the world). At eighty two you are truly blessed. Don’t ever forget it!
Love,
JKW
also on bright side,we now a new term in the Bridge lexicon …the QW. as in ” I played that like a QW”
QW is easy to type, too!
Thanks for the kind comments, Bobby and Judy, and don’t let Bobby beat himself up too much.
Hi Clarksburg & Iain,
I just heard Susan Rice and Bibi Netanyahu’s speeches and, I thought, both were nothing short of sensational.
Although in these modern times and the quantum leap in communication, one has to personally witness and therefore carefully listen to both feel their overwhelming educational value, particularly with the perceived sincerity in presentation.
One thing for sure is that being a superior speaker, particularly while under pressure, is a huge asset in, at the very least, getting a controversial point across.
Thanks, Iain for your concern about my psyche, but Judy has assured me that, in spite of her great effort, I’ll return to my normal personality in no time at all.
“normal personality” ? what’s that ?
Well, from where I sit, here’s what I see:
absolutely passionate about the challenge and never-ending wonders of game
absolutely passionate about integrity and ethics
tireless advocate of Bridge in the schools, as a route to survival of the game
over-the-top generosity…always willing to respectfully and constructively respond to respond to ANY Question from ANY reader, no matter the level of expertise
In short…truly one-of-a kind!
Thank you Mr Wolff.
Hi Clarksburg,
Well my facade seems to be working very well.
Also my bet against Honest Abe’s famous statement about not being able to fool all the people all the time may just have met its match.
Just like the song lyrics, “But I must confess that I like it, being miserable is going to be fun”, part of “My defenses are down”.
In any event, I have been smiling a lot more than usual lately similar to the tune in “State Fair”, perhaps 65 years ago called “It might as well be Spring”.
Thank you, Clarksburg, and before I enlist with IS I’ll accept whatever advice you may have for me, which in a weird way reminded me of another song, “Losing my head over you”.
Seriously though, all the wonders of our game are only evident if played the way the game was originally meant to be played, with no hidden advantages to those who think they want to win more than others.
Wonder of wonders, it is a lovely day today!