The Aces on Bridge: Friday, April 1st, 2016
I once knew a man out of courtesy help a lame dog over a stile, and he for requital bit his fingers.
William Chillingworth
| S | North |
|---|---|
| None | ♠ 8 5 3 ♥ K Q J ♦ J 10 9 4 ♣ A 7 6 |
| West | East |
|---|---|
| ♠ K J 10 6 ♥ 9 7 ♦ A Q 7 ♣ Q 5 4 3 |
♠ A Q 4 2 ♥ 3 2 ♦ 8 6 5 2 ♣ 10 9 8 |
| South |
|---|
| ♠ 9 7 ♥ A 10 8 6 5 4 ♦ K 3 ♣ K J 2 |
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ♥ | Dbl. | Rdbl. | 1 ♠ |
| 2 ♥ | Pass | 3 ♥ | All pass |
♠J
Today’s deal will ask you to plan the defense to three hearts as East, after West has led the spade jack, on the auction shown.
When the deal came up in a team game, both Souths reached the delicate contract of three hearts, after a spade lead. One pair was successful on defense, one pair failed, though in the second case it was not really clear whether the defenders had done anything terribly wrong.
Both Easts came to the conclusion that the fact that their partner had led the spade jack and not a top club or diamond virtually guaranteed that declarer had to have the heart ace, a high diamond honor, and at least a decent club holding. Eventually, therefore, declarer would, if left to his own devices, come to six hearts, one club and two diamonds. So they worked out that they had to shift to a club at once.
At one table East won the spade ace and switched to the club 10, ducked round to dummy’s ace. However, when West won the first diamond, he decided to play his partner for the club king rather than the spade queen, and a club switch let claim his contract. At the second table, East found the way to put his partner on the right track by winning the spade queen at trick one and shifting to the club 10. Now West knew to play back a spade when he won the diamond queen. A second club through declarer left declarer without resource.
I can see the logic in rebidding my hearts to suggest a minimum hand unsuitable for defense. As against that, do I want to play in hearts facing shortness? I think not. I would pass and see how the auction pans out. I would certainly be prepared to sit for a penalty double, if my partner makes one – whichever suit the opponents finish in.
BID WITH THE ACES
| ♠ 9 7 ♥ A 10 8 6 5 4 ♦ K 3 ♣ K J 2 |
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ♥ | Dbl. | Rdbl. | Pass |
| ? |
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Hi Bobby,
Unless South has a reputation for opening light, I’d think West should get this right. Once East plays the spade A at trick 1, playing East to also hold the club K would mean South opened a 1 bid in first seat with something close to:
Qx
Axxxxx
Kx
Jxx
Hi Ted,
No doubt, but if South had the queen of spades and West lost to it, losing the overtrick, would some teammate, after losing the match by 1 IMP then single you out for being the responsible party.
My choice is clearly that East should play the queen on partners jack (unless that partnership played jack denies a higher honor).
By doing so it is extremely unlikely that it will cost the contract and therefore East has the last clear chance to defeat the contract (although not knowing it at the time.
Thank you for your intelligent post.
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