The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, July 1st, 2017
by Bobby Wolff on
July 15th, 2017
He sought the storms; but for a calm unfit,
Would steer too nigh the sands to boast his wit.
John Dryden
| S | North |
|---|---|
| None | ♠ A K 8 5 ♥ 9 5 4 ♦ A Q 6 ♣ 6 5 4 |
| West | East |
|---|---|
| ♠ Q 10 9 ♥ J 10 8 ♦ 10 8 ♣ K J 7 3 2 |
♠ J 4 3 2 ♥ K 7 ♦ J 9 4 3 2 ♣ Q 8 |
| South |
|---|
| ♠ 7 6 ♥ A Q 6 3 2 ♦ K 7 5 ♣ A 10 9 |
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ♥ | Pass | 1 ♠ | Pass |
| 1 NT | Pass | 3 NT | All pass |
♣3
It is a good idea to have a simple agreement. Every pass of a redouble sitting over the trumps is an attempt to play there. One possible exception is a pass of a support redouble; but I believe in all auctions of the sort shown here, where partner had a chance to make a cheap call and did not do so, then he wants to defend. So pass, and see which player at this table has lost his or her mind.
BID WITH THE ACES
| ♠ A K 8 5 ♥ 9 5 4 ♦ A Q 6 ♣ 6 5 4 |
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ♥ | Pass | Pass | |
| Dbl. | Rdbl | Pass | Pass |
| ? |
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Bridge-related
An avoidance play relates to a position where it is important to keep one particular opponent off lead — because they have winners to cash, or can make a killing shift, while the other hand poses no such threat.
Here you play three no-trump rather than four hearts, when North sensibly eschews the 5-3 heart fit. On the lead of the club three, East plays the jack, and you duck. Now East plays a second club; should you win or duck again?
It is best to win; now to find a ninth trick you must set up hearts without letting West in; which means you need the king to be onside. If East has three hearts you can afford to finesse, then play ace and another heart. But what if he has the doubleton king? Then West would win the third heart.
To cater to both chances, cross to dummy and lead a low heart. If East plays the king, duck; if he plays low, finesse, then go back to dummy to repeat the exercise. If he plays low, rise with the ace; if he plays the king, you duck.
Do you see a counter to declarer’s play if he ducks the second club? On the third club East should dramatically discard the heart king. That way, declarer cannot establish hearts without letting West in.
This is why South should win the second club before embarking on the avoidance play. If East turns up with a third club, the suit is splitting 4-3 and the defense cannot take more than three club tricks.