June 7th, 2009 ~ admin ~ 4 Comments 
| Dear Mr. Wolff:
Please explain again how many flaws a pre-empt should, or could, have based on position and vulnerability.
— Sounding Board, San Antonio, Texas
ANSWER: In second seat, pre-empts should be sounder than in first chair, while in third chair you can be quite relaxed about suit quality and side-suit shape. Equally, the more dangerous the vulnerability, the better the suit you must possess to pre-empt. So a second–in-hand vulnerable pre-empt must be very sound; a third-in-hand nonvulnerable pre-empt might be almost frivolous.
Dear Mr. Wolff:
If my partner overcalls or responds and the next hand doubles, what should a redouble show? Should this indicate some sort of raise?
— Alarm Bell, Bristol, Va.
ANSWER: With the greatest respect to the inventor of the Rosenkrantz double, I think it is unsound to use a redouble after an overcall to show anything except a good hand, generally denying primary support for partner. Equally, a redouble by opener to show a three-card raise is ill-founded. In both cases the redouble simply says you have extras and are prepared to defend.
Dear Mr. Wolff:
Holding ♠ A-10-3-2, ♥ A-Q-J-7-2, ♦ J-8-4, ♣ 3, I opened one heart, and my partner responded with a forcing one no-trump. What is my best choice of call now, assuming I do not risk my partner’s ire by passing?
— Torn to Shreds, Tucson, Ariz.
ANSWER: You should not pass here (because of the effect on partnership morale if you are wrong), so the simple choice is to reverse to two spades — a gross overbid — or to rebid the hearts, which overstates the suit. That leaves a bid of two diamonds, a call consistent with a three-card suit, which should not overexcite your partner, even if he has a diamond fit. |
|
Dear Mr. Wolff:
Can you discuss the logic of an overcaller bidding two no-trump at his next turn to speak? Is that natural, or is it unusual? If the latter, what sort of hand does it show?
— Call of the Wild, Lakeland, Fla.
ANSWER: Let’s say you made a two-diamond overcall over one heart, then, when the opponents bid two hearts, you came in again with two no-trump. That suggests 6-4 in the minors; a bid of three clubs would suggest a five-card club suit. Equally, bidding two clubs, then balancing with two no-trump, would suggest clubs and shorter diamonds.
Dear Mr. Wolff:
I assume you would open one no-trump if you were dealt ♠ K-Q-7-3, ♥ A-9-2, ♦ K-7-4, ♣ K-10-3; but if your RHO opened one heart, would you pass, bid one no-trump, or double?
— Upwardly Mobile, Elkhart, Ind.
ANSWER: You are right that the hand is a textbook strong no-trump (although minimum). These days nearly everyone plays the range as 15-17, not 16-18. But while I would bid one no-trump over a minor, I think I would double one heart. However, throw in the heart 10, and I would certainly be tempted to make the no-trump overcall. |
If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, e-mail him at [email protected]. Reproduced with permission of United Feature Syndicate, Inc., Copyright 2009.
June 6th, 2009 ~ admin ~ Comments Off on The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, May 23, 2009
| Dealer: West
Vul: E/W |
North |
|
| ♠ |
J 10 7 3 2 |
| ♥ |
9 4 |
| ♦ |
K 10 7 4 |
| ♣ |
8 6 |
| West |
 |
East |
| ♠ |
K 8 4 |
♠ |
Q 6 |
| ♥ |
— |
♥ |
Q J 8 7 5 |
| ♦ |
Q 6 3 |
♦ |
9 8 |
| ♣ |
A K 10 5 4 3 2 |
♣ |
Q J 9 7 |
| |
South |
|
| ♠ |
A 9 5 |
| ♥ |
A K 10 6 3 2 |
| ♦ |
A J 5 2 |
| ♣ |
— |
| South |
West |
North |
East |
| |
2♣* |
Pass |
2♦** |
| 4♥ |
Pass |
Pass |
Dbl. |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| *Clubs, 10-15 points |
| **Relay, 8-plus points |
Opening Lead:♣K
“I shall remember while the light lives yet
And in the nighttime I shall not forget.”
— Algernon Swinburne
I recently mentioned in this column that Tim Seres of Australia had died. I have now been provided with a number of hands played by Tim and will make them available to you over the coming months.
Tim was the quintessential rubber bridge player; all Tim wanted was to find himself in the highest contract that had play. He reckoned he would be able to do the rest!
In today’s deal Tim followed the fastest route to four hearts, the game he thought he could make. The club king was ruffed and he next successfully led a diamond to dummy’s 10, followed by a spade to the nine and king. After ruffing the next club, Seres played the spade ace, followed by the diamond ace and a third diamond. East ruffed and returned the heart queen, which Seres won. He next led the spade five to the 10, East ruffing again.
Seres had arrived at a four-card ending in which he had three trumps and a diamond in hand; two spades, a heart and a diamond in dummy. East could not lead a trump, so played a club, ruffed by Seres in hand with the six and overruffed in dummy with the nine.
When Seres led the spade jack from the board, East was left without recourse. If he trumped the spade, declarer would overruff and draw trumps. If he discarded, declarer would pitch his diamond and make the last two trumps by leading a plain card and overruffing East.
ANSWER: It may look bold to bid twice with only four points, but remember that any partner worth his salt has guaranteed an opening bid and at least three spades for his first double. Not only does he not have to bid, but he should not bid at his second turn if he has nothing more than he promised. You have extra shape, so it is up to you to take up the slack by bidding two spades.
BID WITH THE ACES
South Holds:
| ♠ |
J 10 7 3 2 |
| ♥ |
9 4 |
| ♦ |
K 10 7 4 |
| ♣ |
8 6 |
| South |
West |
North |
East |
| |
1♣ |
Dbl. |
Pass |
| 1♠ |
2♣ |
Pass |
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 2009. If you are interested in reprinting The Aces on Bridge column, contact [email protected].
June 5th, 2009 ~ admin ~ 2 Comments
| Dealer: South
Vul: E/W |
North |
|
| ♠ |
6 4 3 |
| ♥ |
K Q 5 |
| ♦ |
9 7 6 3 |
| ♣ |
Q J 2 |
| West |
|
East |
| ♠ |
2 |
♠ |
10 9 5 |
| ♥ |
J 10 9 3 |
♥ |
8 7 6 4 2 |
| ♦ |
Q 10 8 4 |
♦ |
2 |
| ♣ |
K 7 5 3 |
♣ |
10 8 6 4 |
| |
South |
|
| ♠ |
A K Q J 8 7 |
| ♥ |
A |
| ♦ |
A K J 5 |
| ♣ |
A 9 |
| South |
West |
North |
East |
| 2♣ |
Pass |
2 NT |
Pass |
| 3♠ |
Pass |
4♠ |
Pass |
| 6♠ |
All Pass |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Opening Lead:♥
J
“Awaiting the sensation of a short, sharp shock,
From a cheap and chippy chopper on a big black block.”
— W.S. Gilbert
In today’s deal how do you plan to make 12 tricks once West leads the heart jack and your bare ace wins the trick?
If diamonds were 3-2, then playing the ace, king and jack of diamonds would ensure that you could reach dummy with the diamond nine. However, with the given layout, a straightforward play in diamonds will see West take two tricks.
The best play is to cash the diamond ace and then make a surprising play — lead the diamond jack next. Whenever West wins his diamond queen, he is endplayed, forced to concede the 12th trick no matter what he does.
If West withholds his diamond queen, then king and another diamond will leave him on play. Again he will have only hearts and clubs left, either of which will give you your 12th trick.
Had East turned up with four diamonds headed by the queen and 10, he would take the diamond queen and return a club. You would now need him to have started life with the club king.
Incidentally, if diamonds were 5-0 and trumps were 2-2, you would lead the diamond jack next if it was West who had the diamond length. Otherwise, you would continue with ace and another club, playing for the hand with the diamond void to have the club king. That way he must next give you an entry to dummy with either a heart or a club.
ANSWER: This seems to be worth a double. Your partner heard you pass initially and still volunteered a call of two spades — he must have some extras. With a trump trick and your club honor well-placed, it looks right to let the opponents know they cannot push you around with impunity.
BID WITH THE ACES
South Holds:
| ♠ |
2 |
| ♥ |
J 10 9 3 |
| ♦ |
Q 10 8 4 |
| ♣ |
K 7 5 3 |
| South |
West |
North |
East |
| |
|
1♠ |
2♣ |
| Pass |
2♥ |
2♠
|
4♥ |
| ? |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
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 2009. If you are interested in reprinting The Aces on Bridge column, contact [email protected].
June 4th, 2009 ~ admin ~ 2 Comments
| Dealer: South
Vul: E/W |
North |
|
| ♠ |
A 7 3 |
| ♥ |
J 5 4 3 2 |
| ♦ |
Q 10 7 |
| ♣ |
Q 10 |
| West |
|
East |
| ♠ |
J 10 8 5 4 |
♠ |
Q |
| ♥ |
10 9 7 |
♥ |
8 6 |
| ♦ |
A J |
♦ |
K 9 4 3 2 |
| ♣ |
K 4 2 |
♣ |
J 8 7 6 3 |
| |
South |
|
| ♠ |
K 9 6 2 |
| ♥ |
A K Q |
| ♦ |
8 6 5 |
| ♣ |
A 9 5 |
| South |
West |
North |
East |
| 1♠ |
Pass |
2♠ |
All Pass |
| *Playing four card majors and a weak no-trump |
Opening Lead:♠4
“The tigers of wrath are wiser than the horses of instruction.”
— William Blake
Today’s deal decided the fate of a recent major tournament in England. Curiously, it was nicely played by the team that lost the event, and misdefended by the winners.
Declarer, Michelle Brunner, did exceptionally well in an awkward spot after her four-card spade suit was raised to the two-level and passed out. West led a trump and East’s queen was allowed to hold trick one.
That player switched to a club, which West won with the king, and continued with a second club to dummy’s queen. Brunner now played a heart to hand, cashed the club ace while pitching a diamond from dummy, and protected herself against a bad trump break by playing two more top hearts.
When East failed to ruff, the position was clear. Declarer exited with a diamond to West’s ace, and West returned her diamond jack to her partner’s king. When East played a minor-suit card, West had to ruff with the eight, but declarer simply overruffed in dummy and ran the trump seven. West won the 10, but then was endplayed to lead a spade into declarer’s K-9.
When West was in with the club king, she should have played ace and another diamond. The diamond ruff would have been her fifth defensive trick, with a certain trump trick to come.
So why did this result cost the event for North-South? In the other room the final contract of three no-trump could not be defeated, so they lost a game swing here.
ANSWER: There is a case for bidding game here (and if my partner is a good dummy-player, I would do that). With such good black-suit cards, this hand is worth more than it would appear; but maybe three spades is enough. If your partner cannot bid on, you probably have not missed anything.
BID WITH THE ACES
South Holds:
| ♠ |
A 7 3 |
| ♥ |
J 5 4 3 2 |
| ♦ |
Q 10 7 |
| ♣ |
Q 10 |
| South |
West |
North |
East |
| |
|
1♣ |
Pass |
| 1♥
|
Pass |
1♠
|
Pass |
| 1 NT |
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 2009. If you are interested in reprinting The Aces on Bridge column, contact [email protected].
June 3rd, 2009 ~ admin ~ Comments Off on The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, May 20, 2009
| Dealer: East
Vul: E/W |
North |
|
| ♠ |
A |
| ♥ |
K 6 4 3 |
| ♦ |
K 10 9 4 |
| ♣ |
A 8 6 3 |
| West |
|
East |
| ♠ |
J 4 |
♠ |
K Q 10 9 8 6 |
| ♥ |
A J 10 8 |
♥ |
9 |
| ♦ |
6 3 |
♦ |
J 8 |
| ♣ |
Q J 10 7 4 |
♣ |
K 9 5 2 |
| |
South |
|
| ♠ |
7 5 3 2 |
| ♥ |
Q 7 5 2 |
| ♦ |
A Q 7 5 2 |
| ♣ |
— |
| South |
West |
North |
East |
| |
|
|
2♠ |
| Pass |
Pass |
Dbl. |
Pass |
| 4♥ |
All Pass |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Opening Lead:♣Q
“The worst-constructed play is a Bach fugue when compared to life.”
— Helen Hayes
Most players are familiar with the situation of having an eight-card trump fit including the ace and king. You plan to cash your top honors and then go about your business, allowing the opponent with the master trump to ruff in whenever he wishes while you make the remainder. Today’s deal is a variation on that theme.
South rather sportingly drove to game after North’s double of two spades. (Some people use two no-trump as artificial and weak in response to North’s takeout double. That lets them use a direct call of three hearts as value-showing.) What would be your plan in four hearts on the club-queen lead?
While overtricks might be possible if trumps break well, South decided to protect himself against a 4-1 break. He ruffed the club in hand and led a low heart to dummy’s king. When this held, he could afford to abandon trumps. Even if they broke 3-2, he was happy to lose three trump tricks. He set about cashing diamonds. If West had not ruffed any of those, declarer could have later crossruffed in the black suits, and West could have made his three trump tricks whenever he liked. When West ruffs in, he has two choices. He can reduce declarer’s trump tricks by playing ace and another trump (of course, giving up one of his own trump tricks), or he can sit back and wait for two more trump tricks. Neither option beats the contract.
ANSWER: The double of two clubs suggests the majors and at least an eight-count. The simple call of two hearts would not really do justice to your hand. Your extra shape and crisp honor-structure argue for inviting to game. Three hearts is not forcing, but it seems to be the least you can do here.
BID WITH THE ACES
South Holds:
| ♠ |
A |
| ♥ |
K 6 4 3 |
| ♦ |
K 10 9 4 |
| ♣ |
A 8 6 3 |
| South |
West |
North |
East |
| 1♦ |
2♣ |
Dbl. |
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 2009. If you are interested in reprinting The Aces on Bridge column, contact [email protected].
June 2nd, 2009 ~ admin ~ Comments Off on The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, May 19, 2009
| Dealer: South
Vul: N/S |
North |
|
| ♠ |
A 2 |
| ♥ |
J 10 8 7 6 3 2 |
| ♦ |
9 7 |
| ♣ |
9 3 |
| West |
|
East |
| ♠ |
10 9 8 5 |
♠ |
Q J 7 4 3 |
| ♥ |
— |
♥ |
Q 9 5 4 |
| ♦ |
Q 5 4 3 |
♦ |
10 6 |
| ♣ |
Q 8 7 6 4 |
♣ |
J 5 |
| |
South |
|
| ♠ |
K 6 |
| ♥ |
A K |
| ♦ |
A K J 8 2 |
| ♣ |
A K 10 2 |
| South |
West |
North |
East |
| 2♣ |
Pass |
2♦ |
Pass |
| 3 NT |
Pass |
4♦* |
Pass |
| 4♥ |
Pass |
5♥ |
Pass |
| 6♥ |
All Pass |
|
|
Opening Lead:♠10
“But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
— Matthew 8:12
The regulars in the Dyspeptics Club are now mainly retired. South, however, still goes to work in the mornings. He is a dentist, though North has often suggested that he is better qualified to be a butcher.
Today’s deal was no exception. South soon found himself propelled to the giddy heights of six hearts after North took the accurate decision to move past game.
As dummy came down on the lead of the spade 10, South uttered those words that have chilled the heart of many a dummy: “Might have missed it, partner!” This normally suggests that declarer will be too concerned with the bidding to focus on the play, and so it proved. South won the spade in hand and cashed the two top trumps, not giving the 4-0 break its due attention. He then crossed to the spade ace and played the heart jack. East won, exited with a club, and sat back to watch how South would try to get to dummy to draw the last trump.
South did his best by ruffing a club, but East overruffed. It was down one, and North called his partner a disgrace to his profession. Can you see why?
The Dentist’s Coup would have brought home the slam. South plays off his top trumps, then cashes the minor-suit aces and kings before crossing to dummy in spades to lead the heart jack. East can win but must put dummy back on lead, so the contract is safe.
ANSWER: I am strongly opposed to the idea that in game-forcing auctions, jumps to game show minimums. I believe they should be picture bids, promising good trumps and few outside controls. This sequence is a little different, though. A raise to three hearts would be forcing and suggest slam interest, so jump to four hearts to end the auction.
BID WITH THE ACES
South Holds:
| ♠ |
Q J 7 4 3 |
| ♥ |
Q 9 5 4 |
| ♦ |
10 6 |
| ♣ |
J 5 |
| South |
West |
North |
East |
| |
|
1♦ |
Pass |
| 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 2009. If you are interested in reprinting The Aces on Bridge column, contact [email protected].
June 1st, 2009 ~ admin ~ Comments Off on The Aces on Bridge: Monday, May 18, 2009
| Dealer: South
Vul: E/W |
North |
|
| ♠ |
A Q 5 |
| ♥ |
A 3 |
| ♦ |
K Q J 4 |
| ♣ |
Q 10 7 2 |
| West |
|
East |
| ♠ |
10 9 8 7 3 |
♠ |
6 4 |
| ♥ |
J |
♥ |
K Q 7 5 2 |
| ♦ |
10 8 6 |
♦ |
9 7 5 3 |
| ♣ |
J 9 4 3 |
♣ |
8 6 |
| |
South |
|
| ♠ |
K J 2 |
| ♥ |
10 9 8 6 4 |
| ♦ |
A 2 |
| ♣ |
A K 5 |
| South |
West |
North |
East |
| 1 NT |
Pass |
6 NT |
All Pass |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Opening Lead:♠10
“A man only becomes wise when he begins to calculate the approximate depth of his ignorance.”
— Gian Carlo Menotti
Once South had made the practical choice to open one no-trump rather than one heart, North had no easy way to look for a minor-suit slam, so jumped directly to six no-trump.
South won the spade 10 in hand then cashed the diamonds and remaining spades. Next came the ace and king of clubs, and when the jack did not appear, declarer followed with a club to the queen. One down.
The way home is to leave clubs — the likely candidate to provide the 12th trick — until last. Should East have four or more hearts and at least four clubs, he may be squeezed. But there will be other clues that appear along the way; and if clubs are 3-3 at the start of the hand, they will still be splitting at trick 12.
To tighten the end position, a far better line is to take the spade lead in dummy, then play a heart away from the ace. East will win with the queen and return a spade. South wins, then takes the heart ace, West showing out. Then comes the last top spade, East failing to follow suit.
Now four rounds of diamonds complete declarer’s count of the East-West hands. With East having 11 known cards (five hearts, four diamonds and two spades) he has room for just two clubs, so when the club jack does not appear under the ace and king of clubs, declarer can finesse dummy’s 10 in total confidence.
ANSWER: West has shown five hearts and a weak hand. Should you try to go active or passive? My guess would be to lead a trump. Although jack-third is an ugly holding to lead from, dummy is likely to have five small hearts since it rates to have no more than a four-count. So you are less likely than usual to pickle partner’s trump honor.
LEAD WITH THE ACES
South Holds:
| ♠ |
Q 7 3 2 |
| ♥ |
J 7 4 |
| ♦ |
Q 9 2 |
| ♣ |
K 9 5 |
| South |
West |
North |
East |
| |
|
1♣ |
1 NT |
| Pass |
2♦* |
Pass |
2♥ |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
| *Transfer to |
hearts |
|
|
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 2009. If you are interested in reprinting The Aces on Bridge column, contact [email protected].
May 31st, 2009 ~ admin ~ Comments Off on The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, May 17, 2009
| Dear Mr. Wolff:
Recently I doubled the same contract that my partner had just doubled. What is the appropriate penalty?
— Oops-a-Daisy, Elmira, N.Y.
ANSWER: This is bad news for your side, I am afraid. When an illegal second double is made, the call is canceled and you get the right to make any call you like. But there may be lead penalties imposed on your partner, AND if the auction continues, your partner is barred for the duration.
Dear Mr. Wolff:
I am not a great fan of pre-empting with unsuitable shape. But if you held ♠ Q-J-10-4-2, ♥ 7-3-2, ♦ 4, ♣ J-7-6-4, would you ever open two spades in third seat nonvulnerable? My partner thought this was very undisciplined, but I felt my intermediates justified the risk.
— Wild Thing, Union City, Tenn.
ANSWER: The problem with such actions is not the result you get this time, but what will happen the next time your partner hears you open in third seat and can’t decide whether to trust you. I don’t think your choice is such a bad one; but you need to discuss with your partner whether your style in third seat is wild and undisciplined (in which case you should let the opponents know) or if this is the exception.
Dear Mr. Wolff:
In third seat I had ♠ Q-7-3, ♥ A-2, ♦ A-10-3, ♣ 7-6-4-3-2 and my partner opened one club. The next hand bid one diamond, and I was not sure whether to bid no-trump or to raise clubs, and if the latter, to what level. What do you recommend?
— Sanity Check, Spartanburg, S.C.
ANSWER: This is a good hand facing an unbalanced hand, but an unremarkable one if partner has 12-14 balanced (his most likely hand-type at this point in the auction). I agree that playing a partscore in no-trump might well be the best spot, but I’m going to opt for the cue-bid raise to two diamonds, expecting to be able to play two no-trump if partner shows no signs of life. |
|
Dear Mr. Wolff:
What are the merits of leading unsupported aces? What about in bid and supported suits?
— Aces and Spaces, Mitchell, S.D.
ANSWER: Leading an ace when the opponents pre-empt or when the contract is at the five-level or higher sometimes makes sense. Equally, in bid and supported suits I’m not opposed to the lead of my partner’s suit, but it is less attractive when I’ve bid the suit first. Of course, if the opponents have rejected no-trump because of a concern about one suit, be it bid or unbid by us, it makes the lead a logical one.
Dear Mr. Wolff:
Are you currently involved in bridge politics at a national or world level? And if not, why not?
— Policy Wonk, Wichita Falls, Texas
ANSWER: I’ve served my term in bridge politics in the United States; it is time for younger (if not wiser) heads to prevail. At the world level I’m still interested in the appeals process, but my hearing is not what it was. I hope to attend the tournament in Sao Paulo, but I suspect my days of chairing appeals are over. I do enjoy commentating on appeals for the ACBL, and will never stop trying to have justice done. |
If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, e-mail him at [email protected]. Reproduced with permission of United Feature Syndicate, Inc., Copyright 2009.
May 30th, 2009 ~ admin ~ Comments Off on The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, May 16, 2009
| Dealer: North
Vul: E/W |
North |
|
| ♠ |
J 8 7 4 2 |
| ♥ |
7 6 2 |
| ♦ |
K |
| ♣ |
A K Q 9 |
| West |
|
East |
| ♠ |
6 5 |
♠ |
K Q 10 9 |
| ♥ |
8 |
♥ |
K J 9 5 |
| ♦ |
10 8 7 4 3 |
♦ |
Q 6 5 |
| ♣ |
8 7 6 5 2 |
♣ |
4 3 |
| |
South |
|
| ♠ |
A 3 |
| ♥ |
A Q 10 4 3 |
| ♦ |
A J 9 2 |
| ♣ |
J 10 |
| South |
West |
North |
East |
| |
|
1♠ |
Pass |
| 2♥
|
Pass |
3♥
|
Pass |
| 4♦
|
Pass |
5♣
|
Pass |
| 5♠
|
Pass |
6♥
|
All Pass |
Opening Lead:♦
4
“Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men.”
— John Donne
The early rounds of the first session of the Cavendish Pairs offer players a chance to test the waters to see if their luck is in. In today’s deal Bart Bramley and John Kranyak duly bid a marginal heart slam, daring their opponents to beat them.
On the diamond lead, Bramley was under no pressure. He won perforce in dummy, led a heart to his 10, ruffed a diamond, and played a heart to his queen. Now he could give up a trump and claim 12 tricks.
How would you play the slam if West starts with a spade lead? Best is to unblock the diamond king at trick two, then lead winning clubs, overruff the third club, and ruff a diamond. Now you lead the fourth club. When East ruffs in, you pitch your spade loser and can later ruff a diamond to dummy to take the heart finesse. This line works whenever diamonds split normally and the heart king is onside.
That looks safe enough, but Billy Pollack told me what happened to him here. He played slam on the lead of the spade six after East had doubled a spade call. He cashed the diamond king and then three rounds of clubs, Bob Hamman (East) ruffing in. Had he ruffed low, Pollack would have pursued the recommended and winning line. But Hamman ruffed the first club with the heart king! Can you blame Pollack for discarding now, planning to ruff two diamonds in dummy and then to drop the jack of hearts? I can’t.
ANSWER: Partner’s sequence suggests six spades and a weakish hand — but he could still easily have as much as a 10-count. That said, you cannot drive the hand to game, but it would be cowardly to let him play two spades without showing some signs of interest. Raise to three spades and let him take charge from there (or make the last mistake!).
BID WITH THE ACES
South Holds:
| ♠ |
A 3 |
| ♥ |
A Q 10 4 3 |
| ♦ |
A J 9 2 |
| ♣ |
J 10 |
| South |
West |
North |
East |
| 1♥ |
Pass |
1♠ |
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 2009. If you are interested in reprinting The Aces on Bridge column, contact [email protected].
May 29th, 2009 ~ admin ~ Comments Off on The Aces on Bridge: Friday, May 15, 2009
| Dealer: South
Vul: E/W |
North |
|
| ♠ |
5 3 |
| ♥ |
K J 9 6 3 |
| ♦ |
K 7 |
| ♣ |
Q 10 8 5 |
| West |
|
East |
| ♠ |
9 6 2 |
♠ |
10 7 4 |
| ♥ |
A Q 8 4 2 |
♥ |
10 7 5 |
| ♦ |
10 3 |
♦ |
Q 9 5 2 |
| ♣ |
A 6 2 |
♣ |
K J 3 |
| |
South |
|
| ♠ |
A K Q J 8 |
| ♥ |
— |
| ♦ |
A J 8 6 4 |
| ♣ |
9 7 4 |
| South |
West |
North |
East |
| 1♠ |
Pass |
1 NT |
Pass |
| 2♦ |
Pass |
2♠ |
Pass |
| 3♠ |
Pass |
4♠ |
All Pass |
| |
|
|
|
Opening Lead:♥A
“There is no dignity quite so impressive, and no independence quite so important, as living within your means.”
— Calvin Coolidge
In today’s deal from the Cavendish teams you may want to cover up the East-West cards so that you can sympathize fully with declarer. You bid to four spades and are happy to receive the lead of the heart ace. You ruff and draw trumps in three rounds, pitching a heart from dummy. It looks right to pass the club nine now, and RHO wins the king to play a diamond.
Your safest route to 10 tricks is to win the diamond in hand with the ace, preserving dummy’s entry. The next club loses to LHO’s ace, and he knocks out the diamond king. You cash the heart king (pitching a diamond), ruff a heart to hand, and take the club finesse to make your game. Nicely played, but it is time to look at the full deal. When the club jack turns up offside, you are held to eight tricks.
Note what happens if the defenders had taken the club jack. They can now either cash their clubs to set up two discards for your diamonds, or exit with a diamond to let you rely on the diamond finesse after pitching a club on the heart king.
You want to know which defender could find the play of the club king on the first round of the suit? That was Zia Mahmood, motivated by more than his usual devilishness. He was simultaneously trying to establish some psychological one-upmanship against his partner-to-be in major events, Bob Hamman.
ANSWER: You have more than enough in hand for a call of two diamonds. Since you have little defense to spades, you certainly do not want to sell out now. Even though there is a strong suggestion that diamonds may not be splitting, your values should protect your partner at the two-level.
BID WITH THE ACES
South Holds:
| ♠ |
5 3 |
| ♥ |
K J 9 6 3 |
| ♦ |
K 7 |
| ♣ |
Q 10 8 5 |
| South |
West |
North |
East |
| |
1♣ |
1♦ |
Pass |
| 1♥ |
1♠ |
Pass |
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 2009. If you are interested in reprinting The Aces on Bridge column, contact [email protected].
|
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