The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, April 17th, 2018
Danger, Will Robinson!
The Robot
| S | North |
|---|---|
| Both | ♠ A 9 8 6 ♥ K J ♦ K 6 5 2 ♣ A 8 3 |
| West | East |
|---|---|
| ♠ J 2 ♥ 10 4 3 ♦ Q 7 4 ♣ K Q J 9 5 |
♠ Q 10 7 5 ♥ Q 9 8 5 2 ♦ 10 ♣ 7 4 2 |
| South |
|---|
| ♠ K 4 3 ♥ A 7 6 ♦ A J 9 8 3 ♣ 10 6 |
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ♦ | Pass | 1 ♠ | Pass |
| 1 NT | Pass | 3 NT | All pass |
♣K
The opportunity for an avoidance play presents itself when you can determine that one of the opponents is the danger hand, either because he has winners to cash or because he might lead a suit that would put your contract in jeopardy, whereas his partner cannot make those plays.
In such scenarios, you should be prepared to invest a trick to achieve your target, or to maximize your chances of keeping the feared opponent off play.
Today’s deal is just such an example; the easy part of the problem is to determine which one is the danger hand; once you have done that, the avoidance play should come easily.
Would you raise one spade to two as South at your second turn? I could go either way. But let’s say you choose the rebid of one no-trump and end up in three no-trump on a top club lead. Good technique is to duck two clubs, trying to cut the defenders’ communications. Having won the third club, you can see your way home in three no-trump even if you only emerge with four diamond tricks — as long as you keep West, the presumed danger hand, off lead.
The way to do this is to lead towards the diamond ace from hand. If West has Q-10-x of diamonds, there is nothing you can do. But if East has the singleton 10, it will appear at once. You can then successfully pass the diamond jack and keep West off play. Even if you lose to the doubleton diamond queen in East, that would constitute very cheap insurance.
In a normal competitive two-over-one auction, a call of two no-trump here would not be forcing. Today, though, your partner’s bid of two spades shows extras and sets up a game-force, so there is no need for you to take up space by jumping to game. Simply bid two no-trump and let your partner do something more extravagant if he has extras. Otherwise, you will play three no-trump.
BID WITH THE ACES
| ♠ K 4 3 ♥ A 7 6 ♦ A J 9 8 3 ♣ 10 6 |
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ♣ | 1 ♠ | ||
| 2 ♦ | Pass | 2 ♠ | Pass |
| ? |
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Bridge-related
Hi Bobby,
Can I pose a quick query from tonight. Playing 12-14 1N and 4 card majors you hold x AK10 xx J Q108xx at pairs. Pard opns 1C (!) you bid 1H vs silent oppo and he bids 1N 15 to 17. 2C is now available to ask for more info so do gou use it or bid 4C (natural) which I did or something else? If you do bid 4C part bids 4H. Now what, if anything?
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain,
The first thing I’d do is call the director, and see if she/he could find my 13th card for me!
Pete
Hi Iain,
From your post, it appears apparent that the obvious missing card (because of the open space), was a small heart, I would definitely pass 4H since your apt jump to 4C (which should not be mistaken for Gerber) would
immediately alert partner that the pointed suit Aces are golden and His minimum return to hearts, shows no slam interest!.
Hi Folks,
The perils of posting late – I’ve got another club. I bid 4C partner bid 4H and I decided there were too many holes to risk going on. Wrong! Pard had Kxx Qxx AXX AKJx and even with H4-1, the J dropped. OK score in moderate field but 6C easy and 6H good at pairs. 4D worth a shot in retrospect.
Iain
I should als trot out the 2C relay over 1N when partner shows a maximum with 2N and now 4C is clearly a slam try and 4D more clear cut. Probably easier at teams; the pairs neurosis about avoiding 5C or D struck.
Iain
Hi, this weekend is pleasant in favor of me, because this moment
i am reading this enormous educational piece of writing here at my house.