Aces on Bridge — Daily Columns

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, July 9, 2010

July 23rd, 2010  ~  Bobby Wolff  ~  Comments Off on The Aces on Bridge: Friday, July 9, 2010 
Dealer: South

Vul: E/W

 North
♠ J 7 3
♥ K J 10
♦ Q J 10 7
♣ 10 7 5
West East
♠ — ♠ K 8 6 5
♥ 7 6 4 3 ♥ Q 9 8 2
♦ K 5 4 2 ♦ 9 8
♣ A K Q 8 3 ♣ J 6 2
South
♠ A Q 10 9 4 2
♥ A 5
♦ A 6 3
♣ 9 4

 

South West North East
1♠ Dbl. 1 NT 2♥
2♠ Pass 2♠ Pass
4♠ All Pass    
       

Opening Lead: ♣ King

“How slow

Behind the course of thought, even sick with speed,

Lags leaden-footed time!”

— Percy Bysshe Shelley

One of the most unfortunate things that occurred in the Venice Cup in Bermuda 10 years ago was that a Danish star, Charlotte Koch-Palmund, took ill and had to return home in midtournament. Her presence was sorely missed, although the Danes did go on to win the bronze medal.

 

When Denmark met France in the early stages of the Venice Cup, Charlotte had a chance to break one of the cardinal rules on defense — but it just happened to be the only way to set the hand! Put yourself in the West seat to see what I mean.

 

Charlotte (West) led out three rounds of clubs against four spades. When declarer ruffed and played a heart to dummy’s king to run the spade jack, Charlotte pitched a diamond. Now declarer correctly decided to repeat the spade finesse, and when East covered the spade seven with the eight, declarer won in hand and led a low diamond up.

 

Charlotte hopped up with the king and made the key defensive play when she broke all the rules by giving declarer a ruff and discard — a discard she did not need. The trump in dummy had to be preserved for the spade finesse, so declarer ruffed in hand, but that gave East the chance to discard her last diamond. Now when South tried to cross to dummy with a low diamond for the trump play, East ruffed in for one down.

ANSWER: You could simply jump to four spades now, but that would be highly premature. With your aces and your diamond fit, you might make seven diamonds if your partner had the spade king, the club ace and decent diamonds. Start the exploration by setting up a forcing auction: cue-bid two hearts, planning to support diamonds, and see what develops.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ A Q 10 9 4 2
♥ A 5
♦ A 6 3
♣ 9 4

 

South West North East
    1♦ 1♥
1♠ Pass 2♦ Pass
?      
       

 

For details of Bobby Wolff’s autobiography, The Lone Wolff, contact [email protected]. If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, please leave a comment at this blog. Reproduced with permission of United Feature Syndicate, Inc., Copyright 2010. If you are interested in reprinting The Aces on Bridge column, contact [email protected].

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The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, July 8, 2010

July 22nd, 2010  ~  Bobby Wolff  ~  2 Comments 
Dealer: South

Vul: E/W

 North
♠ J 7 2
♥ Q J 10 8 6
♦ Q 10 5
♣ 10 2
West East
♠ 8 5 ♠ Q 10 9 4
♥ 7 5 ♥ A 9 3 2
♦ K 9 8 4 2 ♦ 7 3
♣ Q 9 7 4 ♣ K 8 5
South
♠ A K 6 3
♥ K 4
♦ A J 6
♣ A J 6 3

 

South West North East
2 NT Pass 3♦ Pass
3♥ Pass 3 NT All Pass
       
       

Opening Lead: ♦4

“Therefore, acknowledge your error and be attentive.”

— Christopher Marlowe

At the Dyspeptics Club, whenever South becomes declarer, his partner — a man of almost legendary impatience and acerbity — puts down his dummy and ostentatiously focuses on a spot in the middle distance. His explanation is that he does not want to watch his partner butcher the hand, but somehow he always has a biting comment ready for the post-mortem.

 

Today’s deal was no exception. South played three no-trump by winning the opening diamond lead cheaply in his hand and playing two rounds of hearts to East. That player continued the attack on diamonds, and declarer finessed again, letting West win and clear the suit. Declarer now realized that leading a low spade from hand to dummy’s jack could not win. His only chance of success was to find the spade queen doubleton. But his luck was not in; he emerged with only six tricks.

 

Before South could claim that he was unlucky, North inquired whether a 100 percent chance was not good enough for him. Can you see what he meant?

 

South should have won the first trick with the diamond ace, sacrificing a potential diamond trick to ensure that he had an entry to dummy in diamonds. Now he simply wins the heart king and leads another heart. By leading his low diamond to dummy’s 10 at his next opportunity, he can be assured of two diamond tricks, four hearts, and his three black-suit winners.

ANSWER: Although you are not overburdened with aces and kings, you have extra shape and trumps that will allow you to compete to three hearts. Any time you have a chunky five-card suit and six points, you are better off than you might be. Since your partner’s double committed you to the two-level, you should feel comfortable in competing one level further.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ J 7 2
♥ Q J 10 8 6
♦ Q 10 5
♣ 10 2

 

South West North East
  2♦ Dbl. Pass
2♥ Pass Pass 3♦
?      
       

 

For details of Bobby Wolff’s autobiography, The Lone Wolff, contact [email protected]. If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, please leave a comment at this blog. Reproduced with permission of United Feature Syndicate, Inc., Copyright 2010. If you are interested in reprinting The Aces on Bridge column, contact [email protected].

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The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, July 7, 2010

July 21st, 2010  ~  Bobby Wolff  ~  Comments Off on The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, July 7, 2010 
Dealer: West

Vul: All

 North
♠ K Q 6 3
♥ J 8 7
♦ Q 6 4
♣ 5 4 3
West East
♠ 10 ♠ 9 8
♥ K 10 5 2 ♥ 9 6 4 3
♦ J 9 8 5 2 ♦ K 10
♣ A 9 7 ♣ K Q J 10 6
South
♠ A J 7 5 4 2
♥ A Q
♦ A 7 3
♣ 8 2

 

South West North East
  Pass Pass Pass
1♠ Pass 2♠ Pass
3♦ Pass 4♠ All Pass
       

Opening Lead: ♠10

“You will, therefore, permit me to concede your entire argument, and yet contrive means to escape your dilemma.”

— Johann Goethe

The cunning declarer can sometimes get away with murder if he manages to conceal his high-card strength. Today’s deal provides an example, where North-South had bid very aggressively to a delicate game at both tables of a team game. Cover up the East-West cards and make your plan in four spades on a trump lead.

 

In one room West led a diamond and declarer was soon down two tricks when he misguessed the diamond suit at trick one.

 

At the other table Israel’s Ilan Herbst received a trump lead. He won in hand and found the inspired shot of leading the heart queen from hand, inferring from the passive lead that West had awkward holdings in the other suits. While it may look like an extreme position to give up on a legitimate play in exchange for a swindle, good players should have the courage of their convictions.

 

West won the trick and, with no real clue, chose to return a heart. Declarer won his ace, crossed to dummy with a trump, and discarded a club on the heart jack. He now played a club, which was won by West. When West continued with a second club, declarer ruffed, crossed to dummy with a trump, ruffed the last club, then played ace and another diamond. The king was offside, but because East had only a doubleton, his only choice was to win and give declarer a ruff and discard for his contract.

ANSWER: The range for your two-diamond call was quite wide — you might easily have had a 10-count. Your partner must have extra shape if not high cards and be trying for game. Since you have no interest beyond partscore, you should sign off in three diamonds.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ K Q 6 3
♥ J 8 7
♦ Q 6 4
♣ 5 4 3

 

South West North East
    1♦ Pass
1♠ 2♣ Pass Pass
2♦ Pass 2♥ Pass
?      

 

For details of Bobby Wolff’s autobiography, The Lone Wolff, contact [email protected]. If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, please leave a comment at this blog. Reproduced with permission of United Feature Syndicate, Inc., Copyright 2010. If you are interested in reprinting The Aces on Bridge column, contact [email protected].

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The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, July 6, 2010

July 20th, 2010  ~  Bobby Wolff  ~  Comments Off on The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, July 6, 2010 
Dealer: East

Vul: All

 North
♠ K J 6 2
♥ A 5 3
♦ A K
♣ K J 10 4
West East
♠ 9 7 3 ♠ 5
♥ 10 6 2 ♥ K Q J 9 8 7 4
♦ Q 10 9 6 3 2 ♦ J 4
♣ 3 ♣ Q 7 5
South
♠ A Q 10 8 4
♥ —
♦ 8 7 5
♣ A 9 8 6 2

 

South West North East
      3♥
3♠ 4♥ 4 NT Pass
5 NT Pass 7♠ All Pass
       

Opening Lead: ♥2

“She took (the quilt) out of the chest, unfolded it, and counted the stars in the pattern — counting was an accomplishment she was proud of — before she wrapped it up.”

— Willa Cather

Anyone can bid a grand slam; making it is another matter. Here, South stretched to act at his first turn — rightly so, given his heart void. North was able to use key-card Blackwood in response. (Some would play his bid of four no-trump as takeout for the minors.) South’s response to the ace-asking bid showed two aces and a void, so North made the majestic leap to seven spades. Since South was missing the club queen, he had to use good judgment to make his contract.

 

When West led a heart, South ruffed, then drew trumps. The bidding suggested that West was more likely to hold the club queen than East, as hearts looked to be dividing 7-3. West had shown up with three spades to East’s one, which meant that East had only five spaces for minor-suit cards, to West’s seven.

 

But there was no need for haste, and declarer gave himself every chance to pinpoint the distribution. He cashed dummy’s ace and king of diamonds, then the heart ace, carefully throwing a club from hand. Dummy’s last heart was ruffed in hand, then South’s third diamond was ruffed in dummy, East showing out.

 

At this point West was proven to have started with three spades, and a minimum of three hearts and six diamonds, which left room for at most one club. So it was quite safe to lead dummy’s club king, then run the club jack through East to bring home the grand slam.

ANSWER: The way to show a balanced 18-20 hand is to double and then bid no-trump. This shows more than a direct one-no-trump overcall and not less than the direct overcall. With a balanced 12-14 and stoppers in the opponents’ suit, by the way, you have to pass in direct seat, although you can come in with a bid of one no-trump in the balancing seat.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ K J 6 2
♥ A 5 3
♦ A K
♣ K J 10 4

 

South West North East
      1♦
Dbl. Pass 1♥ Pass
?      
       

 

For details of Bobby Wolff’s autobiography, The Lone Wolff, contact [email protected]. If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, please leave a comment at this blog. Reproduced with permission of United Feature Syndicate, Inc., Copyright 2010. If you are interested in reprinting The Aces on Bridge column, contact [email protected].

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The Aces on Bridge: Monday, July 5, 2010

July 19th, 2010  ~  admin  ~  7 Comments 
Dealer: North

Vul: E/W

 North
♠ Q 9 7 4 2
♥ —
♦ 9 5 3 2
♣ A 6 4 2
West East
♠ A J 8 6 3 ♠ K 10 5
♥ J 3 ♥ K 8 6 4
♦ K Q 10 ♦ A 8 7 6
♣ J 7 5 ♣ 9 3
South
♠ —
♥ A Q 10 9 7 5 2
♦ J 4
♣ K Q 10 8

 

South West North East
    Pass Pass
4♥ All Pass    
       
       

Opening Lead: ♦ King

“You pays your money and you takes your choice.”

— Punch

There are a few suit combinations that appear to offer declarer a choice of approaches, but which on further reflection have only one possible solution. Consider today’s deal, where South opens four hearts in third seat as a sort of two-way shot (maybe he can make it, or else keep the opponents out) and buys the contract there. The defenders kick off with three rounds of diamonds. South ruffs and has to hold his trump losers to one if he wants to make his game. The first thing to be aware of is that declarer has no legitimate chance against a 3-3 trump break, whatever he does. Thus he needs to find trumps 4-2 with an honor falling on the first two rounds. It might look natural to lead the heart ace and a low heart, hoping to drop the king, but that would ignore the fact that one defender would be left with the guarded heart jack — operation successful, but the patient still dead. Far better is to lead out the heart ace and then the heart queen, trying to pin the heart jack. If the cards lie as in the illustrated diagram, the defenders will only be able to take one trump trick whatever they do.

 

As a separate issue, it might be slightly more deceptive to broach trumps by leading the heart queen first. If West has king-third of hearts and ducks, then you have also achieved your objective.

ANSWER: The opponents sound well prepared for a diamond lead, so the question is which major suit to attack. A spade looks less likely to give away a trick, a heart more likely to set up tricks for your side. I’d choose hearts, principally because it sounds as if dummy may have a club suit that is going to be set up, so you need to get tricks quickly.

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ 9 3 2
♥ Q 7 4
♦ J 9 5 2
♣ K 8 3

 

South West North East
  1♣ Dbl. Rdbl.
1♦ Pass Pass 2 NT
All Pass      
       

 

For details of Bobby Wolff’s autobiography, The Lone Wolff, contact [email protected]. If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, please leave a comment at this blog. Reproduced with permission of United Feature Syndicate, Inc., Copyright 2010. If you are interested in reprinting The Aces on Bridge column, contact [email protected].

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The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, July 4, 2010

July 18th, 2010  ~  admin  ~  2 Comments 
Dear Mr. Wolff:

Recently you ran a deal quoting two lines of play where the odds as I calculated them differed by over 10 percent. What do you believe to be the minimum difference in probabilities before you consider one line to be significantly better than the other? How many experts would get that sort of problem right?

—  Professor Challenger, West Palm Beach, Fla.

 

ANSWER: I’d expect really top players to know 90 percent of the basic positions, to be able to extrapolate to the right answer on most of the rest, and guess right half the remaining time, giving them the right answer 99 percent of the time. But almost all hands involve more-complex suit issues than a single suit-combination. Hence all the mistakes, or wrong views.

 

Dear Mr. Wolff:

What would you open with ♠ A, ♥ A-K-Q-J-8-3, ♦ A-K-Q-3, ♣ K-J? How would you plan your rebids over a negative response?

—  Lucky Lou, Danville, Ill.

 

ANSWER: Would you please deal ME that hand? I would open two clubs and plan to rebid a forcing two hearts over my partner’s two-diamond response. My methods allow my partner to show a really weak hand now by bidding three clubs, the lower minor. If he did that, I would bid three diamonds and try to find the best fit for slam. Opposite anything else, I would probably drive to slam in the appropriate suit.

 

Dear Mr. Wolff:

If you overcall, the next hand makes a negative double, and partner redoubles, what does that show? Does it ask for rescue, show support, or just announce high cards?

—  Great Pretender, Grand Junction, Colo.

   ANSWER: Best is to play the redouble as card-showing, suggesting that your side has more than half the deck. It does not set up a forcing pass, but tends to have at best secondary support for your suit, else some other call agreeing your suit would generally be more appropriate.

 

Dear Mr. Wolff:

In a recent letter you showed a deal where one player held ♠ K-Q, ♥ A-9-7-3, ♦ 7-3, ♣ K-J-7-4-3 and heard his RHO open one club. How would you rate an overcall of two clubs?

—  Jam Packer, Midland, Mich.

 

ANSWER: I’m not a big fan of overcalling at the two-level on five-card suits, even less on broken five-card suits. And when the opponents have suggested (though not promised) length in that suit, it becomes even more dangerous. In this scenario there is another reason for not taking that action: Tournament players tend to use the direct cue-bid as artificial, showing both majors, not natural.

 

Dear Mr. Wolff:

I have been playing bridge since I graduated from college, about 50 years ago. I read your bridge column in the newspaper and books on bidding and play. Yet, I don’t seem to be able to break average. Maybe I am too timid in my bidding. Any ideas?

—  Timorous Tyro, Trenton, N.J.

 

ANSWER: As regards your basic system, you don’t want to overload memory, but maybe Eric Rodwell’s new book on two-over-one might help. Marc Smith and Barbara Seagram’s book on 25 conventions fills in the gaps. As to play technique, Klinger has written on bridge memory, and anything by Kelsey or Reese on play have a lot to offer. One aspect about matchpoint play: it is not like teams — you have to go for the throat. Kit Woolsey on pairs bridge might help.

 

If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, e-mail him at [email protected]. Reproduced with permission of United Feature Syndicate, Inc., Copyright 2009.

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The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, July 3, 2010

July 17th, 2010  ~  admin  ~  Comments Off on The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, July 3, 2010 
Dealer: South

Vul: E/W

 North
♠ 10 6 4
♥ A K 4
♦ A 9 8 7 2
♣ 10 5
West East
♠ 9 2 ♠ J 8 7 3
♥ — ♥ 10 9 7 3
♦ Q 10 5 3 ♦ 6 4
♣ A K Q 9 8 3 2 ♣ J 6 4
South
♠ A K Q 5
♥ Q J 8 6 5 2
♦ K J
♣ 7

 

South West North East
1♥ 3♣ 3♦ Pass
3♠ Pass 4♥ Pass
4 NT Pass 5♣* Pass
6♥ All Pass    
*0 or 3 of the five aces, counting the trump king as an ace

Opening Lead: ♣ King

“I passed no secret, darkened nook

Without a shuddering, furtive look,

Lest he should take me unawares

In some one of his subtle snares.”

— Alice Williams Brotherton

Despite West’s old-fashioned strong jump overcall, South was prepared to gamble on moving past game when his partner showed game-forcing values and admitted to some trump support. Although dummy held just the three honor-cards, the heart slam looked respectable enough. South’s one concern was the fourth-round spade loser, and since there were several possible ways to get rid of it, it was important to take the chances in the right order.

 

West led two top clubs and South ruffed. The first question was whether to lead a high trump or a low trump from hand. Playing a high trump from hand would preserve entries to dummy; the low trump lead would allow a ruff in dummy if spades did not break.

 

South made his first good guess when a trump to the ace revealed the bad break. Now South had to decide whether East had long diamonds or had long spades, since if either suit was going to break, 12 tricks would be easy. Realizing that he might be able to overcome a bad spade break if the spade jack was doubleton, South guessed correctly to test diamonds from the top. He led out the king of diamonds, then the ace, and ruffed a diamond. When East discarded a club, declarer knew that it was now safe to go after spades. He cashed the three top spades, ruffed a spade low in dummy, and could now play off dummy’s top trump and claim the rest.

ANSWER: This auction is forcing, no ifs, ands or buts. Because passing is not a possibility, many players would now use a second negative of three diamonds, which allows opener to introduce a four-card major if he has one. That will simplify your task at your next turn, allowing you to raise a major or pass a call of three no-trump.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ J 8 7 3
♥ 10 9 7 3
♦ 6 4
♣ J 6 4

 

South West North East
    2♣ Pass
2♦ Pass 3♣ Pass
?      
       

 

For details of Bobby Wolff’s autobiography, The Lone Wolff, contact [email protected]. If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, please leave a comment at this blog. Reproduced with permission of United Feature Syndicate, Inc., Copyright 2010. If you are interested in reprinting The Aces on Bridge column, contact [email protected].

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The Aces on Bridge: Friday, July 2, 2010

July 16th, 2010  ~  admin  ~  Comments Off on The Aces on Bridge: Friday, July 2, 2010 
Dealer: East

Vul: None

 North
♠ A Q 6 3 2
♥ Q
♦ Q 10 5
♣ 8 7 6 3
West East
♠ K 8 7 ♠ J 10 9 4
♥ K J 10 6 4 3 ♥ A 7 5
♦ 8 7 6 3 ♦ 9 2
♣ — ♣ A 10 9 5
South
♠ 5
♥ 9 8 2
♦ A K J 4
♣ K Q J 4 2

 

South West North East
      Pass
1♣ 3♥ Dbl. 4♥
4 NT* Pass 5♣ All Pass
       
*Takeout for the minors

Opening Lead: ♥ Jack

“An active, ardent mind;

A fancy pregnant with resource and scheme

To cheat the sadness of a rainy day.”

— William Wordsworth

When the defender under the main trump strength holds significant length, declarer can sometimes draw his trumps by leading plain cards from dummy. For example, what do you think of East’s chances on defense to five clubs today, given that his heart ace is going to stand up? Pretty fair, you might say, but he had not reckoned with a resourceful declarer.

 

West led a heart to East’s ace and back came a second heart in an attempt to remove dummy’s trumps and solidify the defenders’ second club winner. Declarer ruffed in dummy and played a club to hand, West showing out. Now another heart ruff and a second club to hand left declarer in good shape, despite East’s threatening trump holding.

 

Declarer knew that the spade finesse rated to work, but he did not need to take it. He played a spade to dummy’s ace and ruffed a spade, then led a diamond to the 10 and ruffed another spade, West’s king dropping. Now he crossed to dummy’s diamond queen, cashed the spade queen to pitch a diamond and, in the two-card ending with declarer needing one more trick, led the 13th spade from dummy. East had no answer. If he ruffed low, South would overruff; if he ruffed high, South would discard and make trick 13 with the club jack.

 

Declarer can score his last trump en passant on a very similar line, even when the spade king does not fall, with East having three small spades and three diamonds.

ANSWER: You should jump to two spades. As a passed hand you cannot just hold spades (or you either would have opened two spades or would not now be worth more than one spade). When a passed hand jumps in a new suit, it should promises values, decent fit for partner and at least a respectable five-card holding in the bid suit.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ A Q 6 3 2
♥ Q
♦ Q 10 5
♣ 8 7 6 3

 

South West North East
Pass 1♣ 1♦ 1♥
?      
       
       

 

For details of Bobby Wolff’s autobiography, The Lone Wolff, contact [email protected]. If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, please leave a comment at this blog. Reproduced with permission of United Feature Syndicate, Inc., Copyright 2010. If you are interested in reprinting The Aces on Bridge column, contact [email protected].

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The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, July 1, 2010

July 15th, 2010  ~  admin  ~  Comments Off on The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, July 1, 2010 
Dealer: North

Vul: N/S

 North
♠ J 9
♥ 10 8 3
♦ A K 9 6
♣ A K 6 5
West East
♠ Q 10 8 7 5 4 ♠ K 2
♥ A Q 2 ♥ 7 5 4
♦ 3 ♦ 10 7 5 2
♣ 10 7 4 ♣ Q J 9 3
South
♠ A 6 3
♥ K J 9 6
♦ Q J 8 4
♣ 8 2

 

South West North East
    1♦ Pass
1♥ 2♠ Pass Pass
4♦ Pass 4♥ All Pass
       

Opening Lead: ♠7

“Turn with me from the city’s clamorous street,

Where throng and push passions and lusts and hate….”

— Thomas a Kempis

If you are going to bid aggressively and push the opponents around, then you may need to defend accurately when they end up in a poor contract, or it will be a case of “the biter bit.” Today’s hand was just such an example.

 

Left to their own devices, North-South would surely have ended in a hopeless three no-trump. But after the weak-jump overcall, South ended up declaring a delicate four hearts.

 

West led the spade seven to East’s king. Declarer ducked and won the next spade with the ace. Declarer now ruffed a spade with the heart eight and carefully led a low heart to the jack and queen. Now there was nothing more the defense could do. If West played another spade, declarer could ruff with the 10, cross to hand with a diamond, and play a top heart. West could win and play yet another spade, but with hearts 3-3, declarer could draw trumps and claim.

 

Note that if declarer had led the heart 10 from dummy on the first round of the suit, another spade would have allowed East to overruff the dummy, forcing declarer to ruff in hand. Now, continued spade plays by West would beat the contract.

 

However, look at the effect if West ducks the first heart. If declarer plays another heart, West wins and continues spades, forcing declarer to ruff in hand. Now declarer has just the heart king left, while West has the ace and East the seven. Declarer cannot prevent the defenders from making both of their trumps separately.

ANSWER: Facing a two-level overcall, you have enough to drive to game, rather than inviting game with a call of two no-trump. Your choice is to make a two-diamond cue-bid, looking for a 4-4 heart fit, or to blast to the no-trump game. Given the possible weakness in spades, I prefer the more circumspect approach of the cue-bid.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ A 6 3
♥ K J 9 6
♦ Q J 8 4
♣ 8 2

 

South West North East
  1♦ 2♣ Pass
?      
       
       

 

For details of Bobby Wolff’s autobiography, The Lone Wolff, contact [email protected]. If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, please leave a comment at this blog. Reproduced with permission of United Feature Syndicate, Inc., Copyright 2010. If you are interested in reprinting The Aces on Bridge column, contact [email protected].

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The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, June 30, 2010

July 14th, 2010  ~  admin  ~  Comments Off on The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 
Dealer: South

Vul: E/W

 North
♠ A K 6 2
♥ J 6 3
♦ 10 9 6
♣ J 10 7
West East
♠ Q 8 4 3 ♠ J 10 9 5
♥ Q ♥ A 10 8 5
♦ J 8 7 5 2 ♦ Q 3
♣ A 6 5 ♣ 9 8 3
South
♠ 7
♥ K 9 7 4 2
♦ A K 4
♣ K Q 4 2

 

South West North East
1♥ Pass 2♥ Pass
4♥ All Pass    
       
       

Opening Lead: ♠3

“Amid the pressure of great events, a general principle gives no help.”

— Georg Hegel

Fred Gitelman is perhaps the world’s most successful marketer of bridge via the Internet. He was at the helm today in four hearts, a contract hard to make even when you look at all four hands.

 

Fred won the spade lead with dummy’s ace and immediately played a heart to his king. He decided that West’s play of the queen was a true card — how many of us would be up to a falsecard here? He therefore switched his attention to clubs, and when he led the king from hand, West obliged by taking the ace, simplifying Gitelman’s task.

 

Fred took the spade continuation with dummy’s king, pitching a diamond, ruffed a spade, cashed the diamond ace and king, then crossed to dummy with a club and ruffed another spade. Now he led another club to dummy and, in the three-card ending, played dummy’s last diamond. East had the A-10-8 of hearts left, and Fred still had the 9-7 in his hand. Whether East ruffed high or low, Fred would collect another trump for his 10th trick.

 

Had West ducked his club ace and taken the next round of the suit to return a third club, Gitelman would have cashed the spade king to pitch his diamond loser, then led a low trump from dummy. East can win and force declarer with a spade, but declarer ruffs, cashes both diamond winners, and leads the fourth club. He ruffs it with the heart jack, losing only one more trump trick.

ANSWER: This hand feels too strong for you to pass. I’m not sure if a double of two clubs should deliver a fourth trump on defense, but that seems to me to be the best call with this hand. Since the opponents have bid and raised clubs, the double is not for penalties. It simply shows a hand with extra values, asking partner to raise spades, bid a five-card suit, or defend if appropriate.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ A K 6 2
♥ J 6 3
♦ 10 9 6
♣ J 10 7

 

South West North East
  1♣ Dbl. 1♥
1♠ Pass Pass 2♣
?      
       

 

For details of Bobby Wolff’s autobiography, The Lone Wolff, contact [email protected]. If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, please leave a comment at this blog. Reproduced with permission of United Feature Syndicate, Inc., Copyright 2010. If you are interested in reprinting The Aces on Bridge column, contact [email protected].

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