The Aces On Bridge 2010 - Bobby Wolff.pdf

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, January 1, 2010 by admin on January 15th, 2010 “Learn to tread Life’s dangerous maze

Dealer: West

North

Vul: N/S

♠QJ932 ♥6 ♦AK65 ♣K 7 4

With unerring Virtue’s clue.” — Lord Melcombe Pre-emptive bids are two-edged weapons. They deprive opponents of bidding space, but sometimes they goad opponents into games or slams that they otherwise might not have bid, and help them to play those contracts successfully.

West

East

♠754 ♥ J2 10 7 5 4 3 ♦7 ♣Q 6

♠ A K 10 6 ♥KQ8 ♦ J 10 9 4 ♣3 2 South

♠8 ♥A9 ♦Q832 ♣ A J 10 9 8 5

The late Doug Dang of San Francisco, today’s declarer in six clubs, saw a disappointing dummy on the lead of the diamond seven. An ace and the trump queen were missing, and the opening lead suggested that there was also a likely diamond loser. Dang appreciated that he had to utilize the spade suit. Preserving entries to dummy, he won the lead in hand, then drew trumps with the king and ace, relieved to find the 2-2 break.

South

West

♥

3

♣

6

North

East

Dbl.

4

♥

All Pass

One line would now have been to play his spade toward the queen, and if West rose with an honor, take a ruffing Opening Lead: 7 finesse against East for the other spade honor. If West did not rise with his putative top spade, declarer could play to ruff two more spades in hand, setting up the suit if West held ace- or king-third of spades.

♦

But the line that Dang chose was to run his spade eight. East won with the 10 and returned a heart. Dang captured this with his ace, then used dummy’s diamond entries to take two ruffing finesses in spades, forcing out both the ace and king and establishing the spade nine in dummy. Finally, Dang reached dummy with a heart ruff to discard his losing diamond on the established spade nine. Slam made. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠8 ♥A9 ♦Q832 ♣ A J 10 9 8 5 South

West

North

East

♣

Dbl.

Rdbl.

Pass

1 ?

ANSWER: Since you have no intention of defending to a major-suit contract at a low level, do not pass the redouble, or you will make the job of describing your hand more complicated. Bid immediately, an action that will show a minimum distributional hand. You must choose between raising your own clubs and (my preference) bidding one diamond to show 4-5 or 4-6 in the minors.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, January 2, 2010 by admin on January 16th, 2010 “Hope is a subtle glutton; He feeds upon the fair;

Dealer: East

North

Vul: All

♠94 ♥QJ764 ♦Q8 ♣K J 5 4

And yet, inspected closely, What abstinence is there!” — Emily Dickinson The spade queen was led against four hearts. Declarer won with dummy’s ace, drew trumps, and the contract appeared to hinge on finding the club queen onside, since declarer surely has three top losers in the side-suits — one spade and two diamonds. However, giving himself an extra chance, South first tried a low diamond toward dummy. As no honor appeared from West, declarer tried the effect of inserting the eight. When this forced East to take the trick with the king, declarer was home. A low spade from East to West’s 10 was followed by the club 10. South won, then led the diamond queen to knock out the defense’s diamond ace. At this point South had established two winners in his hand, on which to discard dummy’s losing clubs.

West

East

♠ Q J 10 3 2 ♥53 ♦A95 ♣ 10 9 3

♠K765 ♥82 ♦K763 ♣Q 8 7 South

♠A8 ♥ A K 10 9 ♦ J 10 4 2 ♣A 6 2 South

West

North

1 NT

Pass

2

♥

Pass

3

♦ 4♥

East Pass Pass All Pass

♠

Declarer’s diamond play looks illogical, as if he were Opening Lead: Q creating an extra loser for himself. But in practice his maneuver was unlikely to cost since he was going to have two top losers in the suit anyway, whatever he did. Had the diamond eight lost to the nine, South would still have lost only two diamond tricks, and there was always the club finesse in reserve. (Notice there is also a second-degree assumption here: East could not have the ace and king of diamonds as well as the club queen. If he did, given that he also held the spade king, he would surely have opened. So leading to the diamond eight was not likely to cost the contract.) BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠94 ♥QJ764 ♦Q8 ♣K J 5 4 South

West

North

Pass

♣ 1♠ 2♠ 1

♥ 2♣ 1

?

Pass

East Pass Pass Pass

ANSWER: Your partner has shown a 5-6 hand pattern (or conceivably a strong 5-5 with good clubs and bad spades), and your four trumps are enough to commit the hand to game. With no controls in the red suits, I think a simple jump to five clubs is adequate. (With a first- or secondround red-suit control, you might bid four clubs to give partner space to show his hand.)

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, January 3, 2010 by admin on January 17th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

Dear Mr. Wolff:

How does the rule of 11 work if your opponents are leading third and lowest (or third and fifth highest)?

I opened one heart and my partner held

— Not Enough Fingers, Durango, Colo. ANSWER: A fourth-highest lead implies that the leader will hold three cards higher than the one he led: that produces a rule of 11. (Subtract the spot-card value of the card led from 11 to give the number of cards higher than the lead in the other three players’ hands.) On a fifth-highest lead use the rule of 10; on what looks like a thirdhighest lead, subtract the spot-card from 12. Dear Mr. Wolff: Second to speak with

♠ J-9, ♥ A-Q-7-3-2,

♦ 10-3-2, ♣ Q-7-4, I overcalled one club

with one heart. The next hand made a negative double and my partner jumped to three clubs, confusing me no end. Afterwards he said this was what he called a “mixed raise.” Have you heard of this call? — Mixed-Up Kid, Selma, Ala. ANSWER: A mixed raise is a jump cue-bid in competition, facing an overcall, to show a four-card raise with 6-9 points or so. It is mixed because it has the shape for a preemptive raise and the values for a single raise. Since the call has no other useful meaning, it makes good sense to play this convention. Discuss it with your partner first. Dear Mr. Wolff: What is the right way to ask for aces and then for kings using Gerber?

♥

♦

♣

♠

3, K-J-4, A-Q-7-3-2, A-J-4-3. After he responded two diamonds, I rebid my hearts, which was forcing for one round but not to game. How should he develop his hand now? A raise to three hearts would be forcing in our style. — Linear Progression, Pleasanton, Calif. ANSWER: The choice is a complex one. The raise to three hearts endplays you if partner just bids game, while a call of three clubs almost denies hearts this good. Best is to jump to three spades instead. Since two spades is natural and forcing, three spades shows a singleton spade and heart support with slam interest. You hope partner will find a cue-bid of a minor-suit king. If he signs off in four hearts, respect his judgment. Dear Mr. Wolff: I have been taught that facing an opening bid of one no-trump, Stayman always promises invitational or better values. Is that really true? — Gate-Crasher, Hartford, Conn. ANSWER: I prefer to use the sequence of Stayman followed by a rebid of two hearts over two diamonds as weak with both majors, not invitational. All other sequences after Stayman do indeed tend to promise at least invitational values. Dear Mr. Wolff: I did not understand the action taken by my

♠ A-J-7-3-2, ♥ K-4, ♦

— Country Clubber, Naples, Fla.

opponent, who had

ANSWER: Remember Gerber applies only after an opening or rebid of one or two notrump. The call of four clubs gets responses of four diamonds for zero or four, and four hearts for one ace, and so on. Now responder’s bid of five clubs over the response asks for kings with the same scheme of responses. You can by agreement play Sliding Gerber: instead of five clubs, the cheapest bid over the response asks for kings.

A-K-Q-7-3, 2. I opened two hearts, which was passed around to him. He now bid four diamonds and passed his partner’s call of four spades, which was made on only a three-card suit. Did I miss something here?

♣

— Lost Contact, Cleveland, Ohio ANSWER: You should have asked the opponents to explain their methods more fully. I assume that when your RHO bid four diamonds, his partner alerted and explained it as Leaping Michaels, showing diamonds and spades with a two-suiter and was prepared to play game facing a weak hand. The jump cue-bid has no useful alternative meaning, so the convention used by your opponents is growing in popularity.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, January 4, 2010 by admin on January 18th, 2010 Dealer: South North

“There pass the careless people

Vul: None

That call their souls their own: Here by the road I loiter, How idle and alone.” — A.E. Housman On this deal from an Indian championship nearly 30 years ago, one table stayed in six hearts, just making. But at our featured table the contract was more ambitious. In seven hearts you might conceivably survive a 4-1 trump break. And since the other table is virtually sure to be in a slam, you need only slightly better than a 50 percent chance to score 13 tricks. Alas, declarer did not give the hand the attention it deserved. He took the diamond-four lead in hand and played the heart king, followed by the ace. Now the contract could no longer make, because of the bad diamond break. Declarer actually drew the last trump and ruffed a spade to dummy, but had to use his last trump to ruff out the diamonds and thus conceded a club at the end.

♠— ♥K872 ♦AKJ762 ♣A 6 4

West

East

♠J86 ♥J4 ♦98543 ♣ Q 10 9

♠K942 ♥ 10 5 3 ♦ 10 ♣K J 7 5 3 South

♠ A Q 10 7 5 3 ♥AQ96 ♦Q ♣8 2 South

♠ 2♥ 7♥ 1

West

North

East

Pass

2

♦

Pass

Pass

5 NT

Pass

All Pass

♦

Opening Lead: 4 As declarer needs only five diamond tricks, he should try to cater for diamonds being 5-1, which is the bad break he can cope with easily. The required play at trick two is to ruff a spade, then play the heart king and ace, and ruff a second spade. At this point declarer can ruff a diamond back to hand (which will pass off peacefully if diamonds split, or West has the length, and will not cost the contract if West has a singleton diamond and only two hearts). As the cards lie, the heart queen and spade ace will take care of dummy’s losing clubs, and dummy is now high. LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ 10 6 5 ♥842 ♦ A 10 4 2 ♣Q 8 2 South

West

♦ 2♦ 1

Pass All Pass

North

East

Pass

1

Pass

♥ 4♥

ANSWER: You will need partner to have quite a few values to set the hand, and you must try to set up winners before declarer establishes discards on dummy’s diamonds. The right suit to lead is clubs; partner did not overcall in spades, which he might have done if that was the killing lead. And your club cards could help to build winners for partner — which is not true of your spades.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, January 5, 2010 by admin on January 19th, 2010 “I get by with a little help from my friends.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: N/S

♠843 ♥K32 ♦AJ82 ♣ A K 10

— Lennon and McCartney When you are declarer in a 5-3 fit and have a four-card suit in the same hand as the long trumps, keep in mind that the fourth round of that suit may be a loser. Today’s hand, from a recent major pairs tournament, found many declarers wanting. East’s double of four hearts might have got his side to a paying sacrifice, but it was very dangerous on an aceless hand. In fact, the main effect of the double was to warn declarer of the bad break. West led his singleton spade to the jack and ace. Many declarers who were not doubled attempted to draw trumps, but they inevitably lost two spades, a heart and a club. Equally unsuccessful would be to lead back a spade, trying to ruff a spade in dummy. West can discard two clubs on the spades. Now when East shifts to a top club, declarer can not now arrange both to score dummy’s two club winners and to ruff a spade in dummy.

West

East

♠6 ♥ 10 9 8 7 5 ♦6543 ♣9 7 3

♠KQJ97 ♥— ♦KQ97 ♣Q J 8 6 South

♠ A 10 5 2 ♥AQJ64 ♦ 10 ♣5 4 2 South

West

North

East

♠

1

♥

2 All Pass

♥

Pass

4

Dbl.

Scotland’s Willie Coyle was one of the successful declarers. He won the spade lead, played a diamond to Opening Lead: 6 the ace, and ruffed a diamond low. He then led a club to the ace and ruffed another diamond low. Next, he played a club to the king and ruffed a third diamond with a high trump. He had three sure trump tricks to come and had taken the first seven tricks, so was assured of his contract.

♠

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ A 10 5 2 ♥AQJ64 ♦ 10 ♣5 4 2 South

West

North

East

♦

1

♥

1 Pass Pass ?

Pass

Pass

Dbl.

Pass Pass

1 NT Rdbl.

Dbl. Pass

ANSWER: When your partner bid one no-trump, you sensibly construed this as natural, but the redouble now must be for rescue, suggesting both minors. With three clubs you can happily run to two clubs, although perhaps “happily” is not the right word in this context. As a general rule, all redoubles after a penalty double are for rescue.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, January 6, 2010 by admin on January 20th, 2010 “The shirt sale and the show window kick at the street with a noise joyous as a clog dancer: the ensemble is a challenge to the ghost who walks on paydays.”

Dealer: North North

Vul: None

— Carl Sandburg A few weeks before a recent world championship, representatives from the four English national teams — the open team, women’s team, seniors and juniors — met for a practice session. This was the last board of the weekend.

♠AKJ4 ♥A754 ♦62 ♣7 6 3

West

East

♠ 10 9 7 2 ♥Q6 ♦AJ98 ♣J 9 2

♠Q653 ♥ K 10 8 ♦ 10 4 ♣ Q 10 8 4 South

At one table South responded one diamond to one heart, as I confess I would have done. This resulted in North’s becoming declarer in four hearts. East guessed exceedingly well to lead a club, and that lead beat the contract, as it removed an entry to the South hand, preventing the establishment of the long diamond. Declarer guessed to cash two spades at once to pitch dummy’s club loser, but when West won his diamond ace and played a third spade, the bad diamond break scuttled the contract. However, at our featured table it was West on lead, and that player chose to lead a spade. Declarer, John Collings for the seniors (who died in 2005), won the spade ace and led a diamond to the 10, king and ace.

♠8 ♥J932 ♦KQ753 ♣A K 5 South

West

North

♣ 2♥ 1

♥ 4♥ 1

Pass

East Pass Pass

All Pass

♠10

Opening Lead:

West switched to a club. Declarer won with the ace and made the crucial play of ducking a heart. East won and continued a club. Declarer won the king, played a heart to the ace, and then cashed the spade king, discarding a club. A diamond to the queen allowed South to ruff a diamond in dummy, then ruff a club, and ruff another diamond. He could ruff a spade back to hand and lead his last diamond. East could overruff in diamonds at any stage, but declarer was home, losing just two trumps and a diamond. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠AKJ4 ♥A754 ♦62 ♣7 6 3 South

♥

1 ?

West

Pass

North

East

1

♦

Pass

1 NT

Pass

ANSWER: Your partner cannot have four hearts (or he would have raised you) or four spades (or he would have bid them over your one-heart response). Your side belongs in no-trump, and it would be mildly pessimistic to raise to only two no-trump, though not entirely unreasonable. But I would simply bid three no-trump and let partner figure out how to make it.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, January 7, 2010 by admin on January 21st, 2010 Dealer: South North

“The lingering illness

Vul: E/W

Is over at last — And the fever called ‘Living’ Is conquer’d at last.” — Edgar Allan Poe The Dyspeptics Club has been reduced to three players in its regular game after East had been forced to take time off. South’s explanation that East’s system had produced a surplus of bile was willingly believed by everyone at the table — especially West, his regular partner. Accordingly, a distinguished stranger was introduced into the game — and the regular partnerships were broken up. It did not take long for the newcomer to make his mark.

♠J42 ♥J94 ♦8532 ♣K 7 5

West

East

♠ 10 9 5 ♥Q8765 ♦76 ♣Q 9 8

♠Q863 ♥A2 ♦K94 ♣J 6 3 2 South

♠AK7 ♥ K 10 3 ♦ A Q J 10 ♣ A 10 4

West North Declaring three no-trump, he received a low heart lead South 2 NT Pass 3 NT and put in dummy’s nine. When East played the ace, the heart king emerged from South’s hand, along with a faint gurgle that suggested an unwillingness to play that card. His RHO urged him to pick the card up, but South Opening Lead: 6 indicated that a played card could not be retracted. The defenders promptly cleared hearts, but declarer could take one diamond finesse when in dummy with the heart jack, and a second after crossing to the club king.

East All Pass

♥

So the contract came home — but try to make the contract if you do not unblock in hearts at trick one! There is no longer a heart entry to dummy, and with neither black suit producing a miracle, eight tricks would be the limit for South. All he could do would be to win the third heart in hand and cross to dummy with a club. He could take a diamond finesse successfully, but since the diamond king would not fall in two rounds, the contract could not be made. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠J42 ♥J94 ♦8532 ♣K 7 5 South

West

North

East

♦

1 Pass ?

♥

1

Dbl.

Pass

ANSWER: Bid two clubs rather than one spade for two reasons. The first is that bidding a major may excite partner to look for game, and that would not be what you would like to see happen. The second is that you want partner to lead clubs if West ends up declaring either hearts or notrump, and this is surely the best way to get him to make what looks to be the best lead for your side.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, January 8, 2010 by admin on January 22nd, 2010 “There is a pleasure in poetic pains

Dealer: North North

Vul: None

Which only Poets know.” — William Wordsworth Is there anybody out there who does not enjoy taking a finesse — when it wins? And is there anybody who enjoys seeing their finesses lose? If we exclude the masochists, a losing finesse can still be satisfactory if it ensures the contract. Look at today’s deal to see how this can happen. If West leads a heart against four spades, some Souths will finesse, immediately losing one heart and three club tricks. Unlucky? Up to a point. A better plan is for declarer to put up dummy’s ace and plan the play to keep East off lead for the potentially fatal club shift through declarer’s king. The correct line for declarer is to cash the top diamonds at once, then go back to dummy with a trump and lead the diamond jack. South’s intention is to ruff if East produces the queen, or if he does not, to discard his remaining heart.

♠AJ8 ♥AQJ ♦ J 10 7 5 ♣9 7 4

West

East

♠6 ♥ 10 9 8 7 ♦Q643 ♣A 6 3 2

♠752 ♥K432 ♦982 ♣ Q J 10 South

♠ K Q 10 9 4 3 ♥65 ♦AK ♣K 8 5 South

♠ 2♣* 4♠ 1

West

North

East

1

♦

Pass

Pass

1 NT

Pass

Pass

2

♠

Pass

All Pass As the cards lie, West wins this trick and can do no better than lead his last diamond. East ruffs and South overruffs. *Artificial relay South leads a low trump to dummy and advances the heart queen. Again, the intention is to ruff if East covers, Opening Lead: 10 or to discard if he does not. In either case, declarer establishes a 10th trick, since dummy has another trump for the final re-entry to the board to play off the heart jack and pitch another club.

♥

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠AJ8 ♥AQJ ♦ J 10 7 5 ♣9 7 4 South

West

North

East

Pass

1

♣

Pass

1

Pass

1 NT

Dbl.

?

♥ 2♥

ANSWER: Your choice is to raise what is known to be a five-card suit to two spades (partner would make a negative double with only four spades) or bid one no-trump to protect the heart tenace. I prefer to raise spades. You have such pronounced weaknesses in both minors that I would not risk playing no-trump unless partner suggests it.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, January 9, 2010 by admin on January 23rd, 2010 “But life is sweet, and mortality blind, And youth is hopeful, and Fate is kind

Dealer: South North

Vul: N/S

In concealing the day of sorrow.” — Thomas Hood Sometimes the best a player can do on a hand is to play off all his trumps and see what happens. If declarer’s cardreading is good, it is surprising what positions can develop. Against six clubs West led the spade queen, won by dummy’s ace. Declarer’s best chance seemed to be a 4-3 diamond break, so he played the diamond ace and ruffed a diamond, played a club to the ace, and ruffed another diamond. When East showed out, declarer had no choice but to run off all his trumps. As declarer led out the last club, his other four cards were three hearts and a losing spade, while dummy had three hearts, the spade jack and a small diamond.

♠AJ7 ♥KJ6 ♦ A 10 9 7 5 ♣ A 10

West

East

♠Q2 ♥?843 ♦KJ843 ♣7 5

♠ K 10 9 6 4 3 ♥?72 ♦Q2 ♣8 2 South

♠85 ♥ A 10 5 ♦6 ♣K Q J 9 6 4 3 South

♣ 3♣ 4♣ 4♥ 1

West

North

Pass

1

Pass

If West discards a diamond, declarer throws dummy’s Pass spade, crosses to the heart king, and exits with the losing Pass diamond, forcing West to win and play back a heart into South’s ace-10. If instead West discards a heart, declarer discards dummy’s diamond. Now if East discards a spade, Opening Lead: declarer exits with a spade and East must broach the heart suit, while if East discards a heart, the hearts must break 2-2.

♦ 3♠ 4♦ 6♣

East

♠

2

Pass Pass All Pass

♠Q

For all you scholars, this position is known as a squeeze without the count. Most squeeze positions require declarer to need all the remaining tricks but one. Giving up a trick to make a squeeze work is often called “rectifying the count.” But in a squeeze without the count, declarer loses a trick after the squeeze has operated. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠AJ7 ♥KJ6 ♦ A 10 9 7 5 ♣ A 10 South

West

North

East

♠

3 3 NT

Pass

♦

Pass

5 ?

♠ 5♥ 4

Pass Pass

ANSWER: Your partner’s auction sounds forcing, and he has hearts, or hearts and clubs. Either way, you have enough trumps to raise him to six hearts. The question is whether you have enough to cuebid five spades in case your partner is interested in a grand slam. I’d say no. You already showed a good hand and could have held an even better hand for your first action, so just bid six hearts.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, January 10, 2010 by admin on January 24th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

If a defender shows his card, can he change his mind and take it back if it has not been put on the table? I say yes; my partner says no. — Rueful Robert, Kansas City, Mo. ANSWER: I hate to say it, but your partner is right. There are different rules for declarer and the defenders. For declarer, a card has to be played (or the equivalent of played) — and not dropped. For the defenders, a card is played if his partner could have seen it because it reached a position where it was in view. Dear Mr. Wolff: I read that one of your teammates for many years, Dick Freeman, died recently. How did you rate him as a player and a teammate? — Historian, Nashville, Tenn. ANSWER: Dick was absolutely brilliant — he had something like a photographic memory and a genius for numbers. As a player he and Nick Nickell became one of the soundest pairs in the world. They realized that if they brought back solid, normal results, the team would be in a great position to win. And they generally achieved precisely that. Dear Mr. Wolff: At unfavorable vulnerability I was second to speak with

♠ A-J-3, ♥ K-Q-4, ♦ Q-7-3-2,

♣ Q-3-2 and heard three clubs on my

right. Was I wrong to double? I could not stand to be stolen from here. Suffice it to say, bidding did NOT work out well. — Burglar-Proof, Trenton, N.J.

ANSWER: I have a little, but only a little, sympathy for you. When in doubt, act with shortness in their suit, but pass with length. Here you had the values to consider bidding but very much the wrong club-holding. Paradoxically, with two small clubs and a small spade instead of the club queen, you are closer to doubling and should certainly balance if three clubs came around to you in protective seat.

Dear Mr. Wolff: What percentage of deals you use are from actual play and what from your own (or others’) fertile imagination? — Inquiring Mind, Fredericksburg, Va. ANSWER: So long as you do not tell anyone else, I will say that all deals where a player or location is specified are absolutely real. I try to leave the spot-cards unchanged, except to eliminate unnecessary complications. About half the rest are real deals, sometimes modified, sometimes with the protagonists anonymous; the rest are creations or variations on a genuine theme. Dear Mr. Wolff: I opened one spade with

♦

♣

♠ A-Q-9-4-2, ♥

A-3-2, Q-10-3-2, Q. When my partner bid a game-forcing two clubs, I tried two diamonds. Now my partner bid three clubs, and since we were in a game-force, I bid three no-trump. My partner said that this action was premature. Was he right? — Fast Arrival, Janesville, Wis. ANSWER: I would have bid three hearts, probing for three no-trump, but not prepared to end the auction by bidding it myself. If, for example, partner has seven good clubs and short hearts, we could be very close to making slam. Conversely, three no-trump might struggle if a club had to be lost.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, January 11, 2010 by admin on January 25th, 2010 “Between the dark and the daylight, When the night is beginning to lower,

Dealer: South North

Vul: None

Comes a pause in the day’s occupations, That is known as the Children’s Hour.” — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow No doubt you are all sick to death of being told that you should think carefully before playing from dummy at trick one. Having been given that clue, cover up the East and West hands and plan the play in three no-trump on the heart-two lead. Start by counting your tricks: there are two spades, one heart, two diamonds (after you have knocked out the ace) and four clubs (after you have knocked out the king).

♠ K 10 5 ♥AQ65 ♦Q93 ♣8 6 3

West

East

♠J872 ♥J982 ♦ A 10 4 ♣K 9

♠Q963 ♥K4 ♦8762 ♣5 4 2 South

♠A4 ♥ 10 7 3 ♦KJ5 ♣ A Q J 10 7

West Look at what could happen if you were to finesse in South 1 NT Pass hearts. East might win the king and, if in inspired mood, might find the switch to a spade. You would win in dummy and take a club finesse. West would win and knock out your last spade stopper so that the opponents would have Opening Lead: 2 two more spades to cash when in with the ace of diamonds. You would lose two spades, one heart, one diamond and one club.

North 3 NT

East All Pass

♥

If, by contrast, you win the ace of hearts at trick one and take a club finesse, then West will win the trick. Whether he plays a heart or a spade now, you cannot be denied your nine tricks before the defenders set up five winners. If he plays a second heart, you will duck in dummy, prepared to concede two heart tricks, but not three. Note that West has found the best lead. On an initial spade lead, the defense can establish only two spades to go with one trick in each minor. LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠J ♥K74 ♦8654 ♣Q J 7 6 5 South

West

♥ 2♠ 1

Pass Pass

3 NT

North

♠

East

♦

1

2

Pass

2 NT

All Pass

ANSWER: A spade lead might not hold out much hope of setting the game, but you have no likely entry with your weakish clubs. When partner overcalls, it is generally right to lead his suit in case of doubt, just to keep him happy (and perhaps also to stop him from overcalling on bad suits in the future!).

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 by admin on January 26th, 2010 Dealer: South North

“Peril as a possession

♠ Q 10 4 2 ♥52 ♦A62 ♣ K 10 5 2

Vul: E/W

’Tis good to bear, Danger disintegrates satiety.” — Emily Dickinson Today’s four-spade contract contains a theme that we are all familiar with in theory, but that we all occasionally miss at the table.

West

East

♠6 ♥ A K Q 10 7 4 ♦ Q 10 9 8 ♣J 3

♠J98 ♥J8 ♦753 ♣Q 9 8 7 4 South

When the deal came up, it was at IMP scoring, meaning that overtricks were relatively unimportant, while ensuring the contract was really all that mattered. The unsuccessful declarer received the defense of three top hearts. Having seen East echo in hearts, he guessed to ruff the third heart high, then drew two rounds of trumps and found the bad news. Now he could throw East in with a trump after playing off three rounds of clubs, hoping the queen-jack would fall, but it was in vain. That player could exit in either minor, and when the diamond finesse lost, declarer was down one. This was admittedly unlucky — the bad heart and spade breaks and losing finesse had all conspired against him. But was there anything he could have done?

♠AK753 ♥963 ♦KJ4 ♣A 6 South

♠ 4♠ 1

West

♥

2

North

East

♥

Pass

3

All Pass

♥K

Opening Lead:

Indeed there was. At the other table declarer executed a loser-on-loser play to all but guarantee his contract. He would fail only against a 4-0 break in trumps, a far smaller chance than having the spades and hearts failing to cooperate. Here too the defenders led out the three top hearts, but declarer riposted by throwing dummy’s diamond loser away on the third trick. Now as long as the trumps split no worse than 3-1, he was guaranteed 10 tricks by ruffing a diamond in dummy. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ Q 10 4 2 ♥52 ♦A62 ♣ K 10 5 2 South

West

North

Pass

♦ 2♣ 3♦ 1

♠ 3♣ 1

?

Pass

East Pass Pass Pass

ANSWER: Your partner is not looking for notrump, so you should have no reason to be interested in playing in anything except a minorsuit. It looks simplest to raise diamonds now; if partner wants to play in diamonds, you will have no objections, of course. But this may also be the way to get to a minor-suit slam.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 by admin on January 27th, 2010 “Calm, calm me more! nor let me die Before I have begun to live.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: None

♠A3 ♥ 10 9 6 ♦87543 ♣ K 10 6

— Matthew Arnold Players do not always play their best under tournament pressure. When today’s hand occurred at the table, many players went off. Yet when presented as a problem, in leisurely surroundings and with no time constraint, many more found the winning line. Against four hearts doubled, West naturally led the singleton spade jack. At the table, the unsuccessful South won with dummy’s ace and continued with another spade to the king, his plan being to ruff two further spades in dummy. Unlucky! West ruffed the king and continued with ace and another trump. Now, only one trump remained in dummy with which to cope with two losing spades in hand. South could still have succeeded if both the ace and queen of clubs were with West, but as you see, it was not to be, and these declarers ended with just eight tricks. East could win the club queen and play a third spade, cutting declarer off from dummy’s club winner.

West

East

♠J ♥A53 ♦AQJ6 ♣A 9 7 4 3

♠ Q 10 9 8 7 5 ♥— ♦ K 10 9 2 ♣Q 8 2 South

♠K642 ♥KQJ8742 ♦— ♣J 5 South

♥

4

West

North

East

1

♣

Pass

1

Dbl.

All Pass

♠

♠

However, there is a virtually foolproof line for 10 tricks, as Opening Lead: J long as West holds the club ace, very likely on the bidding. On winning with the spade ace in dummy, declarer continues with the spade three and ducks in hand. Now the defense is helpless. Even if East had a trump to return, or West had ruffed East’s spade winner and then played ace and another heart, there is still a trump in dummy to take care of South’s losing spade. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠A3 ♥ 10 9 6 ♦87543 ♣ K 10 6 South

West

♣ 1♥ 1

♦

1 ?

North

East

Dbl.

Rdbl.

Pass

2

♣

ANSWER: Both your opponents have limited their hands at their second turn to speak, so you need have no reason to assume that you will be poking your head into the lion’s mouth by bidding two diamonds now. You have both the values and the suit-length to make bidding far more attractive than passing. If you assume your partner will always be shape-suitable for his takeout double, how badly can two diamonds play now?

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, January 14, 2010 by admin on January 28th, 2010 “There’s not a joy the world can give like that it takes away When the glow of early thought declines in feeling’s dull decay.” — Lord Byron Are you familiar with the concept of premature euphoria? This is one of two commonly occurring situations at the bridge table when a player fails to focus properly. The first one occurs when partner (or you yourself) have just done something so bad that you lose focus and compound the earlier error. Your second mistake is fatal. By contrast, premature euphoria arises when your side does something very good — or the opponents do something very bad. You have now virtually ensured success for your side, but euphoria gets in the way and you turn triumph into disaster. Again you have nobody to blame but yourself. Consider today’s deal. North guesses well to treat his hand as a positive response to the two-club opening, allowing you to take control. Once your partner can show the three top diamond honors, you can count 13 top tricks as long as the diamonds provide five tricks.

Dealer: South North

♠842 ♥87 ♦AKQ43 ♣5 3 2

Vul: All

West

East

♠ 10 7 6 3 ♥J96 ♦9 ♣ 10 9 7 6 4

♠J95 ♥ Q 10 5 3 2 ♦ J 10 6 ♣J 8 South

♠AKQ ♥AK4 ♦8752 ♣A K Q South

West

North

2

♣

Pass

3

4 NT

Pass

7 NT

All Pass

♦ 5♠*

East Pass Pass

*Two of the five key-cards and the trump queen

♣

Opening Lead: 10 On the lead of the club 10 to the ace, you see a bare minimum in dummy, but your calculations appear to be correct. Are you euphoric? Take care to lead the diamond eight to the ace. Then cash a top diamond from dummy and unblock your highest diamond. Under the queen you complete the unblock by playing the diamond five, and finally the diamond four and three in dummy will provide the two longsuit tricks necessary for the grand slam to come home. Fail to unblock even once, and the grand slam goes down! BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠842 ♥87 ♦AKQ43 ♣5 3 2 South

West

North

♥ 2♦ 1

1 NT ?

♣

2

East Pass Pass

ANSWER: Things have developed very favorably from your perspective. Your hand looks far too good now for a simple raise to three diamonds. A jump raise to four diamonds looks appropriate since it is hard to imagine ending in three no-trump. The advantage of this route is that if partner bids four hearts now, you can happily pass.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, January 15, 2010 by admin on January 29th, 2010 “Farewell! thou art too dear for my possessing, And like enough thou know’st thy estimate.”

Dealer: North North

Vul: E/W

— William Shakespeare Today’s deal, which comes from a teams match, shows an approach one might follow if making the contract is paramount and overtricks are irrelevant. In both rooms of the match South declared three no-trump on a low heart lead to East’s nine and South’s queen. South now played a club to the 10 and jack. Back came the heart four, and the first point of the deal is that for the defense to have a chance, West must hold up his ace, conserving his vital third-round entry. Both defenders did so, and at one table where West had meanly concealed his lowest heart, South expected the hearts to be splitting evenly and simply repeated the club finesse. The defenders now won three heart tricks and two clubs before declarer could establish nine tricks.

♠K9 ♥J3 ♦A765 ♣ A Q 10 9 8

West

East

♠8742 ♥A8754 ♦92 ♣7 3

♠J653 ♥962 ♦QJ8 ♣K J 4 South

♠ A Q 10 ♥ K Q 10 ♦ K 10 4 3 ♣6 5 2 South

West

North

East

♣

Pass

1 3 NT

All Pass

In the other room the play to the first three tricks was the same, with West playing the heart seven at his second turn. But South could infer from East’s return of the heart Opening Lead: 5 six (high from a remaining doubleton) that West had a fivecard suit. Declarer could see the risk of the second club finesse, so he countered by playing a third round of hearts himself. If West cashed his hearts (as he did at the table), East could be squeezed in the minors. If he did not, a club winner could be safely established for declarer’s ninth trick since declarer had cut the defenders’ communications in hearts.

♥

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠8742 ♥A8754 ♦92 ♣7 3 South

West

♣

1 ?

North

East

Dbl.

1

♠

ANSWER: This hand is borderline for a free call of two hearts, but I think you require just a little more to enter the auction at the two-level. With the same hand but a queen in any of the four suits, you would probably risk a bid, but as it is, you should pass and plan to balance with a call of two hearts if the opponents allow you an entry into the auction.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, January 16, 2010 by admin on January 30th, 2010 “I could have stemmed misfortune’s tide,

Dealer: South North

Vul: All

And borne the rich one’s sneer,– Have braved the haughty glance of pride, Nor shed a single tear.” — Anna Peyre Dinnies Declarer sees that six diamonds is cold if the trumps break 2-2 or 3-1. He should therefore plan to do what he can against a possible 4-0 split. The first move is to lay down the diamond king, as he can pick up four trumps if in West’s hand, but not if in East’s. Since the missing trumps include the jack and 10, declarer must lay down the honor in the hand with one high trump to be able finesse twice if necessary.

♠KQ4 ♥KJ83 ♦AQ75 ♣9 8

West

East

♠83 ♥954 ♦ J 10 3 2 ♣ Q J 10 7

♠7652 ♥ A Q 10 6 2 ♦— ♣6 5 3 2 South

♠ A J 10 9 ♥7 ♦K9864 ♣A K 4

When the 4-0 split is revealed, the next move is for South South West to give up a heart, hoping to guess the suit if possible. The Pass plan is to establish the North hand by ruffing two hearts 1 and eventually discarding the other on South’s fourth 1 Pass spade. Entries must be manipulated so that trumps can be 3 NT Pass led twice through West, picking up his guarded jack, and South can be left with an eventual re-entry. South wins the club lead, cashes the diamond king, then leads a heart. Opening Lead: East wins and returns a club, which South wins. South leads a trump to dummy and plays back a heart to ruff with the eight or nine.

♦ ♠

North

♥ 2♣ 6♦ 1

East Pass Pass All Pass

♣Q

South leads another trump and repeats the finesse. He exits dummy with another heart, ruffed with his last trump. A spade puts the lead back in dummy and a high spade is led. Declarer can claim the rest, pitching North’s heart loser on the good spade. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠KQ4 ♥KJ83 ♦AQ75 ♣9 8 South

West

North

East

♣

1 Dbl. ?

♠

1

Pass

Pass

ANSWER: Although most experts play responsive doubles (meaning that a double of a bid-and-raised suit in response to their partner’s double is for takeout), this situation is not parallel. Spades have not been raised; hence, the double shows defense to spades, typically four cards or more in that suit. So pass and find out more about what is going on.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, January 17, 2010 by admin on January 31st, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

Do you recommend using trumps just to show suit preference, or can they signal other things as well? — Signal Corps, Davenport, Iowa ANSWER: Some people play a trump echo as indicating a desire to ruff; others use it to show an odd number of trumps. However, a trump signal to show suit-preference is far more useful. You can convey the desire to ruff just as well by giving appropriate suit preference. Moreover, your number of trumps normally becomes apparent very early on in the hand for other reasons and is rarely critical to the defense. Dear Mr. Wolff: When your partner opens a weak two-bid in hearts and the next hand doubles, what is the right action with

♣

♠ A-J-3, ♥ K-4, ♦ A-

Q-3-2, J-10-3-2? If you redoubled, would you do the same with a heart less and a spade more? — Off and Running, Albany, Ga. ANSWER: In my opinion redoubling announces ownership of the deal and asks your partner to act — normally by doubling the opponents but occasionally by rebidding his suit with extra trump length and no defense. If you had a 4-1-4-4 shape and were about to double the opponents wherever they stopped, you would pass, then double, and not give partner the chance to act. Dear Mr. Wolff: Is there any literary work that portrays bridge seriously as opposed to mentioning the subject in passing? — Bookworm, Cincinnati, Ohio

ANSWER: Recently some bridge-themed action novels have come out; I can’t whole-heartedly recommend any of them as a great read. But in my youth I read “Duplicate Death” by Georgette Heyer and “Cards on the Table” by Agatha Christie, both of which took bridge seriously. Comic author S.J. Simon was a superb player, and Somerset Maugham a very keen one. Both wrote fiction that touched on the game.

Dear Mr. Wolff: If you were third to speak, holding

♥

♦

♣

♠ A-9-6-

4-2, K-10-3, 7-3-2, K-2, would you open? Would you overcall an opening bid on your right? Does the vulnerability matter? — Active Andy, Danville, Ill. ANSWER: I must confess that whether it is winning tactics or not, I would open this hand at all vulnerabilities. I realize that this may trigger a penalty larger than our opponents’ partscore or game, but I feel that if I do not bid, I make life too easy for my opponents. Yes, I would overcall any bid on my right — one cannot afford to lose the spade suit. It is not so clear to bid with the same hand but with a diamond or heart suit, and I would NEVER overcall at the twolevel. Dear Mr. Wolff: I was confused with a recent answer to a “Bid With the Aces” quiz. Your answer was that if you opened one club and jumped to four clubs after a response of one spade, you had six clubs and four spades. Is this a convention and is it in standard use? — Missing the Point, Texarkana, Texas ANSWER: Yes, it is commonly understood that this sequence shows good clubs (six of them at least) and four spades, with the values to drive to game. This helps partner envision a source of tricks for his side in a spade slam.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, January 18, 2010 by admin on February 1st, 2010 Dealer: South North

“Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun

♠84 ♥ A J 10 9 5 ♦A63 ♣K 9 8

Vul: E/W

The frumious Bandersnatch!” — Lewis Carroll Today’s deal presents a problem for North-South in both the bidding and the play. Look first at South’s rebid. Although he has three-card support for his partner, the positional nature of his spade stop suggests rebidding notrump rather than raising hearts. After South’s rebid, North has no interest in any game other than no-trump.

West

East

♠ A Q 10 7 2 ♥7 ♦KQ72 ♣ J 10 7

♠653 ♥Q862 ♦ J 10 ♣6 5 4 2 South

♠KJ9 ♥K43 ♦9854 ♣A Q 3

West might do better as the cards lie to lead a low diamond, but after South’s opening call, his choice of a low spade looks natural enough. How should declarer play when allowed to win the first spade cheaply?

The key is that South must set up four heart tricks. He does not mind losing the lead to West, but must prevent South West East from getting on play, or a second spade lead through 1 1 his tenace will spell disaster. He must therefore lead a 2 NT Pass club to dummy’s king, then lead an intermediate heart from dummy, playing low from his hand unless East covers. When the finesse wins, South can repeat the heart Opening Lead: finesse through East if necessary, untangle the heart winners, then get back to dummy in the minors, ending up with 10 tricks.

♦

♠

North

East

♥

Pass

2 3 NT

All Pass

♠7

The contract is ironclad, no matter how hearts divide, by taking a first-round finesse through East. The second-best play, of cashing the heart ace before finessing, loses when East has four or five hearts to the queen. LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠J93 ♥Q742 ♦A4 ♣J 6 3 2 South

West

North

East

♣

2 Pass Pass All Pass

♥

2 4 NT

Pass

2 NT

Pass

6 NT

ANSWER: Your partner rates to have a zerocount; the most he could have is a red jack, so you really do not want to lead either of those suits. Safest is to lead a spade rather than a club, and the spade nine covers the unlikely possibility that your partner has four spades to the 10, when a low-spade lead might cost your side control of the fourth round of spades.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 by admin on February 2nd, 2010 “How can I then return in happy plight That am debarr’d the benefit of rest?”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: None

♠ J 10 8 5 3 ♥J2 ♦AJ43 ♣J 6

— William Shakespeare Bjorn Fallenius of Sweden has been a resident of New York for two decades and has been a regular player in the Cavendish tournament for many years. When this deal came up in the Cavendish Teams, he found a way to demonstrate how to eat your cake and have it too when he received the lead of a small diamond against his fourheart contract. The first important issue was whether to win or to duck. Fallenius correctly worked out that he could not duck this trick for fear of a heart switch, so he took dummy’s diamond ace. The next question was how best to combine the chances in hearts and clubs. Clearly the contract hinges on holding the combined losers in the two suits to one. The correct answer, which Fallenius found, was to play a low club to the queen, preserving dummy’s club jack.

West

East

♠KQ42 ♥K7 ♦ Q 10 6 5 ♣8 4 3

♠76 ♥543 ♦K92 ♣ K 10 7 5 2 South

♠A9 ♥ A Q 10 9 8 6 ♦87 ♣A Q 9 South

♥ 3♥ 1

West Pass

North Pass

Dbl.

1

♠ 4♥

If this finesse lost, then he would still have the necessary Pass side-suit entry to dummy to pick up the heart king doubleton or tripleton onside, and if the finesse won, as happened in real life, he could simply ruff a club in dummy Opening Lead: 5 for his 10th trick. (Note that if he had led the club jack from dummy and the finesse had lost, he would have needed to ruff a club to dummy to to play on hearts; so he would not have been able to pick up a twice-guarded heart king onside.)

East Pass Pass All Pass

♦

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ J 10 8 5 3 ♥J2 ♦AJ43 ♣J 6 South

West

North

♣ 2♦ 1

♠

1 ?

Pass

East Pass Pass

ANSWER: Sometimes the simplest answers are best: raise your partner’s reverse into diamonds (which shows a good hand and four diamonds together with five or more clubs) to three diamonds. Your raise is forcing to game and will let partner describe his hand further so that you can work out whether to play in diamonds, spades, or no-trump.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 by admin on February 3rd, 2010 “Oh, tempt me not! I love too well this snare Of silken cords.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: None

♠Q87 ♥KQJ95 ♦QJ3 ♣A K

— Laurence Housman When West leads the spade five against three no-trump, declarer must plan to knock out both red aces. (It should also be clear that East does not have both aces, by virtue of his failure to open the bidding). At first glance, it seems that South must guess which ace East holds, and to isolate the spades, attack that suit first. But in fact that may not be necessary if East falls for the bait and covers North’s queen with his king. The safe way home now is to duck this trick. If East continues spades, declarer wins in hand and can attack either red suit, as spades are not established, and even if West gains the lead with his ace, he will have no spade left to play to his partner. Note though, that East has a counter. By withholding the spade king at trick one, he leaves declarer on a straight guess as to which red suit to play on for his contract. South fails if he attacks hearts before diamonds, as West has a second spade to play through to his partner, and East will get in with the diamond ace to run his spades.

West

East

♠52 ♥A764 ♦752 ♣Q 7 5 4

♠KJ963 ♥82 ♦A986 ♣9 2 South

♠ A 10 4 ♥ 10 3 ♦ K 10 4 ♣ J 10 8 6 3 South

West

North

Pass

Pass

1 NT

Pass

1 3 NT

♥

East Pass

♠

1 All Pass

♠5

Opening Lead:

If South plays low from dummy at trick one, would East be up to playing the nine rather than the jack? I do not know. But bear in mind that it might even be necessary to cover if declarer had a four-card spade suit, holding South to two tricks. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q87 ♥KQJ95 ♦QJ3 ♣A K South

West

North

East

♣

1 ?

ANSWER: Bidding a hand like this is largely a generational issue. Those over 40 will double, convinced that an overcall could never describe a hand this strong. Those under 40 will be happy to overcall one heart here, believing that as the auction advances, they can come in again to show extras. They worry that if they start by doubling, pre-empting by the opponents will make it hard to bid the hand at a safe level.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, January 21, 2010 by admin on February 4th, 2010 Dealer: North North

“Thou dost leave The world’s mad turmoil and incessant din,

Vul: E/W

Where none in others’ honesty believe.” — Albert Pike When this deal came up at the Dyspeptics Club, West rejected the idea of leading from his heart queen against four spades, although this lead is scarcely more dangerous than the trump lead he selected.

West

East

♠ 10 9 ♥Q943 ♦K76 ♣A Q 7 5

♠32 ♥ A J 10 6 ♦32 ♣8 6 4 3 2 South

♠AQ7654 ♥K2 ♦A54 ♣ K 10

South won in dummy and passed the diamond queen. West took the trick and belatedly shifted to hearts, choosing the three. East won and decided to return the suit. The contract made, and there was much gnashing of teeth. Who was most to blame for the defensive fiasco? Today’s lesson is that it is not sufficient to select the right suit, but you must also select the right card. There is a time and a place to confuse declarer, but more important is to let partner know what is going on.

♠KJ8 ♥875 ♦ Q J 10 9 8 ♣J 9

South

West

North Pass

1

♠

Pass

2

2 NT

Pass

♠ 4♠

East Pass Pass All Pass

Upon winning the diamond king, West should realize that the only chance to set the contract is if East has the heart ace. To suggest to East that he return a club upon winning Opening Lead: 10 the heart ace, West should lead back a high heart, either the queen or the nine. If West leads a low heart, as happened at the table, one can hardly blame East for returning a heart, playing West for precisely king-third of hearts.

♠

Curiously, the defense is only a little easier on the initial heart lead when West will lead a low card, of course. Now the club shift still looks right, but one could understand a defender electing to continue the attack on hearts. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠KJ8 ♥875 ♦ Q J 10 9 8 ♣J 9 South

West

North

♣ 2♠ 1

♦

1 ?

Pass

East Pass Pass

ANSWER: Your partner has forced to game and has shown long clubs and four spades. The simple way not to mislead your partner about what you have is to give preference to three clubs. Your trump spots suggest you have the equivalent of three-card support, and since your call is economical, it will give your partner a chance to describe his hand further at a convenient level.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, January 22, 2010 by admin on February 5th, 2010 Dealer: South North

“Thou art a fool — Indeed, the greatest of fools thou art,

Vul: N/S

To be led astray by the trick of a tress By a smiling face or a ribbon smart.” — Paul Dunbar Today’s deal, from the World Teams finals at Maastricht, saw Lorenzo Lauria at the helm in four hearts.

♠974 ♥ 10 8 7 5 4 ♦KJ ♣ Q 10 4

West

East

♠ K J 10 5 ♥Q3 ♦ A 10 8 7 ♣A 9 3

♠Q863 ♥J2 ♦643 ♣8 7 5 2 South

♠A2 ♥AK96 ♦Q952 ♣K J 6

On a spade lead you would seem to need trumps to play for no loser to have any real chance. However, the opening lead is the heart three, which goes to East’s jack and your king. A diamond to dummy’s king holds the trick, and when you lead a second heart from dummy, East follows suit with the remaining small spot. What next? Lauria now had to decide whether West had led a small trump from his doubleton queen (where he might have had hopes of scoring that card if he had not led the suit) or whether he had led a singleton trump.

South

West

North

1 NT

Pass

2

♥

Pass

3

♦ 4♥

East Pass All Pass

Lauria eventually guessed right for three reasons. The first was that East might have followed with the heart queen Opening Lead: 3 from a three-card suit at the first trick, thus making the doubleton-holding more likely. The second and more important reason was that if the finesse lost, a spade back would doom him. However, if he misguessed by playing trumps from the top, he could now revert to playing on diamonds. If the diamond 10 fell in three rounds, he would have two discards for dummy’s spades. And the third reason was that to fall into a deeply laid trap of this sort in the heart suit often feels like a huge psychological blow. Better to give up on fractionally the best percentage line to avoid being fooled in this way!

♥

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠974 ♥ 10 8 7 5 4 ♦KJ ♣ Q 10 4 South

West

♣

2 ?

North

East

♦

Pass

2

ANSWER: Although your partner does not promise the world’s fair when he comes in over a strong two-club bid, you have enough in diamonds to raise the ante to three diamonds. This is not so much because you hope to buy the hand, but because you want to rob the opponents of a round of bidding and would like to try to get a diamond lead against a final contract declared by West.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, January 23, 2010 by admin on February 6th, 2010 “Miss not the occasion: by the forelock take That subtile Power, the never-halting Time.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: N/S

♠AK5 ♥Q832 ♦AQJ2 ♣A 9

— William Wordsworth In today’s exhibit from the 2010 NEC Cup, Tom Hanlon reached a delicate contract, and when he was given a small chance, grabbed it with both hands. Against three no-trump you could make a case for leading the spade queen, but declarer can still succeed at double dummy. The only lead to set the game is a low heart from West. On West’s normal lead of the spade 10, Hanlon scored his spade jack and planned to take an immediate diamond finesse. The sight of the diamond king was both good and bad news; now he needed to find three more tricks from the hearts and clubs. The natural thing to do was to lead a heart to the king.

West

East

♠ Q 10 9 8 7 6 ♥ A 10 9 5 ♦K ♣4 3

♠432 ♥J6 ♦ 10 9 7 3 ♣ K 10 8 2 South

♠J ♥K74 ♦8654 ♣Q J 7 6 5 South

West

North

When West won the ace, that player knew his partner Dbl. 1 needed to hold very good clubs for the defense to prevail, 2 NT* Pass 3 NT so he shifted to a club, ducked by Hanlon. (A spade continuation by West would not have worked any better *Minors although it might have given declarer some losing Opening Lead: 10 options.) East won his club king and now reverted to spades, so Hanlon won in dummy, ducked a heart, and won the spade return.

♠

East

♠

2 All Pass

♠

When declarer cashed his red-suit winners, East had to pitch a club on the last heart. Hanlon now threw him in with the losing diamond at trick 12, forcing him to lead a club to declarer’s queen at trick 13 for the ninth trick. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠J ♥K74 ♦8654 ♣Q J 7 6 5 South

West

♣

1

♥

2 ?

Pass

North

♥ 2♠ 1

East Pass Pass

ANSWER: Your partner’s two-spade bid is a game-try, suggesting extras and spade length. A singleton spade is good news, but you do have only three trumps and a minimum, with club cards that rate not to be pulling their weight. I’d sign off in three hearts rather than make the more constructive effort of two no-trump (which I would bid with the diamond queen instead of a small diamond).

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, January 24, 2010 by admin on February 7th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

I read your “Aces on Bridge” every day in the Vancouver Sun. Please tell me when it is proper to declare honors. — Honor-Bound, Vancouver, British Columbia ANSWER: Honors can be declared after dummy comes down, but it may not be in your interest to do so. So wait until you’ve played them all out, or claim them at the end of the deal. You have until the end of the rubber to claim them if you have forgotten at the proper moment. Dear Mr. Wolff:

ANSWER: The short answer is that nothing is permitted if the sole purpose is to deceive. You can of course deceive the opponents by the card you play but not the manner in which you play it. You can try to equalize the tempo — do not rush to make your easy plays, thus giving away the show. But you may not hesitate without a reason.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Are there any partnerships left who do not defend against pre-empts by doubling for takeout? — Old-Timer, Bristol, Va.

♣ A-K-J-10-3-. Naturally the opponents

got in my face, but only to the extent of a two-spade opening on my right, passed around to me. Any thoughts as to the best way forward?

ANSWER: Again, the short answer to that question is no. Almost everyone plays takeout doubles to one-suited pre-empts. There are variations possible against twosuited pre-emptive openings, but the simplest and most effective way into most if not all auctions is to double for takeout. After all, if they are long in one suit, you will most commonly be short in that suit, not long.

— Ripley’s Revenge, Elmira, N.Y.

Dear Mr. Wolff:

In fourth seat at duplicate I held the hand of a lifetime:

♠ —, ♥ A, ♦ A-K-Q-J-7-3-2,

ANSWER: After the two-spade call came around to me, I’d bid five no-trump (pick a minor at the six-level, partner) and raise the response to seven. With hearts and a minor I’d cue-bid five spades instead, and work it out from there. I could not stand to stay out of a grand slam with a hand that good. Dear Mr. Wolff: What behavior is permitted at the table in terms of mannerisms or tempo if the object is solely to confuse or deceive the opponents? — Truthful James, Pleasantville, N.Y.

I was in second seat with

♠ A-8, ♥ K-Q-9,

♦ J-7-3-2, ♣ Q-10-3-2 and decided not to

open because most of my points were in my short suits. My LHO opened one heart and we ended up defending one no-trump, conceding 120. Everyone else opened my hand and went down in one no-trump our way, sometimes one trick, sometimes more. Was it acceptable for me to pass here? — Slow Coach, Doylestown, Pa. ANSWER: Your judgment was quite sound although I might not have been as discreet as you. I’d look at the guarded honors and simply open one of the minors. With 4-3-3-3 pattern or with the spade nine instead of the heart nine, I would pass, disliking the honor locations and the balanced nature of the hand. But you and I might be in a small minority here.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, January 25, 2010 by admin on February 8th, 2010 “Here lies a clerk who half his life had spent

Dealer: South North

Vul: All

Toiling at ledgers in a city grey, Thinking that so his days would drift away.” — Herbert Asquith Looking at today’s deal from the 2009 NEC Cup, the source for all this week’s deals, you might think that this is another dull partscore.

West

East

♠J854 ♥A75 ♦ 10 9 8 7 ♣K 6

♠ 10 9 ♥KQ85 ♦K62 ♣J 9 3 2 South

You play one no-trump, the defenders leading two rounds of diamonds, and your sole aim is to get two club tricks before the opponents have seven winners. If spades are 3-3 or the club finesse wins, you are home. What if neither eventuality comes in? How should you play clubs to develop an extra trick before you lose two? While watching this deal on my computer, I heard Jack Zhao opine that it is right to run the club seven at trick three. This loses when East has the doubleton club jack but gains when he has club jack-nine with at least one more additional card. The important thing is that it works here!

♠Q732 ♥ 10 6 2 ♦AJ ♣ 10 8 7 5

♠AK6 ♥J93 ♦Q543 ♣A Q 4 South 1 NT

West All Pass

North

East

♦10

Opening Lead:

The most curious thing of all about the deal is that duplicated hands were in play throughout the event but the only declarers who actually guessed clubs to make their contract were Fu Zhong (Jack’s regular partner) and Ricco van Prooijen of the Netherlands, an ex-teammate of Zhao, who spends a lot of time in the Netherlands. Interestingly, Fu started his attack on the club suit by leading the 10 — equivalent to the eight but with the psychological edge that his play gains when second hand forgets to cover from an original holding of jack-third or jack-fourth, as well he might! LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ Q 10 6 3 ♥J832 ♦K943 ♣7 South

West

♣ 2♣ 1

Pass Pass

3 NT

North

East

Pass

1

Pass

2 NT

Dbl.

All Pass

♥

ANSWER: Your partner’s double does not demand a club lead here, but it strongly suggests he has clubs well enough under control that he believes declarer is not odds-on to make his game. I would not lead my singleton club — I have enough time to shift to the suit later on. I would lead a spade, knowing my partner must have at least a couple of cards in that suit.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 by admin on February 9th, 2010 “What Skipper would incur the risk,

Dealer: North North

Vul: E/W

What Buccaneer would ride Without a surety from the wind Or schedule of the tide?” — Emily Dickinson In today’s deal from the 2009 NEC, do you overcall as East ? I’m assuming that no one would risk a weak-jump overcall here (all right, no one we care to know), but how about a two-diamond bid? I’m strongly opposed to the idea at unfavorable vulnerability — and this deal suggests why. If you play four spades as South on a low diamond lead, you will surely duck if your auction was unopposed, but if given information in the auction, might you find your way home?

♠K97 ♥ A K 10 7 6 ♦ A 10 9 ♣6 5

West

East

♠ 10 6 5 ♥QJ53 ♦2 ♣A J 8 7 3

♠3 ♥92 ♦KQ8654 ♣ K 10 4 2 South

♠AQJ842 ♥84 ♦J73 ♣Q 9 South

West

North

♥ 4♠ 1

Duplicated deals were in use, so the journalists could tell that four spades by North made four times and by South actually made eight times, and one of those times was when Liu Jing of China Evertrust was declarer.

♠

2

Pass

East

♦

2

All Pass

♦2

Opening Lead:

He had received a double of an artificial diamond bid by Bakkeren, so he hopped up with dummy’s diamond ace at trick one, took his spade ace, then played three rounds of hearts, ruffing in hand, and had come to the critical moment of the deal. If East began with eight red cards and West five, the odds heavily favor the finesse of the spade nine to generate the extra entry to ruff out the hearts and return to the spade king in dummy. However, if East had failed to overcall, the more balanced hand-type would be more likely. The mathematical calculations are close, but Liu guessed right to finesse, thereby earning an editorial gold star from the tournament’s Daily Bulletin. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠AQJ842 ♥84 ♦J73 ♣Q 9 South

♠

2 ?

West

North

East

Pass

2 NT

Pass

ANSWER: The response of two no-trump to a weak-two can be used to ask for a feature (best if you play sound weak-twos) or Ogust-style to ask for range and suit-quality. Because a feature is normally an ace or king, not shortage, this hand, though maximum, has no such feature. I’d bid three no-trump to suggest a good suit with no feature, but if you play this as a solid suit, then three clubs may be best.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 by admin on February 10th, 2010 “A walled hole where fruitless vines embrace Their parent skeletons that yet survive

Dealer: North North

Vul: All

In evil thorns.” — Edwin Arlington Robinson In today’s deal from the NEC Cup, some pairs played four hearts, and some opted for three no-trump. The no-trump game was an unhappy spot as the cards lay. On a diamond lead the normal play in hearts of leading low to the ace left South down three when the defenders could establish both their spades and diamonds. In four hearts Michael Barel won the club lead in hand and led a diamond to the 10 and East’s jack. A heart return went to dummy’s ace, and Barel crossed to hand in clubs and played two rounds of diamonds, ruffing, then ruffed a club and played two rounds of trumps to West. That player fell from grace by taking his last trump and exiting in clubs, squeezing his partner in spades and diamonds. A spade exit by West would have broken up the position for the squeeze.

♠ A 10 9 8 7 6 ♥A6 ♦ Q 10 ♣J 7 6

West

East

♠532 ♥ Q 10 7 3 ♦983 ♣8 4 3

♠KQ4 ♥9 ♦KJ74 ♣ Q 10 9 5 2 South

♠J ♥KJ8542 ♦A652 ♣A K South

West

North

♠ 2♠ 3♥ 1

♥ 3♦ 4♥ 2

Pass Pass

East Pass Pass Pass

All Pass Could declarer have done better? Yes. Tom Hanlon, also in four hearts, won the club lead in hand and he too led a diamond to the 10 and jack. Back came the heart nine, but Opening Lead: 3 Hanlon won the heart ace, played the spade ace, ruffed a spade, then unblocked the top clubs. Now he played the diamond ace, ruffed a diamond, then ruffed a club. He had now reduced his hand to a losing diamond and the heart K-J-8. When he exited with his losing diamond, he had assured himself of two of the last three trump tricks. Contract made.

♣

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ A 10 9 8 7 6 ♥A6 ♦ Q 10 ♣J 7 6 South

♠

1 ?

West

North

East

1

♥

Pass

Pass

Pass

2

♣

Pass

ANSWER: Your partner’s hand is limited by his failure to make a two-club overcall initially. Does that mean you should pass now? Passing is certainly reasonable, but I might raise to three clubs, not so much because I think a club game is likely, but because we might make four spades if partner can give delayed support now.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, January 28, 2010 by admin on February 11th, 2010 “‘I have a whole bag of tricks,’ he said, ‘which contains a hundred ways of escaping my enemies.’”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: N/S

♠ J 10 4 2 ♥986 ♦KJ3 ♣J 3 2

— Aesop In today’s deal from the 2009 NEC Cup there was fine declarer play in both four spades and in three no-trump. Against four spades West’s diamond lead gave nothing away. Declarer, Tadashi Teramoto, finessed, played two rounds of trump (ducked by East), and led an impassive low club from his hand. Fooled by South’s bland countenance, West ducked, and now declarer had his contract with an overtrick. In fact, there was no defense even if West had taken the club queen. Declarer can arrange a heart ruff in hand, and the trump spots are just too good. In the other room in three no-trump, South ran into the one lie of the major suits that would spell defeat at once on a heart lead if he elected to win the trick. Maybe he should have ducked?

West

East

♠6 ♥AJ742 ♦Q854 ♣ Q 10 7

♠A753 ♥ 10 3 ♦ 10 9 6 2 ♣9 5 4 South

♠KQ98 ♥KQ5 ♦A7 ♣A K 8 6 South

West Pass

North Pass

2 NT

Pass

3

♠

Pass

3

♣ 4♠

That was what happened when Babu Koneru led a heart and Li Jie, South for the Chinese team, did indeed duck. The defenders cleared hearts (West deceptively signaling Opening Lead: 4 for spades), but declarer had no option but to knock out the spade ace. Back came a spade from East, so declarer ran the spade suit, on which Koneru deceptively discarded two diamonds, trying to suggest he did not have the diamond queen. Despite that, declarer still went ahead and took the diamond finesse for his contract, rather than trying to endplay East with the club queen to lead into the diamond tenace. Well done!

East Pass Pass All Pass

♦

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ J 10 4 2 ♥986 ♦KJ3 ♣J 3 2 South

West

North

East

♦

Dbl.

1 ?

ANSWER: If the opponents had stayed silent, you would have responded one spade, of course. When the opponents bid, there is no real need to stretch to introduce a weak four-carder on very minimum values. Don’t tell a soul, but if I did bid, I’d be inclined to raise to two diamonds!

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, January 29, 2010 by admin on February 12th, 2010 Dealer: South North

“Even the bravest that are slain

Vul: N/S

Shall not dissemble their surprise On waking to find valor reign, Even as on earth, in paradise.” — Robert Frost In today’s deal from the 2010 NEC Cup, getting to three no-trump is easy; making it is more challenging.

♠AKJ2 ♥86 ♦ 10 7 6 3 ♣A J 9

West

East

♠ 10 9 7 5 ♥A9753 ♦95 ♣K Q

♠Q4 ♥ 10 4 2 ♦AJ84 ♣ 10 8 7 2 South

For example, Frankie Frontaura was able to bid diamonds naturally and invite in no-trump as a passed hand. Diego Brenner liked his 13-count enough to accept. On a heart lead Frontaura won, took the spade finesse at once, but a heart back doomed him. The defenders had three hearts and three side-suit winners before declarer could collect more than seven tricks.

♠863 ♥KQJ ♦KQ2 ♣6 5 4 3 South

West

North

East

♦

Pass

Pass By contrast, when Fu Zhong played three no-trump, he Pass 1 won the heart lead (taking East’s heart 10 with his queen), 2 NT Pass 3 NT then played a spade to dummy’s king, a diamond to his king, and a club up, ducking West’s club queen. West hoped to find partner with the heart jack, so led a second Opening Lead: 5 diamond. East won and returned a heart, ducked by West. At this point, declarer cashed the club and diamond winners and paused for a reassessment. West, a passed hand, was known to have a 4-5-2-2 pattern and had shown up with nine points already. So Fu led a spade to dummy’s ace — contract made — the only declarer to record 600.

All Pass

♥

At a third table, the play to the first two tricks was the same in two no-trump. But Huub Bertens as East did not duck his diamond ace at trick three, but hopped up with it to play a second heart, ducked. Now, when declarer took the spade finesse, he had only seven tricks. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠AKJ2 ♥86 ♦ 10 7 6 3 ♣A J 9 South ?

West

North

East

Pass

1

♦

ANSWER: Are you a firm believer in the idea that an overcall MUST be based on a five-card suit or longer? I’d agree if we are looking at twolevel overcalls, where the norm is a six-card suit. But at the one-level, you can overcall on a good four-card suit in a decent hand if you are flawed for other action. I do know this: anyone who makes a takeout double with this hand deserves to play in a 4-2 heart fit, doubled!

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, January 30, 2010 by admin on February 13th, 2010 “‘This job’s the best I’ve done.’ He bent his head Over the golden vessel that he’d wrought.”

Dealer: South North

♠Q62 ♥Q654 ♦Q8 ♣ K J 10 2

Vul: All

— Siegfried Sassoon At the NEC Cup last year, where duplicated boards were in use, virtually every South reached three no-trump on today’s deal. Typically, declarer failed after a diamond lead. For example, in the match between an Israeli and Japanese team, the Israeli declarer won the diamond lead in dummy and guessed to lead a heart to the ace and a heart back, covering West’s jack. That was a swift two down. In the other room, the Japanese declarer played the spade ace and a second spade, but could not succeed either. He eventually had to play West for the club queen, and when that finesse failed, he also went two down. However, for the Chinese Open team, Liu Jing took a different approach. He won the lead of the diamond six with dummy’s queen and led a club to his nine. Now a low spade from his hand saw West win and exit with a spade.

West

East

♠K8 ♥ J 10 7 3 ♦ A J 10 6 4 ♣7 3

♠ J 10 7 5 ♥K2 ♦95 ♣Q 8 6 5 4 South

♠A943 ♥A98 ♦K732 ♣A 9 South

West

North

East

1 NT

Pass

2

♣

Pass

♠

Pass

3 NT

All Pass

2

♦

Declarer’s next move was a low diamond from his hand to Opening Lead: 6 cut communications; West won and led the heart jack now. Liu won in hand, unblocked the club ace, crossed to the spade queen, and exited dummy with a low heart. East, now on lead with the heart king, could cash a spade, but then had to lead clubs into dummy’s tenace. Declarer took four clubs, one diamond, and two tricks in each major to make three no-trump. Not surprisingly, this deal was short-listed for the declarer play of the year. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q62 ♥Q654 ♦Q8 ♣ K J 10 2 South

West

North

♣ 2♥ 1

1 NT ?

Pass

East

♥

1

Pass

ANSWER: Your partner’s cue-bid suggests both a good hand and short hearts. In context you have very little in hearts (which must be good for your side) and unbelievably good clubs, so jump to four clubs to emphasize your support and help your partner envision your suitability for higher things.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, January 31, 2010 by admin on February 14th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

When your partner opens a weak-two in diamonds and you hold

♦

♣

♠ J-3, ♥ K-Q-10-

6-4, A-Q-7, 10-3-2, what should you do? Do you pass, raise diamonds (and if so, how high?) or introduce the hearts? — Pointed Question, Albuquerque, N.M. ANSWER: I would bid two hearts, intending it as natural and forcing, not because I thought we could make four hearts. but because with my big diamond fit I’d want to try to keep the opponents quiet. Suggesting I have a good hand with hearts might just do that. I plan to give preference to diamonds at my next turn, unless partner raises hearts, and that would be nonforcing. Dear Mr. Wolff: I have a lot of problems when discarding in a suit contract. Does pitching an encouraging high card send a stronger message than throwing a discouraging low card in another suit? And what does it mean when you start with the discard of a neutral suit (one you cannot want to encourage in)?

ANSWER: I would pass, expecting there was a fair chance that my heart king would not be pulling much weight (facing shortage). But change the heart king to the ace and I’d dredge up a raise to three clubs. I might even bid on at teams if I had as little additional as the jack in one of my long suits.

Dear Mr. Wolff: You recently answered a letter about Gerber, restricting its use to no-trump auctions. Why not use it after a one-heart opening is raised to three, for example? — All-Purpose Bid, Miami, Fla. ANSWER: Four no-trump asks for aces, but if the call has another meaning, we need to ask for aces a different way. Sometimes the four-no-trump call is quantitative: bid on with a maximum or pass with a minimum. This happens only when the last bid was in no-trump. Accordingly, four no-trump is always available as Blackwood UNLESS the last call was one or two no-trump, when it is quantitative. Hence, Gerber is needed only in those auctions. Dear Mr. Wolff:

— Discard Dilemmas, Corpus Christi, Texas

Say you elected to open one no-trump with

ANSWER: Pitching a neutral suit first always dilutes the message that follows. (If you felt strongly about one suit or another, you’d begin by sending that message.) But if you want to encourage a suit, it is sometimes clearer and safer to discourage the other suit. That way, you retain all your winners in the key suit.

After two hearts on your left, I assume you balance with two spades, and now partner raises to three spades. What next?

Dear Mr. Wolff: I assume that you would respond one heart to one diamond when you hold

♠ A-9-6-4,

♥ K-9-6-4, ♦ 2, ♣ 10-8-6-4. When

partner rebids two clubs, should you pass or raise to three clubs? If you would pass, how much more might you need to bid three clubs? — Gear Changer, Springfield, Mass.

♠ A-J-7-4-3, ♥ 9-2, ♦ A-Q-7, ♣ A-Q-3. — Lost in Space, Phoenix, Ariz.

ANSWER: This hand is deeply flawed for a one-no-trump opening. It is too strong, with both a five-card major and a weak doubleton. I’d open one spade and raise one no-trump to two no-trump, showing 1819 or so. Having balanced with two spades (suggesting some of these extras), I guess I would bid game now. I’d hope to find nothing in hearts opposite and maybe a minor I could establish.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, February 1, 2010 by admin on February 15th, 2010 Dealer: South North

“Unfold thy face, unmaske thy ray, Shine forth, bright Sunne, double the day.”

♠92 ♥842 ♦KJ954 ♣6 5 2

Vul: None

— Christopher Harvey When you have the opportunity to take two chances for your contract, you should go after them both, rather than relying on just one of them. A simple line to follow in your contract of three no-trump is to win the spade lead and advance the diamond queen, which would be ducked all around. Then you would try a diamond to your 10, and again you would have no luck. The defenders would hold up the diamond ace, and now, although you can take one club finesse, you would not be able to find a way home to nine tricks. In essence, your line relied on the diamond ace being doubleton. But for a far better approach, decide how to cope with the possibility that the defenders may be able to hold up the diamond ace for two rounds. In that case you need to get cracking on the clubs to generate extra tricks from that suit — and that requires you to use your entries to dummy judiciously.

West

East

♠ K 10 8 7 4 ♥Q95 ♦A86 ♣8 4

♠J53 ♥ J 10 7 3 ♦72 ♣ K 10 9 3 South

♠AQ6 ♥AK6 ♦ Q 10 3 ♣A Q J 7 South 2 NT

West Pass

North 3 NT

East All Pass

♠7

Opening Lead:

So you win the opening spade lead and play a small diamond from your hand to dummy’s nine at trick two. When this holds, you should lead a club to your queen and return the diamond 10 to dummy’s jack. If the diamond ace pops up, you are home; if the defenders can duck the second diamond, then you repeat the club finesse. You have taken five tricks in the minors and have four winners in the majors: contract made. LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q842 ♥J52 ♦6 ♣A 8 4 3 2 South

♥

2

West

North

Pass

1

♠

2

♥

All Pass

East

♠

1

ANSWER: With what appears to be a natural trump trick and the chance to force declarer, you should lead a heart rather than a diamond. Your idea will be to force declarer by repeated heart leads. There is an argument for leading the heart jack, but since declarer may well have a doubleton or singleton heart honor, the lead of a low heart looks better.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, February 2, 2010 by admin on February 16th, 2010 “It is not worthwhile to go round the world to count the cats in Zanzibar.”

Dealer: North North

♠K632 ♥J83 ♦97 ♣Q 9 6 4

Vul: E/W

— Henry David Thoreau No great mathematical aptitude is needed to play bridge well. Sometimes, if you are totaling up points, you need to be able to count to 40, but more often than not, being able to add up to 13 is high enough. Today’s play in three spades is all about locating the trump queen. North’s double was negative, promising four spades and a few values. South showed good appreciation of his assets when he jumped to three spades, but North had nothing to spare for his previous bidding, so passed. Note that the jump to three spades is invitational — it is not a jump in a new suit, which would be forcing, because North’s negative double implies spade length so South is supporting North.. At the table the defenders started by taking the top clubs and getting their ruff. Now, after East played back a heart, West tried to cash a second heart, which was ruffed by declarer. The fate of the contract boils down to finding the trump queen. West is known to be shorter in clubs than his partner, but does that mean declarer should finesse in spades, or play for an original 3-2 break?

West

East

♠5 ♥ A K 10 4 2 ♦ 10 8 2 ♣A K 8 3

♠Q987 ♥Q765 ♦Q65 ♣7 5 South

♠ A J 10 4 ♥9 ♦AKJ43 ♣ J 10 2 South

♦ 3♠ 1

West

♥

1

North Pass

East Pass

Dbl.

2

♥

All Pass

♣K

Opening Lead:

Curiously, South did not have to guess. Before touching trumps, declarer cashed the ace and king of diamonds and ruffed a diamond in the dummy. When West followed three times, his distribution was known to have been 1-5-3-4. Declarer now cashed the spade king before taking the spade finesse, certain that it would work. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ A J 10 4 ♥9 ♦AKJ43 ♣ J 10 2 South

♦

1 ?

West

North

Pass

Pass

♥

Pass

1

East

♣ 2♣ 1

ANSWER: You have a nice hand, though not a spectacular one, enough to feel like competing again. Because your partner has taken no positive action, a double from you here would be takeout, suggesting some spade length and extra values. You cannot be sure that you have a fit, but if you do want to bid again, this is the safest and most descriptive way to proceed.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, February 3, 2010 by admin on February 17th, 2010 “I only took the regular course … the different branches of Arithmetic – Ambition, Distraction, Uglification and Derision.”

Dealer: South North

♠ 10 6 2 ♥Q954 ♦AK93 ♣8 5

Vul: E/W

— Lewis Carroll Today’s deal, from a tournament in Australia, showed that the demise of a contract is frequently due to declarer’s taking his eye off the ball when things look too easy. That is precisely the moment to concentrate, trying to work out what might go wrong.

West

East

♠8 ♥ K 10 7 2 ♦ Q 10 8 5 4 ♣ 10 9 2

♠AJ3 ♥AJ86 ♦J ♣Q J 7 4 3 South

First let’s look at what happened to South in four spades. The opening lead of the club 10 went to the ace. Declarer could see that unless he lost two spade tricks, he would be home. He led a diamond to dummy’s ace and a spade back to his king. He then cashed his second top club and ruffed a club. Now, when he led a second trump from dummy, East rose with the ace and thoughtfully underled his heart ace to put his partner in with the king. West returned the diamond queen, and East ruffed away dummy’s diamond king and exited with a club, forcing declarer to ruff in hand. As there was still another diamond to lose, declarer finished down one.

♠KQ9754 ♥3 ♦762 ♣A K 6 South

♠ 3♣* 4♠ 1

West

North

Pass

2

♠ 3♦

Pass

East Pass Pass

All Pass

*Long-suit game-try

While a low diamond lead would have defeated the game, declarer should have considered the risk of the defenders Opening Lead: 10 getting a ruff, even on a club lead. To prevent this, the winning line is to start cutting the defenders’ communications by leading a low heart at trick two. Declarer wins the club return, crosses to the diamond ace, and plays a trump as before, then takes the club ruff for the second trump play, and East is helpless.

♣

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ 10 6 2 ♥Q954 ♦AK93 ♣8 5 South

♠

2 ?

West

♣

3

North

East

1

♠

Pass

Pass

Pass

ANSWER: It cannot be right to bid three spades — if your partner had extra shape, he would have acted himself already. So the choice is to pass or double; and since a double here simply shows a good hand with decent defense, it looks reasonable to me — so long as you can be sure partner is on the same wavelength. If not, pass out three clubs and avoid disaster.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, February 4, 2010 by admin on February 18th, 2010 Dealer: South North

“Alas! Our pleasant moments fly

Vul: None

On rapid wings away, While those recorded with a sigh, Mock us by long delay.” — Edward Coate Pinkney Congratulations to the current world champion Nickell team. In their period of dominance in bridge at the start of the last decade, Meckstroth-Rodwell and HammanSoloway may have grabbed the headlines, but Nick Nickell, the captain, and Dick Freeman played their part too. The late Dick Freeman had been a quiz kid on the radio and was a former tournament director known to be the fastest scorer in the world! Here he is, producing a nice line for his three-no-trump contract. How likely is it that a competent defense will beat three no-trump by South, if they find the passive club lead? The point is that so long as East wins the second club and shifts to a spade, the defenders should find a way to cash their four spade tricks. Declarer will put up the king on the first round, and then West can underlead his queen, or East can unblock his jack under the queen.

♠7432 ♥J ♦AKJ42 ♣6 4 2

West

East

♠AQ98 ♥Q62 ♦976 ♣9 8 3

♠J65 ♥ 10 9 8 4 3 ♦83 ♣K Q 7 South

♠ K 10 ♥AK75 ♦ Q 10 5 ♣ A J 10 5 South

West

North

East

1 NT

Pass

2

♣

Pass

♥

Pass

3 NT

All Pass

2

♣9

Opening Lead:

It did not happen like that at the table. After a strong no-trump and a Stayman sequence, West led the club nine, which was either top of a sequence denying a higher honor, or from a 10-nine holding with a higher honor. East put up the club queen, and Freeman ducked impassively! He knew that the lead was top of nothing, but East did not. That player thought the layout was consistent with West’s holding A-10-9, so he continued with the king, and Freeman now had 11 tricks rather than eight. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠7432 ♥J ♦AKJ42 ♣6 4 2 South

West

North

♣

♦

3 ?

Pass

East

♥

2

2

3 NT

Pass

ANSWER: Your hand seems to me too good to pass three no-trump despite the lack of an obvious fit. A simple raise to four no-trump should be quantitative (bid on if you have maximum, partner) since no suit has been set as trumps. The general rule is that if the last call was in no-trump, a raise to four no-trump is invitational, not Blackwood.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, February 5, 2010 by admin on February 19th, 2010 “Some people are so fond of ill luck that they run halfway to meet it.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: All

♠K92 ♥A92 ♦ 10 ♣A K J 9 4 2

— Douglas Jerrold Today’s deal shows Geir Helgemo declaring a delicate three no-trump in a teams contest. The diamond five was led, and dummy’s diamond 10 took the first trick. Try to play it yourself before looking at the East-West cards. It is important to remember that at teams or at rubber bridge, making the contract is paramount. At pairs, one should maybe consider trying for overtricks — but not today. The point is that if clubs break in unfriendly fashion, the contract might be at risk. Imagine that after dummy’s diamond 10 holds, you cash the two top clubs. You will be in trouble if the queen does not fall, since although a third round of clubs sets up the suit, the opponents may find the killing switch to a heart. Declarer has only eight tricks, and communication between the North and South hands is terrible. Declarer will need to guess the position very well to come home now. But can you see a way to bring home nine tricks without guessing, or relying on good luck?

West

East

♠ Q 10 8 5 ♥ 10 6 ♦AJ8543 ♣8

♠A763 ♥QJ543 ♦2 ♣Q 6 3 South

♠J4 ♥K87 ♦KQ976 ♣ 10 7 5 South

♦

1 3 NT

West

North

Pass

1

♣ 3♣

Pass

East Pass Pass

All Pass

♦5

Opening Lead:

At the table the game contract was wrapped up in no time at all. At trick two Helgemo simply called for the club jack from dummy! Now the defenders could do whatever they wanted, but they could not find any way to give declarer a problem. He had created entries back to his own hand to drive out the diamond ace and collect another diamond trick, his ninth. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠J4 ♥K87 ♦KQ976 ♣ 10 7 5 South

West

♣

♥

2 ?

North

East

1

1

♥

Pass

Pass

2 NT

Pass

ANSWER: Your partner has invited game, and you have more than enough to accept, but it is not clear which game is best. (I’d be a little worried about a spade lead against no-trump). Cue-bid three clubs and settle for the heart game unless partner bids three no-trump or three spades to suggest values there.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, February 6, 2010 by admin on February 20th, 2010 “Things that would have made the frame of a less clever man seemed tricks in his hands. It is a mistake to do things too easily.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: E/W

♠KQ4 ♥KQ9 ♦ 10 9 6 4 ♣ 10 4 2

— H.G. Wells When West led the club six against four hearts doubled, East played three rounds of clubs. South ruffed the third club low and now felt he was in pretty good shape. A trump lead to dummy’s king revealed the 4-0 break, but it did not seem to be an insuperable problem. After he returned to hand with a top spade and finessed in trumps, it was only then that he realized what would happen if he cashed dummy’s remaining high heart and led a diamond from the board. East would take the diamond ace and play a fourth round of clubs, repromoting the heart jack into the setting trick. So, without cashing the heart queen, South tried a diamond. East had to duck, and declarer won his king and led another diamond. East took the trick to play yet a third diamond, and now declarer could no longer draw trumps. West ended up ruffing a spade for down one.

West

East

♠87 ♥J432 ♦J732 ♣J 7 6

♠ J 10 9 6 2 ♥— ♦AQ8 ♣A K Q 9 5 South

♠A53 ♥ A 10 8 7 6 5 ♦K5 ♣8 3 South

West

North

East

Pass

2

♣

♣ 2♠

Pass

Pass

Dbl.

1

♥ 4♥ 1

All Pass

If declarer had led a diamond from dummy after getting the bad news in trumps, he creates another entry to his Opening Lead: 6 hand while there are still hearts in dummy to prevent an overruff by West, thus circumnavigating the trump promotion. The best East can do is rise with the diamond ace to play a fourth club. Declarer ruffs in hand, takes the trump finesse, unblocks the heart queen, comes back to the diamond king, and draws the last trump.

♣

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠A53 ♥ A 10 8 7 6 5 ♦K5 ♣8 3 South

West

North

♥

Pass

1 Dbl.

1 Pass ?

Pass

♠

East

♦

2 Pass

ANSWER: This double is for takeout. (You can pass only for a penalty double of diamonds.) Your choice is to rebid hearts to show six, or to raise spades, suggesting only three trumps or you would have supported already. Indeed, raising spades at your last turn was a possibility. Given your weak hearts, it looks better to support spades now; you may be able to emphasize the hearts later.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, February 7, 2010 by admin on February 21st, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

You recently presented a hand where opener raised his partner’s one-level response with three trumps, rather than introducing a second suit. How does the partner ever find out how many trumps he will be facing if the raise can be made with either holding? And why not rebid one notrump with only three trumps, if the hand is almost balanced? — Doubting Thomas, Galveston, Texas ANSWER: Raising partner is the best way to get to game when you have a fit — and to stay low when you know you don’t have a fit. If responder wants to find out about the range of the opening hand after a raise, a sophisticated way is to ask with a relay of two no-trump. Responses are by steps: three trumps, minimum hand; three, maximum; four, minimum; four, maximum. Dear Mr. Wolff:

♠ ♥

♦

♣

I held 9, J-9-3-2, A-10-3-2, KQ-7-4. As a passed hand I responded one no-trump to one spade, and the next hand butted in with two diamonds. What did my partner show by doubling? Was it extra values, takeout or penalty? — No Compass, Atlanta, Ga. ANSWER: While there is no firm agreement on what a double means here, I like it to be takeout, and this is what your hand suggests it to be. Partner’s typical shape would be a 5-3-1-4 pattern. (With both majors one might simply bid hearts, not double.) So with your actual hand, passing would not be absurd, but maybe cuebidding three diamonds also works. You plan to bid no-trump over a three-spade call, raise hearts, or cue-bid your diamond ace over a club call, looking for a club slam. Dear Mr. Wolff: I play rubber bridge every week with the same group. One of the players tends to win more often than the others. Some say it’s because he gets all the cards. Over the years, would you not expect the cards to average out? — Lucky Charms, Montreal, Quebec

ANSWER: Unless your friend is good at dealing himself aces (but you would have noticed that!), I’d say the luck evens out. But beware: the better players always seem lucky. As Gary Player said, “The more I practice, the luckier I get.”

Dear Mr. Wolff:

♠

♥ ♦

♣

Holding Q-10-9-5-3, 2, 10-3, AK-Q-7-4, the young Turks in our neighborhood open one spade, planning to rebid the suit after a two-level red-suit response. The old-timers, like me, prefer one club, planning to rebid spades twice, with the partnership agreement that this does not promise extras. What say you? — Show and Tell, Durham, N.C. ANSWER: My first instinct is to go along with you, bidding suits I want my partner to lead. The problem auctions sometimes come at your third turn after opening clubs and bidding spades: How do you distinguish a minimum 5-5 from one with an extra ace? It is not an easy problem! But perhaps you open one spade with much better spades than clubs, or with a stronger hand — and open one club with this hand. Dear Mr. Wolff: I assume you would open one club, planning to rebid one no-trump over any one-level response, with

♦

♣

♠ K-J-9, ♥ J-10-

2, 10-8, A-K-Q-7-4. That was what I did. I heard one diamond on my left, a negative double from partner, and now I had to guess what to do. The deal came up at pairs, with no one vulnerable. — Gerry Meandering, Sioux Falls, S.D. ANSWER: I agree with your decision to open one club, although in playing strength the hand resembles a strong no-trump. Now you have to decide what to rebid. If partner has a diamond stop, you may be best off in no-trump; but I would guess to bid one heart because even facing one diamond stopper, you may find you need to take diamond ruffs in the short trump hand.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, February 8, 2010 by admin on February 22nd, 2010 “Certain phrases stick in the throat, even if they offer nothing that is analytically improbable.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: E/W

— John Russell “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush” is a fair statement to make. But what if you need two birds? Would you be prepared to grab the first and not go after the second? Today’s deal saw a greedy declarer go for the maximum and finish up with less than he needed. Declaring three no-trump after an auction in which North had used Stayman to look for a 4-4 major fit, he was delighted to receive the lead of the club two. He won cheaply in hand with the nine, cashed the two top spades to unblock the suit, then tried the club ace. When the suit split 4-1 — as he should have known that it probably would have — he could no longer reach dummy to take the two spade winners there. Eventually, he had to lead hearts and diamonds out of his hand, ending up with only seven tricks.

♠QJ83 ♥J7 ♦852 ♣J 8 6 5

West

East

♠ 10 6 2 ♥942 ♦KJ9 ♣ Q 10 7 2

♠9754 ♥ K Q 10 8 ♦ 10 7 6 3 ♣4 South

♠AK ♥A653 ♦AQ4 ♣A K 9 3 South

West

North

2

♣

Pass

2

2 NT

Pass

♦ 3♣*

♥

Pass 3 NT The prudent declarer who looks ahead appreciates that 3 the club jack in dummy is his passport to the winning *Stayman spades. But he can only utilize that card if he preserves both small clubs in his hand. Accordingly, he avoids the Opening Lead: 2 false economy of winning the first trick cheaply in hand. Instead, he captures the club lead with his king, unblocks the A-K of spades, and later uses the club jack as an entry to the board to take dummy’s spade winners.

East Pass Pass All Pass

♣

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ 10 3 ♥J762 ♦Q96 ♣K J 9 2 South

West

♥ 2♦ 1

Pass All Pass

North

East

Pass

1

Pass

2 NT

♠

ANSWER: This auction should not dissuade you from leading a club. When the opponents bid like this, they do not announce a lock on the club suit. Partner may or may not have length or strength there, but no other lead looks remotely attractive. So you might as well lead from what you know to be length, rather than hit one of declarer’s suits.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, February 9, 2010 by admin on February 23rd, 2010 “All that a man hath will he give for his life; and while all contribute of their substance the soldier puts his life at stake, and often yields it up in his country’s cause.”

Dealer: South North

♠K8654 ♥Q854 ♦AJ ♣Q 7

Vul: N/S

— Abraham Lincoln In today’s deal, when West intervened with a natural call of two clubs, North cue-bid rather than double, not being keen on looking for a penalty against nonvulnerable opponents. That got him to the spade game — but incidentally, had the two-club call been artificial, North would have doubled, using that call as Stayman, with three clubs now being natural and forcing. West led the club king and, on inspecting dummy, appreciated that partner was bereft of points. Even more disconcerting was to see five trumps in dummy, which meant that the defensive trumps were splitting 2-2. Where was he to go for the fourth defensive trick? West could see just one chance — which involved playing East for the spade 10 or jack.

West

East

♠A9 ♥ 10 3 ♦962 ♣ A K J 10 4 2

♠ 10 3 ♥J762 ♦ 10 7 5 4 3 ♣9 3 South

♠QJ72 ♥AK9 ♦KQ8 ♣8 6 5 South

West

1 NT

2

♠

3

♣

North

♣ 4♠ 3

Pass

East Pass All Pass

♣

He cashed his second top club, then played a third. Opening Lead: K Having seen East’s high-low in clubs, denoting a doubleton, South trumped with dummy’s spade king, then guessed to lead a spade to his jack. West captured this with the ace and played a fourth round of clubs. East did indeed have the spade 10 and cooperatively ruffed West’s club with it. South had no choice but to overruff, promoting West’s spade nine to the setting trick. If declarer believed West had the spade ace, his only legitimate chance would have been to find East with both the spade nine and 10 by leading a trump to his seven, not to his jack. It would not have worked, but he would have gone down fighting. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠A9 ♥ 10 3 ♦962 ♣ A K J 10 4 2 South

♣ 2♣ 1

?

West

North

Pass

1

Pass

♥ 2♦

East Pass Pass

ANSWER: This is a tough problem. You are too good to rebid three clubs, you cannot raise diamonds, and you would prefer better heart support than the doubleton 10. The choice is to bid two no-trump with only one spade stop (far from unreasonable) or to bid two spades. Using the fourth suit here not only suggests doubt about which strain to play in, but also suggests a little extra in high cards, so it would be my choice.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 by admin on February 24th, 2010 “But if the while I think on thee, dear friend, All losses are restored and sorrows end.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: All

♠A93 ♥AJ5 ♦ A K J 10 7 ♣8 4

— William Shakespeare Today’s deal arose at rubber bridge in the United States, where multiple world-champion Benito Garozzo of the famed Italian Blue Team now resides. Nine tricks can be taken at no-trump, but after careful exploration, neither North nor South fancied three notrump without a club stop between them. The game they finally chose was the Moysian fit of four spades. West led the spade six; plan the play. Admittedly, had Garozzo inserted dummy’s nine, he could have run 11 tricks, but he had another plan in mind: the spade six was allowed to win the first trick! Puzzled, West now switched to a heart, which South won in hand. A trump to the ace found both defenders following, so Garozzo finished drawing trumps, then ran the seven redsuit winners for his contract.

West

East

♠ J 10 8 6 ♥9732 ♦85 ♣A Q 5

♠75 ♥ Q 10 8 ♦9643 ♣ K J 10 6 South

♠KQ42 ♥K64 ♦Q2 ♣9 7 3 2 South

♠ 3♣ 4♠ 1

West

North

Pass

1

♦ 2♥ 3♠

Pass Pass

Garozzo had appreciated that by ducking the first trump All Pass lead, he would be in control regardless of the continuation as long as spades broke no worse than 4-2. See what would transpire if Garozzo had taken the ace and king of Opening Lead: 6 spades, leaving one trump in dummy to take care of a club attack, and had then gone after diamonds. West ruffs the third round of diamonds, cashes the club ace, then plays a club to East. Now a fourth diamond promotes a second trump trick for the defenders. The alternative of drawing three rounds of trump, then playing on diamonds, allows the defenders to take three club tricks and one trump.

East Pass Pass Pass

♠

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠KQ42 ♥K64 ♦Q2 ♣9 7 3 2 South

Rdbl. ?

West

♥

1

North

East

1

♦

Dbl.

Pass

Pass

ANSWER: You are in a forcing auction, and your partner’s pass suggested a balanced hand with no clear-cut action. You can bid one spade now, since your partner may easily have four spades, but not have wanted to get in your way. Unless he now shows extras, you will probably end up in a low-level partscore, but there is no need for you to make the decision for the partnership yet.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, February 11, 2010 by admin on February 25th, 2010 “Henceforth take warning by the fall

Dealer: South North

♠QJ ♥ Q 10 2 ♦ A Q 10 7 6 2 ♣Q 2

Vul: E/W

Of cruel Barbara Allen.” — Ballads When opponents have confidently bid unopposed to game and you have an unpleasant surprise waiting for them, it is a bad idea to warn them. West doubled today’s final contract of four hearts and led the club 10 to the queen, king and ace. South appreciated that West’s double must be based on a trump stack, so set about trying to score his trumps singly. Declarer led his singleton diamond to dummy’s ace, then ran the spade queen, which held. A diamond was ruffed back to hand, then came the spade ace, a spade ruff with dummy’s heart two, and another diamond ruffed in hand. With seven tricks in the bag, South next played a low club, on which West made the natural move of discarding his last spade, leaving himself with just his five trumps. East won the trick, but there was no longer any defense to the contract. Whether East played a club or a spade, West could do no better then ruff low. Declarer could overruff in dummy, ruff a diamond with the heart ace, and ruff a club with the heart queen for the 10th trick.

West

East

♠ 10 8 4 3 ♥KJ953 ♦J95 ♣ 10

♠K765 ♥— ♦K83 ♣K J 9 5 4 3 South

♠A92 ♥A8764 ♦4 ♣A 8 7 6 South

West

North

1

♥

Pass

2

2 NT

Pass

Pass

Dbl.

♦ 4♥

East Pass Pass

All Pass

♣10

Opening Lead:

The defenders had missed their chance. When declarer plays a low club at trick eight, West must ruff his partner’s winner, rather than discard, then continue with the heart king! (A low heart would not be good enough.) Now declarer ends up a trick short. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠A92 ♥A8764 ♦4 ♣A 8 7 6 South

♥ 2♣ 1

?

West

North

East

Pass

1 NT

Pass

Pass

2

♠

Pass

ANSWER: Two spades is an “impossible” bid. Since your partner denied four spades at his first turn, the call is not natural. Instead, it should logically be played as a good raise to three clubs — the direct club raise would suggest more trumps and fewer high cards. You do have aces, but also a minimum. Bid three clubs now and wait to see if your partner can produce a further call.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, February 12, 2010 by admin on February 26th, 2010 Dealer: South North

“How delicious is the winning

Vul: All

Of a kiss at Love’s beginning, When two mutual hearts are sighing For the knot there’s no untying!” — T. Campbell There is no correct answer to the question of whether to lead an ace or a king from a suit headed by both cards. This column favors the lead of the king, but to express a fair and balanced view, I am going to quote a contrasting opinion from “Defensive Signaling” by David Bird and Marc Smith, from the Bridge Technique Series (Master Point Press). They suggest that on the lead of an ace or queen, you signal attitude; on the lead of a king, give count. If partner leads an ace against a suit contract at the four-level or lower, you assume that he also holds the king, as unsupported ace-leads are rarely successful.

♠Q73 ♥QJ53 ♦Q4 ♣A K Q 7

West

East

♠AJ64 ♥ A K 10 2 ♦8 ♣ 10 8 6 5

♠ K 10 8 5 ♥9864 ♦7 ♣J 9 3 2 South

♠92 ♥7 ♦ A5 3K 2J 10 9 6 ♣4 South

West

North

♦

5

East All Pass

However, when the contract is at the five-level or higher, the lead of an ace denies the king, as partner would then Opening Lead: K have led the king from ace-king, asking third hand to give count. That player should encourage a continuation only when holding the king.

♥

Here, South has opened five diamonds, and you lead the heart king. Partner gives count with the heart eight — a standard high-low when holding four. Partner rates to have four cards, not two, on the auction, so you continue with the spade ace, this time asking for attitude. East encourages with the spade 10 to indicate possession of the king. Another spade from you sees the contract go down. Had you continued with the heart ace at trick two, declarer would have ruffed and later discarded the losing spades on dummy’s winners. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠AJ64 ♥ A K 10 2 ♦8 ♣ 10 8 6 5 South

West

North 1 NT

East Pass

♣

Pass

2

♥

Pass

2 ?

ANSWER: If you were unambitious, you would simply raise to four hearts; but a better and almost risk-free course of action would be to jump to four diamonds. This cannot be natural (three diamonds would be diamonds, gameforcing), so the call shows short diamonds and sets hearts as trumps, promising some slam interest. Let partner decide whether he wants to advance past four hearts.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, February 13, 2010 by admin on February 27th, 2010 “The brave man inattentive to his duty is worth little more to his country than the coward who deserts her in the hour of danger.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: All

♠ 10 2 ♥ Q J 10 6 ♦KJ9 ♣K J 3 2

— Andrew Jackson When this deal came up in a teams match, both Wests judged well not to lead a spade against three no-trump. A spade lead might be vital if partner has two small spades and an entry, but the lead will concede an important trick if partner has one spade or none, and it may still be fine not to lead the suit if East’s doubleton spade includes the 10.

West

East

♠AQJ9543 ♥8 ♦73 ♣ 10 9 7

♠6 ♥97542 ♦ A Q 10 6 ♣8 6 4 South

♠K87 ♥AK3 ♦8542 ♣A Q 5

Both Wests instead selected the club sequence; this was entirely reasonable, and it was just bad luck that a diamond might have worked better. That said, how would you declare three no-trump on the top club lead? One declarer quite reasonably led a diamond to dummy’s nine. A spade shift by East let West cash his two spades and play a second diamond, establishing the defenders’ fifth trick.

South

West

North

East

♠

Pass

Pass

3 NT

3 All Pass

In the other room South preferred to rely on an endplay rather than hoping to find West with a key diamond card. Opening Lead: 10 At trick two he exited from hand with a spade to cut the defenders’ communications. West won the trick and could not cash his spade ace or it would have established the ninth trick for South. So West found the diamond shift, and East won the trick cheaply. Back came a club, and declarer led a diamond to dummy again. He eventually got in again to set up his diamond eight for his ninth winner, while he still had a heart entry to hand to cash it.

♣

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ 10 2 ♥ Q J 10 6 ♦KJ9 ♣K J 3 2 South

West

North

♦ 3♦ 1

2 NT ?

Pass

East

♥

1

Pass

ANSWER: You invited to game, and your partner turned you down, suggesting diamonds would be a safer partscore. Yes, you have splendid fillers in diamonds and have hearts well under control, but with no quick tricks in the side suits you will surely be vulnerable to attack in spades if you play in no-trump, and the defenders will have time to work that out. So pass three diamonds and hope he makes it.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, February 14, 2010 by admin on February 28th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

Dear Mr. Wolff:

Where can I find bridge books for absolute beginners?

Yesterday at the club many players encountered a hand that caused them

— One Small Step, Newark, N.J.

considerable problems. They held

ANSWER: You could try a big bridge bookseller like Baron Barclay (who can be reached at http://www.baronbarclay.com/contact.html or by telephone at 1-800-274-2221). They will know just what you need. Dear Mr. Wolff: You are third to speak with

♦

♣

♠ J-9, ♥ A-Q-

7-3-2, 10-3-2, Q-7-4. If there are two passes to you, would you consider opening with a weak-two bid? — Risky Business, Levittown, Pa. ANSWER: This pattern is not ideal for a weak-two bid. (We all know the bid promises six, but in third seat who’s counting?) If you are going to open a fivecard suit, you’d like more internal solidity or a side four-card suit, providing more offense and fewer quick losers. Opening one heart in third seat would not worry me as much, though. Dear Mr. Wolff: What are the instances, if any, of a two-trick penalty for a revoke? I understand the laws have changed. — Keystone Kop, Memphis, Tenn. ANSWER: The 2007 laws have simplified the revoke penalties. There is no penalty if the revoking side won no tricks after the revoke, and a maximum of one if they won only one trick. That said, unless the player who revoked won the trick himself with that “revoking card,” it is a one-trick penalty. If he personally won the trick and his side subsequently won at least two tricks, it is a two-trick penalty. If the penalty does not restore equity, the Director has powers to adjust the result.

♠ Q-3,

♥ A, ♦ A-Q-2, ♣ K-Q-J-9-7-4-3 and

opened one club, hearing two diamonds on their left and two spades from their partner. What would you do next? — Upward Mobility, Wausau, Wis. ANSWER: This hand has such huge slam potential that you should ignore the possibility that it is right to stop in three notrump. Jump to four clubs to show a good club suit and a good hand, prepared to bid six clubs on your own if partner simply raises. If he can cue-bid a red suit, the sky is the limit. Dear Mr. Wolff: In a recent question you had one player responding one no-trump to his partner’s overcall of one spade over one heart. At his next turn, after his partner introduced a diamond suit, responder then bid the opponent’s suit. If the first call of one notrump showed a heart stopper, surely the second call could not be a cuebid and must be showing a genuine heart suit. Am I correct? — The Riddler, Pueblo, Colo. ANSWER: Many bridge players normally assume that you cannot play in the opponents’ major suit, unless you have a specific agreement that such a call is natural. That rule applies here: a two-heart call simply shows a good hand and extra diamond support — maybe five trumps and a 10-count, a little too good for a simple raise to three diamonds.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, February 15, 2010 by admin on March 1st, 2010 “When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me;

Dealer: South North

♠— ♥ A K J 10 ♦ A 10 8 6 5 3 ♣Q 3 2

Vul: ?

When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them.” — Walt Whitman All the deals this week come from The Yeh Brothers Cup, held last year in Australia. In the featured match on Vugraph, both tables bid to slam. The deal reduces to an exercise in percentages — though not an especially simple one. The issue is how to play the trump suit for one loser in six diamonds: What three sensible options are available? The first, selected by both Souths, is to run the diamond queen, planning a second finesse. This loses when East has both honors — and therefore works approximately three-quarters of the time. Can you do better? I first thought that a better approach might be to start by cashing the ace. This loses either when West began with a void, or when he began with both the king and jack and one or two small cards. This is fractionally better, but it too would fail today.

West

East

♠ Q 10 8 4 2 ♥9854 ♦— ♣J 9 5

♠K976 ♥632 ♦KJ74 ♣ 10 4 South

♠AJ3 ♥Q7 ♦Q92 ♣A K 8 7 6 South

West

North

1 NT

Pass

3

♦ 5♣ 3

♣* 4♠** 6♦

Pass Pass

East Pass Pass All Pass

*Diamonds **Spade void

♥

Best — and also successful today — is to run the eight Opening Lead: 9 from the North hand. This loses when West has jack singleton or doubleton so long as East ducks stoically on the first round (don’t we all?) and you misguess. However, you can negotiate the 4-0 split in either hand. Accordingly, there is one losing combination fewer and it is the best play. Note: If you have a 5-4 fit, as opposed to the 6-3 fit, playing the ace no longer loses to a void in West, but from a psychological perspective, running the eight still looks to be the best play. LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q73 ♥QJ53 ♦Q42 ♣7 3 2 South

West

North

East 1 NT

Pass

2 3 NT

♣

Pass

2

Pass

All Pass

♥

ANSWER: When nothing seems very attractive, go with leading from your long suit. A low heart will probably not be costly, and may gain if partner has the heart ace, king, or 10. My second choice would be to go passive with the club seven, but a low diamond is certainly not absurd.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 by admin on March 2nd, 2010 “Tell me, Muse, of the man of many tricks.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: E/W

♠— ♥ 10 6 5 4 3 2 ♦ Q 10 7 6 3 2 ♣6

— Homer All this week’s deals come from last year’s Yeh Brothers Cup in Brisbane, to mark the tournament taking place now. In the later stages of the event both Souths in one match reached six hearts doubled. Our hero, Peter Fredin, was one of those declarers, after overcalling a one-spade opening with two hearts, then bidding again. Both Wests led a top spade; both declarers ruffed and drew a round of trumps. The Norwegian declarer cashed the diamond ace, playing for his legitimate chance of the singleton diamond king, then played a second diamond. West won his king and cashed out for down one. By contrast, Fredin — never afraid to put his neck on the block and risk looking stupid — led a low diamond from hand at trick three. Now you know why the commentators and journalists love to watch him play! Of course, this play gives up on a legitimate chance to make the contract, but some declarers would rather go for what they see as their best psychological line, not the best technical line, and who can argue with success?

West

East

♠ A J 10 9 6 ♥J ♦KJ9 ♣A 5 4 2

♠KQ7432 ♥7 ♦85 ♣K J 8 7 South

♠85 ♥AKQ98 ♦A4 ♣ Q 10 9 3 South

West

North

East

♠ 5♠ 1

♥ 6♥ 2

♥

♥

4

5

Dbl.

All Pass

♠A

Opening Lead:

Sitting West was a member of the current European Championship winning team — no rabbit. Yes, his decision to duck the diamond might look ridiculous, but Fredin had given him the chance to look silly, and I assume he thought Fredin was not capable of such guile. He knows better now. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠85 ♥AKQ98 ♦A4 ♣ Q 10 9 3 South

♥

1 ?

West

North

East

♠

Pass

Pass

1

ANSWER: The simple answer would be a reopening bid of two clubs. (Pass would be unthinkable — never sell out with shortage in the opponent’s suit at the one-level.) An alternative action, one I marginally prefer, is to double. This caters to partner’s having a penalty double of spades, and if partner picks diamonds, you have no reason to assume he will be wrong to do so.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 by admin on March 3rd, 2010 “Only the actions of the just Smell sweet, and blossom in their dust.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: E/W

♠ A Q 10 8 7 ♥AKJ2 ♦5 ♣A 5 3

— James Shirley In the Yeh Cup last year, this was the last deal of the semifinals between two undefeated teams. Many Wests would open one club, North would double, and South would respond one diamond. North would now bid one spade and play there quietly — no need for drama. Ah, but what if West opens a Precision one diamond? What does South do after North doubles? He fearfully bids one heart, trying to stop at a low level. That was what the American South did, but his partner produced an unrefined jump to three hearts. Now declarer could never reach his hand to take a heart finesse. Eventually the defenders scored their four plain tricks and could lead the 13th club to promote the heart nine. Down one — but not necessarily a tragedy.

West

East

♠K3 ♥ Q 10 3 ♦Q863 ♣ K Q J 10

♠J52 ♥954 ♦A974 ♣8 7 4 South

♠964 ♥876 ♦ K J 10 2 ♣9 6 2 South

West

♦

1

♥

North

East

Dbl.

Pass

♥

Pass 3 In the other room, West also opened one diamond, 1 Precision, and North doubled. East passed, playing a style where this showed nothing about his hand at all, and Peter Fredin produced the sort of call that makes him such Opening Lead: K good reporting material. He passed one diamond, knowing that West would almost never sit for it even with moderate diamond length. It worked like a charm. West thought he was walking into a bad split, so escaped to one spade, and when doubled, he ran to two clubs, doubled and down 800. Even on best declarer play in one diamond, West would surely have gone down a trick, so Fredin’s pass would have won points for his side whatever happened next.

All Pass

♣

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ A Q 10 8 7 ♥AKJ2 ♦5 ♣A 5 3 South

West

North

East

♥

Pass

Pass

1 ?

ANSWER: With a hand this strong, you cannot afford to pass out one heart. Game your way in spades needs next to nothing from your partner. Start by doubling, planning to introduce spades next to show a strong hand and letting your partner take it from there. Your shortage in diamonds should not bother you — spades outrank diamonds!

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, February 18, 2010 by admin on March 4th, 2010 “You may fool all the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all the time; but you can’t fool all of the people all the time.”

Dealer: North North

Vul: None

— Abraham Lincoln Some players hate to go down in a contract they might have made by using a technically sound line. Others would always rather go for what they consider the best practical line and not worry about looking silly. Consider today’s deal from the finals of the Yeh Brother’s Cup last year as a classic example of the two different approaches.

West

East

♠J6543 ♥ 10 8 3 ♦32 ♣Q 6 2

♠KQ ♥A962 ♦74 ♣K J 7 4 3 South

♠ 10 9 8 ♥Q75 ♦AJ85 ♣ 10 9 8

Both Souths reached three no-trump after North had opened a Precision club, keeping East out of the bidding. Both Wests led an attitude spade three. (The smaller the card, the more they liked the suit.) For the Dutch, Bas Drijver preferred to play the best technical line (hoping that spades would be 4-3 or that there would be a doubleton double-honor in the East hand to prevent the defenders from running four tricks there). He therefore rose with the spade ace and knocked out the heart ace. When the spade suit refused to run for the defenders, he had his nine tricks.

♠A72 ♥KJ4 ♦ K Q 10 9 6 ♣A 5

South 1 NT

West

North

East

♣

Pass

Pass

1 3 NT

All Pass

♠3

Opening Lead:

By contrast, the Swedish declarer, true to his nature, went for the psychological line of ducking the first spade. If spades were continued, he would be no worse off and might be much better off. (Consider East with an initial holding of the doubleton spade queen, for example.) Alas for him, East could see that his partner had a near Yarborough and realized that his only chance was to find the club queen in the West hand. He shifted to a club at trick two and defeated the game by two tricks. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ 10 9 8 ♥Q75 ♦AJ85 ♣ 10 9 8 South

West

North

East

♣

1 Pass ?

Pass

♥

1

Dbl.

ANSWER: Had East passed one heart, you might have passed yourself. Game can hardly be good if partner does not have enough to double. But once the opponents compete, here you should raise to two hearts obstructively. Do not let the opponents have a clear run if you can impede them with little or no risk.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, February 19, 2010 by admin on March 5th, 2010 Dealer: South North

“Like one whose doubts Are chased by certainty, and terror turn’d

Vul: All

To comfort on discovery of the truth.” — Dante Alighieri In today’s deal from last year’s Yeh Brothers Cup, would you rather play three no-trump on a club lead, or on a diamond lead? In one room Paul Hackett led the diamond two. Declarer won in hand and drove out East’s heart ace. East shifted to clubs, so declarer put up an honor (taken by West’s ace), ducked the second club, and won the third. Now, after unblocking hearts, he had time to test both red suits. Given the opening lead, it was natural for him to misguess by cashing the diamond jack and leading to the diamond nine. He now had only eight tricks. In the other room, on a club lead, Tom Townsend won and led the heart queen, taken by the ace. East returned a club and the defenders cashed out the clubs, forcing dummy to pitch two spades, with East erring by letting go a spade. Back came a spade, so Townsend won dummy’s spade king, finessed in diamonds, unblocked his heart jack, and cashed the diamond king. East dropped the diamond queen, the card he was known to hold, trying to fool declarer as to who had the diamond 10.

♠ K 10 7 ♥K976 ♦A974 ♣3 2

West

East

♠QJ85 ♥84 ♦532 ♣A J 8 7

♠93 ♥ A 10 5 3 2 ♦ Q 10 6 ♣ 10 9 6 South

♠A642 ♥QJ ♦KJ8 ♣K Q 5 4 South

West

North

East

1 NT

Pass

2

♣

Pass

♠

Pass

3 NT

All Pass

2

Opening Lead:Your choice

But when Townsend cashed the spade ace, pitching dummy’s heart, East showed out. Now West was marked with 4-4 in the black suits and had followed to two hearts already, so he could not hold more than three diamonds. Therefore, Townsend successfully played for the drop in diamonds. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ K 10 7 ♥K976 ♦A974 ♣3 2 South

West

North

♣ 2♦ 1

♥

1 ?

Pass

East Pass Pass

ANSWER: Two diamonds is a reverse (showing five or more clubs, four diamonds, and a strong hand). While there is no single agreed way to advance here, raising diamonds should always be played as natural and forcing. So bid three diamonds, planning to pass a continuation of three no-trump, but being prepared to look for a diamond slam if given some encouragement.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, February 20, 2010 by admin on March 6th, 2010 “God sent his Singers upon earth With songs of sadness and of mirth.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: N/S

♠763 ♥Q74 ♦AQ654 ♣K 8

— Henry Wadsworth Longfellow In today’s deal from the finals of the Yeh Brothers Cup, Huub Bertens of the Netherlands must have hoped for a more favorable comparison in the scoring than he achieved. Playing in three no-trump, he ducked the top spade lead, won the heart shift cheaply in hand, and ducked a diamond in both hands. Back came a low heart, so he won and led a diamond to the king and ace. Now, rather than test diamonds, Bertens read the position accurately and gave up a heart, letting East cash the 13th heart. On this trick, declarer pitched a diamond from dummy and a spade from hand. In the six-card ending, East made the natural but erroneous return of a spade. (It was hard to see at the table, but a club would have disrupted declarer’s communications.) Bertens won in hand and crossed to the club king to take his diamond winner, pitching a spade from hand. This had the effect of squeezing West in the black suits, so the contract came home.

West

East

♠ K Q 10 9 ♥952 ♦K9 ♣J 5 4 3

♠82 ♥A863 ♦ J 10 8 2 ♣ 10 9 2 South

♠AJ54 ♥ K J 10 ♦73 ♣A Q 7 6 South 1 NT

West Pass Pass

North Pass 3 NT

East Pass All Pass

♠K

Opening Lead:

So why was he disappointed when it came to the scoring? In the other room, his teammate as West opened a 10-12 no-trump, and then the doubling started. Eventually East wriggled out to two hearts. The defenders doubled and cashed two diamonds, three clubs and a spade. Finally South led the 13th club, ruffed high by North, to promote an extra trump trick for South, for a penalty of 800. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠763 ♥Q74 ♦AQ654 ♣K 8 South

West

North

East

♥

Pass

Pass

1 ?

ANSWER: It seems cowardly to sell out and pass. Better is to balance — but with what? The simple call is two diamonds, but I marginally prefer one no-trump. The range for this action in balancing seat is wide — about 11-16 points — NOT the traditional strong no-trump you would hold in direct seat. Partner can find out about your shape and range with a two-club inquiry if he has game interest.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, February 21, 2010 by admin on March 7th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

When your RHO opens one club, should you overcall in spades or in hearts, holding

♠

♥

♦ ♣

J-9-8-4-3, A-Q-7-3-2, 10, Q-4? The heart suit is what you want partner to lead, but if you bid that first, you may lose the spades altogether. — Tough Choice, Fort Walton Beach, Fla. ANSWER: These days it is almost mandatory to play some form of two-suited overcalls, focusing on the majors. The most common method is to cue-bid a minor-suit opening to show 5-5 in the majors. This is called a Michaels Cuebid and works well in conjunction with the Unusual No-Trump to show the two lowest unbid suits. Dear Mr. Wolff: When the auction gets into slam territory, how do you let your partner know you want to stop at four no-trump, not get a Blackwood response? — Emergency Brake, San Luis Obispo, Calif. ANSWER: Four no-trump should normally be taken as Blackwood unless the last call was in no-trump, or no fit has been found plus the previous call was a cue-bid or fourth suit forcing. Then four no-trump will be quantitative and invitational. However, when one player bids three no-trump and at his next turn bids four no-trump, that is generally a sign-off, not Blackwood.

ANSWER: You have extras, though the club queen is of dubious value. Imagine partner with five hearts to the king-queen plus the club king. You still have not made game — and partner might have bid four hearts with that hand. So I suppose you would have to pass now.

Dear Mr. Wolff: The old-fashioned bridge books, and even some of my current teachers, set 13 HCPs as a minimum for an opening. An HCP of 12 is acceptable only if the hand includes a good six-card suit. What is your rationale for recently describing a 12-point hand as sufficient for an opening bid? — Audit Needed, Bay City, Mich. ANSWER: Inflation strikes us everywhere! These days any 12-count with a five-card suit or two four-card suits will normally qualify as an opening. The reason is that you want your minimum rebid in no-trump to show 12-14 (a two-point range is unnecessarily narrow) and the no-trump opening to be 15-17. If you still play 16-18 no-trumps, you might stick to the idea that the rebid is 13-15. But you would be swimming against the tide. Dear Mr. Wolff: At a club duplicate at favorable vulnerability,

♠ ♥

♦

you hold —, A-Q-10-7-3-2, J-2, A-Q-9-7-4. Your RHO passes, you open one heart, and LHO bids two diamonds, passed back to you. What do you bid?

♣

Dear Mr. Wolff:

— The Spin Room, Sunbury, Pa.

Your LHO bids three clubs, passed around

ANSWER: I would bid three clubs, not confident that I am right, but hoping that we have a fit somewhere. But where are the spades? Partner rates to have five or more of them, and thus probably a weak hand or he might have doubled, but he might also easily have four clubs. If that is so, we can make a club contract, while they cannot make much.

to you. With

♣

♠ A-K-3-2, ♥ A-8-2, ♦ K-Q-

4-2, Q-4, you double and partner responds three hearts. Should you raise to game, or pass? — Stretch, Spartanburg, S.C.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, February 22, 2010 by admin on March 8th, 2010 “When first we met we did not guess That love would prove so hard a master.”

Dealer: North North

Vul: E/W

— Robert Bridges Today’s deal is a classic example of identifying what your best chance is to make your contract, then playing for it. South sensibly jumped to four hearts over East’s onediamond opening. West’s double showed cards and encouraged East to bid four spades if he had a four-card suit, or to make any other appropriate call with significant extra shape. As it was, East had nowhere to go but to pass and hope he could beat the game. West led out the diamond king and queen, then the 10 to East’s ace. South ruffed in and laid down the heart ace, but now had a choice. He could play the heart queen to try to pin the jack, or he could play a low heart and try to drop the king. He actually played for the second choice and quietly went down a trick.

♠Q9742 ♥— ♦9532 ♣A 6 4 2

West

East

♠KJ863 ♥J3 ♦ K Q 10 ♣J 7 5

♠ A 10 5 ♥K64 ♦AJ76 ♣9 8 3 South

♠— ♥ A5 2Q 10 9 8 7 ♦84 ♣ K Q 10 South

♥

4

West

Dbl.*

North

East

Pass

1

♦

All Pass

When he told his partner that it was a blind guess as to what to do, he received a less than sympathetic answer. “Imagine that East DID have the doubleton heart king. *Negative What would have happened to you when you led out the Opening Lead: K low heart and the king captured thin air? East would have been able to lead the fourth diamond now, re-promoting West’s heart jack to the setting trick. So your best chance was to try to pin the heart jack by leading the queen. If that works, there can be no promotion.”

♦

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ 10 8 4 3 ♥ 10 3 ♦Q987 ♣J 7 4 South

West

North

Pass

3 NT

Dbl.

East 1 NT All Pass

ANSWER: This double calls for an unusual lead. It suggests your partner has a good suit of his own and is asking you to lead your shorter major on the chance of finding his suit. Therefore, lead the heart 10 — and hope partner does not have six spades ready to cash!

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 by admin on March 9th, 2010 “Be juster, Heaven; such virtue punished thus Will make us think that chance rules all above,

Dealer: East

North

Vul: N/S

♠AKQ ♥5 ♦AKJ7532 ♣9 4

And shuffles, with a random hand, the lots, Which man is forced to draw.” — John Dryden The mark of good declarer play is to have a second string to your bow when your intended line of play fails to hit the target.

West

East

♠542 ♥94 ♦ Q 10 6 4 ♣K 7 6 2

♠J97 ♥AK8762 ♦— ♣ J 10 8 3 South

♠ 10 8 6 3 ♥ Q J 10 3 ♦98 ♣A Q 5

In today’s deal North’s sequence of doubling, then bidding a suit, suggested 17-20 points and good diamonds. Accordingly, since South had a heart stop and scattered values, he had more than enough to take a shot at three no-trump. West led a heart as instructed, and East erred by cashing a second top heart (dummy pitching a club) before switching to the club jack. This play had removed East’s only re-entry for a second club play. Declarer won with the ace, cashed one more top heart, and played a diamond, intending to take the ace, king and another diamond to minimize the possibility of East’s gaining the lead to play another club.

South

West

North

East 2 Pass

♥

Pass

Pass

Dbl.

♠

Pass

3

2 3 NT

♦

Pass

All Pass

♥9

Opening Lead:

When East showed out on the diamond ace, declarer had to think again. Fortunately, there was an elegant solution available. South cashed dummy’s three top spades and exited with a low diamond to his nine. If West let this hold, declarer would end up with four spades, a club, and two tricks in each red suit. So West took the trick but, after cashing the club king, had the unenviable choice of returning a diamond into the tenace (in which case dummy would be high) or giving the rest of the tricks to declarer by playing a club around to his queen. If he did that, South would cash his three winners in hand. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ 10 8 6 3 ♥ Q J 10 3 ♦98 ♣A Q 5 South

West

North

♣ 2♠ 1

♥

1 ?

♠

1

East Pass Pass

ANSWER: Opener’s cuebid showed a gameforcing hand, looking for a spade stop or some other descriptive action from you. It did NOT promise heart support. Here, you have a straightforward call of three clubs, implying at least secondary club support and waiting to find out where partner is headed.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 by admin on March 10th, 2010 “A man is never so on trial as in the moment of excessive good fortune.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: None

♠32 ♥732 ♦K853 ♣7 6 5 2

— Lew Wallace After South captured the heart-queen lead with the ace in four spades, it all looked like plain sailing until the second top trump revealed the 4-1 break. There now seemed to be a loser in each suit, as dummy’s apparent lack of entries precluded any chance of a trump coup. But South was unwilling to give up yet, so soldiered on with a low diamond. West rose with the ace and returned a second heart to South’s king. As East-West were playing five-card majors, declarer knew that East was out of hearts. Therefore, there were two chances left. First, if East had begun with three clubs, they were precisely the queen, jack and 10 — possible, but unlikely, in view of the bidding. Second, and a far better chance, was that East had precisely four clubs.

West

East

♠8 ♥ Q J 10 8 4 ♦ A Q J 10 9 ♣ Q 10

♠J965 ♥95 ♦742 ♣J 9 8 4 South

♠ A K Q 10 7 4 ♥AK6 ♦6 ♣A K 3 South

West

♥ 2♦ 1

As both possibilities could be investigated by the same play, declarer cashed the ace and king of clubs, then exited with a third club. South was happy to see West show out, and after East won with the nine, any return except a club would hand declarer the contract on the spot. A diamond would give declarer access to dummy, and a spade would give declarer a free finesse.

Dbl.

♠

4

North

East

Pass

Pass

Pass

Pass

All Pass

♥Q

Opening Lead:

So East returned the club jack, but this only delayed matters. South ruffed, then played the queen and another spade. On lead with the jack of trumps, East had only diamonds to return. So South’s losing heart went away on dummy’s diamond king. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠32 ♥732 ♦K853 ♣7 6 5 2 South

West

North

♣ 2♠ 3♦ 2

♦ 3♣ 2

?

Pass Pass

East Pass Pass Pass

ANSWER: Your three-club call was a second negative, suggesting 0-4 points and not much of a spade fit. Now that partner has shown spades and diamonds, you suddenly have a great hand! A simple raise to four diamonds may not yet get across your suitability, but a jump to five diamonds would suggest fewer high cards. So make the simple raise and be prepared to cooperate at your next turn.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, February 25, 2010 by admin on March 11th, 2010 “Truth is the most valuable thing we have. Let us economize it.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: All

— Mark Twain In today’s deal from the Dyspeptics Club, South was in his accustomed position as declarer in three no-trump, and West accurately led a spade. South cunningly won in hand and crossed to dummy with the diamond queen to advance the club 10, hoping West would win the trick and continue with spades. However, it was East who flew up with the club ace and played a second spade. South ducked the trick, won the next spade, and played a second club, won by West, who cashed his long spade. On this, South pitched a heart from hand and a club from dummy, East letting go of the club eight. If West had returned a heart, South would have rejected the finesse, for if it lost, that would be the defenders’ fifth trick. By rising with the ace, he would have a double chance for nine tricks: Either the diamonds could split 3-3, or, alternatively, the hand with the diamond stopper would also have the heart king. Indeed, as the cards lie, East would be squeezed in the red suits when South cashed his clubs.

♠543 ♥AQJ4 ♦AQ2 ♣ 10 9 3

West

East

♠J962 ♥ 10 8 6 2 ♦53 ♣K 7 4

♠Q87 ♥K93 ♦ J 10 9 4 ♣A 8 5 South

♠ A K 10 ♥75 ♦K876 ♣Q J 6 2 South

♦

1 1 NT

West

North

East

Pass

1 3 NT

♥

Pass

Pass

All Pass

♠2

Opening Lead:

However, West found the best defense by playing a third club, not a heart, and declarer cashed his club winners. East deliberately pitched two hearts by playing high and then low. Now, after testing diamonds and finding the bad news, South took the heart finesse at trick 12, assuming that East’s echo in hearts was designed to put him off the finesse. Another player fell victim to the double bluff! BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠543 ♥AQJ4 ♦AQ2 ♣ 10 9 3 South

West

♠

1 ?

North

East

Dbl.

Pass

ANSWER: It would be lazy simply to jump to four hearts. A better approach is to cue-bid two spades to show a good hand, then to bid hearts or raise partner to game in hearts. The point is that although you have a balanced hand, you are full value for a game bid, and if partner has extras, you might make a slam. Do not pre-empt partner unnecessarily.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, February 26, 2010 by admin on March 12th, 2010 “In the affluent society no useful distinction can be made between luxuries and necessaries.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: E/W

♠AJ98 ♥64 ♦KQ98 ♣K 8 7

— J.K. Galbraith Everybody did much too much bidding in today’s deal, a problem originally from a collection by Paul Lukacs and Jeff Rubens. The contract looks like an extremely bad one since you have two red aces to lose and must somehow hold your club losers to one trick. It will not be sufficient to find the ace and queen of clubs onside. That you do not have the club nine means the defenders appear to have two natural tricks in the suit.

West

East

♠75 ♥AJ9872 ♦A2 ♣A Q 6

♠432 ♥ K Q 10 5 ♦743 ♣9 5 3 South

♠ K Q 10 6 ♥3 ♦ J 10 6 5 ♣ J 10 4 2

Accordingly, a series of precisely timed maneuvers is needed, based on the slim chance that West has the doubleton club ace-queen. South

West

North

Ruff the heart and draw only two rounds of trump, then Dbl. 1 play a diamond. Best is for West to win the ace 4 4 immediately and continue diamonds. (If he ducks his 3 Dbl. All Pass diamond ace, he will find himself on play with no Pass convenient exit card.) You cash one more round of diamonds, ending in hand, still leaving a trump at large, Opening Lead: A and play the club jack. What is West to do? If he ducks, you have your two club tricks. If he wins the ace, he will have to give you a ruff and sluff or surrender his club trick, so he must cover your jack with the queen. You take the club king and only now do you draw the last trump, then run the club eight to land the contract.

♠

♥ ♥

♠

East

♥

3

Pass

♥

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠AJ98 ♥64 ♦KQ98 ♣K 8 7 South

♦ 1♠ 1

?

West

North

East

1

♥

Dbl.

Pass

Pass

1 NT

Pass

ANSWER: After the negative double, you might have introduced spades with only three of them, so your partner’s auction suggests 10-11 points with a heart stop and four spades. He has guaranteed four spades or he would have bid one no-trump at his previous turn. Since you have four spades but no game interest, simply bid two spades now.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, February 27, 2010 by admin on March 13th, 2010 “Lookers-on see most of the game.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: All

♠A76 ♥J ♦AJ53 ♣ J 10 9 5 4

— English proverb One of my readers, Jim Beall, sent me a deal that had appeared in print in another bridge column. He added a perceptive comment. See if you can match his analysis. In a Vanderbilt deal, Ron Smith played four hearts, as did his counterpart, both of whom overcalled East’s two-spade bid. Both received a top club lead and spade shift.

West

East

♠94 ♥K932 ♦Q76 ♣A K 6 2

♠ K Q J 10 8 3 ♥— ♦ 10 9 8 2 ♣8 7 3 South

The unsuccessful declarer won the spade ace and led the heart jack, which ran to West when East showed out. West continued spades and got a second heart trick via a trump promotion on the third round of spades — down one. By contrast Smith foresaw what might happen if the opposing hearts were divided 4-0 and immediately played the diamond king and ace, then advanced the diamond jack, pitching his spade, to achieve a Scissors Coup before touching trumps. Now the defenders had no communications for the trump promotion.

♠52 ♥ A5 4Q 10 8 7 6 ♦K4 ♣Q South

West

North

East

♠

2

♥

4

All Pass

As Beall pointed out, as long as declarer believes East began with six spades, I think the unsuccessful declarer Opening Lead: K should have been able to avoid losing a swing. To avoid the trump promotion, once trumps are known to split 4-0, South must not let the heart jack run to West. Instead, declarer overtakes the heart jack with his ace, takes the diamond king, finesses in diamonds, pitches his losing spade on the diamond ace, and concedes two trump tricks. He risks going down two, but it is his only chance. Today his luck is in!

♣

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠A76 ♥J ♦AJ53 ♣ J 10 9 5 4 South

West

North

♣

1 ?

East

♥

1

ANSWER: It would be possible to start by cuebidding two hearts to show a limit raise or better. (Remember, a jump to three clubs is WEAK, neither a limit raise nor a forcing raise.) Better, though, is a jump cuebid to three hearts, showing a game-forcing hand in clubs and a singleton heart — a splinter bid. That lets partner decide on which game to play in, with a good idea about your primary support and heart shortage.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, February 28, 2010 by admin on March 14th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

Dear Mr. Wolff:

What I should do if I am about to be dummy and my partner has incorrectly explained one of my calls?

My partner had

— Miles to Go, Wichita Falls, Texas ANSWER: As soon as the auction is over, tell the opponents what you believe your call meant. If it turns out that your partner was right and you were wrong, no harm has been done. If any damage was done to your opponents, the Tournament Director may need to work his magic. (Note that as a defender, you must wait until the end of the deal before speaking up.) Dear Mr. Wolff: With

♠ A-10-3-2, ♥ Q-10-7-4-3, ♦ A-Q,

♣ J-4, I suppose you would open one

heart, but what would you rebid over a response of one no-trump, which we play as forcing? — Stuck on Two, Great Falls, Mont.

ANSWER: This is why people hate the forcing no-trump! You cannot bid two spades without at least an ace more than you hold, and you cannot rebid a miserable five-carder, so I’d either risk a pass and break partnership discipline, or bid a confident two clubs and hope the auction does not end there. Dear Mr. Wolff: I’d like to learn more about duplicate by kibitzing. I live in Washington State and would like to know where to observe good players. — Grasshopper, Bellevue, Wash. ANSWER: The easiest way to learn may be by watching on the Internet. You can see top-level bridge on BBO almost every night. And when major championships happen all around the world, the action is shown live, with commentary, but the quality of the analysis varies. Try going to BBO at www.bridgebase.org for more details.

♣

♠ A-Q-7-3-2, ♥ 10-3-2, ♦

Q-7-4 K-5 and overcalled one spade over one club. This was passed around to his RHO, who doubled for takeout. He passed and so did his LHO, and I redoubled. What action would you recommend now? — What Goes Around, Riverside, Calif. ANSWER: The redouble is for rescue so the overcaller cannot pass. The simplest bid is one no-trump. If partner cannot stand that spot, he can run himself or redouble for rescue (when I would head for diamonds, I suppose). It seems unnecessary to remove directly to two diamonds until you have to. No-trump could easily be the best spot. Dear Mr. Wolff: My partner asked me about a suit combination and I disagreed with his answer. How should you play a singleton, facing A-Q-10-9-7-4 if you want to hold your losers to one trick? — Puff Adder, Dover, Del. ANSWER: You plan to lead up to either the 10 or queen, and follow up with the ace, hoping to drop a missing honor. If the suit is 3-3, it is a blind guess. Either line works if the king or jack is doubleton onside; neither line works if the king is doubleton offside. If there is a doubleton jack offside, you must lead first to the queen, then continue by playing the ace and the 10. Thus leading to the queen is right.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, March 1, 2010 by admin on March 15th, 2010 “To see what is front of one’s nose needs a constant struggle.”

Dealer: South North

♠ 10 4 3 2 ♥73 ♦A92 ♣ A Q 10 2

Vul: None

— George Orwell As George Orwell nearly said in “Animal Farm,” “All finesses are equal but some are more equal than others.” When you play three no-trump today after a Stayman inquiry, West leads from his heart sequence, and you hold up your ace for one round and win the next heart. Now your contract hinges on a diamond finesse or a club finesse; if one works and the other does not, your play will be critical to the success or failure of the contract.

West

East

♠J98 ♥ Q J 10 9 6 ♦Q5 ♣8 6 4

♠Q75 ♥K842 ♦ 10 6 3 ♣K 7 5 South

♠AK6 ♥A5 ♦KJ874 ♣J 9 3

You can either toss a coin or choose the suit that has been luckier for you in the past…. Only kidding! The right way to play the hand is to take advantage of both suits if you can. Since you cannot take both finesses simultaneously, you need to fall back on the only way you can exploit both suits without giving up the lead. Instead of finessing in one suit, you play off your top cards in that suit, and if you have no joy there, you take the finesse in the other suit. So which is the correct suit with which to start? Diamonds, of course.

South

West

North

East

1 NT

Pass

2

♣

Pass

♦

Pass

3 NT

All Pass

2

♥Q

Opening Lead:

Since you have eight diamonds, the chance that the queen will drop in two rounds is almost one in three. If the diamonds disappoint you, you must play on clubs, running the nine, then the jack. But if, as here, the diamond queen falls, you can scamper home with your nine top tricks, since you no longer need the club finesse. LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠872 ♥Q832 ♦K42 ♣K Q 4 South

West

North

Pass All Pass

2 NT

Pass

East 1 NT 3 NT

ANSWER: On slow auctions of this sort, there is a case for going passive — particularly if you think the cards are lying badly for declarer. But, while I would never lead a club on this auction, I would prefer a heart lead to a spade lead. For all you know, a spade lead may just as easily be playing into declarer’s suit as a heart. And the rewards of leading a long suit are more tangible.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, March 2, 2010 by admin on March 16th, 2010 “And over them triumphant Death his dart Shook, but delayed to strike, though oft invoked.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: E/W

— John Milton Today’s deal demonstrates how easy it is to fall victim to the idea that trumps be drawn as soon as possible. There are at least two good reasons not to do that. The first is that you will often need to ruff something in one hand or the other. The second is that there may be something more important to be done before playing trumps. That generally boils down to a question of timing and communication. Let’s look at the likely sequence of plays in today’s deal. West leads the heart queen against four spades. East takes his ace — guarding against this specific distribution in the suit — and drops South’s king. When he continues with a heart, declarer ruffs the trick. A thoughtless declarer might now draw trumps in four rounds and then unblock dummy’s clubs. But he cannot reach his own hand. The best he can do is play a diamond to his king, but when it loses, the defenders have the rest.

♠842 ♥9832 ♦842 ♣A K Q

West

East

♠ 10 9 5 3 ♥ Q J 10 6 ♦A93 ♣9 4

♠6 ♥A754 ♦ Q J 10 7 5 ♣8 5 3 South

♠AKQJ7 ♥K ♦K6 ♣ J 10 7 6 2 South

♠ 4♠ 1

West

North

East

Pass

2

♠

Pass

All Pass

♥

A far better approach would be to draw two rounds of Opening Lead: Q trump, then reassess the position. If trumps have split, declarer can draw them all, unblock clubs, and play for the overtrick. If trumps do not split, declarer must take the slight risk of cashing two rounds of clubs. Then he reverts to drawing trumps, but on the fourth round, he can unblock dummy’s remaining club honor. Now declarer has five tricks in each of the black suits, and can happily concede the last two tricks. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ 10 9 5 3 ♥ Q J 10 6 ♦A93 ♣9 4 South

West

North

♦ 3♣ 4♠ 1

♥ 3♦ 1

?

Pass Pass

East Pass Pass Pass

ANSWER: The jump to four spades is an unequivocal slam-try suggesting short spades. Your honors will be working overtime. Also you have trump support and a key third-round club control. Jump to six diamonds if you trust your partner’s bidding.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, March 3, 2010 by admin on March 17th, 2010 Dealer: South North

“I gave myself to him,

Vul: All

And took himself for pay. The solemn contract of a life Was ratified this way.” — Emily Dickinson This month I shall be featuring some of my favorite deals from “Kantar on Kontract.” Eddie Kantar has the deserved reputation of being not only one of the nicest and funniest people in the game, but also one of the best bridge writers. He states that when the following spade game was played in the Life Master’s Pairs, only one declarer managed to go down. Without looking at the East-West cards, try to avoid being the second! (Trumps split and neither opponent has a side-suit singleton.)

♠K876 ♥KQ93 ♦ 10 4 ♣7 6 5

West

East

♠43 ♥ 10 8 4 2 ♦AJ9 ♣ Q J 10 9

♠QJ2 ♥65 ♦K8765 ♣8 3 2 South

♠ A 10 9 5 ♥AJ7 ♦Q32 ♣A K 4 South

West

North

The unsuccessful declarer won the opening club lead, 1 NT* Pass 2 played the spade ace, led the spade five to the king, leaving one high trump outstanding, and began to run his 2 Pass 4 hearts. He didn’t get very far. East, the player with the high trump, ruffed the third heart and returned a club. Dummy *16-18 points now had a winning heart, declarer a losing club and, you guessed it, declarer had no entry to dummy’s heart. He Opening Lead: Q had cleverly left himself the 10-9 of spades while dummy had the 8-7. When he exited with a diamond, the defenders cashed two diamonds and a club — down one.

♣ ♠

♠

East Pass All Pass

♣

There are two much better ways to play the hand: Play the ace-king and a third spade. Now it is easy enough to discard a losing club on a heart without anybody ruffing. Alternatively, cash the spade ace and run the space nine. Assuming it loses, win the club return, draw the last trump, and play hearts. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠K876 ♥KQ93 ♦ 10 4 ♣7 6 5 South

West

North

♣ 2♥ 1

Dbl. ?

Pass

East

♦

1

Pass

ANSWER: It is easy to confuse a jump-shift rebid by opener — which is game-forcing — with jump support for your suit, which is invitational. Here you showed both majors and partner jumped to suggest some small extras in case you had game-interest. Because you have a bare minimum, pass two hearts.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, March 4, 2010 by admin on March 18th, 2010 “Show me a hero and I will write you a tragedy.”

Dealer: South North

♠63 ♥A62 ♦A752 ♣J 7 3 2

Vul: None — F. Scott Fitzgerald When this deal occurred at the Dyspeptics Club, South, in possession of his usual rock-crusher, tried a subtle and well-thought-out approach in the auction. His two-spade call was a help-suit try, ostensibly for game. When North admitted to extras or a suitable spade holding, South used Blackwood and bid the heart slam. Alas, South’s declarer play did not match his bidding. He won the opening diamond lead, cashed the heart king, then played three rounds of spades, ruffing in dummy. Disaster! East overruffed and played back his last trump, killing the second spade ruff: down one. North quite rightly took his partner to task for following a line of play that might have been appropriate in a grand slam. He suggested that it would have been better to cash the heart ace, then play on the crossruff. He had conveniently overlooked the fact that East would still have defeated the contract by overruffing the third spade in this variation. The right line of play is to win the diamond lead, cash the heart queen, take the two top spades, ruff a spade high, then cross to the club ace and ruff the last spade low. East can overruff and return a minor suit, but declarer wins, draws the last trump, and can claim the balance.

West

East

♠ J 10 8 4 2 ♥J ♦KQJ4 ♣9 6 4

♠Q5 ♥ 10 9 3 ♦9863 ♣ Q 10 8 5 South

♠AK97 ♥KQ8754 ♦ 10 ♣A K South

♥ 2♠ 1

4 NT

♥

6

West

North

Pass

2

♥ 4♥ 5♥

Pass Pass

East Pass Pass Pass

All Pass

♦K

Opening Lead:

It also works perfectly well to go after spades without touching trumps. You can ruff the third spade low, and, if necessary, ruff the fourth spade high, losing just one trump trick. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ J 10 8 4 2 ♥J ♦KQJ4 ♣9 6 4 South

♠ 2♦ 1

?

West

North

East

1

♦

Dbl.

Pass

1 NT

Pass

♥

Dbl.

Pass

2

ANSWER: Your partner’s double suggests interest in penalties, but your hand is entirely unsuitable for defense. (You might have had four small diamonds and better spades and clubs for example.) Rather than risk a disaster, retreat to three diamonds and settle for a safer, if potentially less rewarding, spot.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, March 5, 2010 by admin on March 19th, 2010 Dealer: South North

“If there were dreams to sell

Vul: E/W

What would you buy? Some cost a passing-bell; Some a light sigh.” — Thomas Beddoes Sabine Auken of Germany would be many people’s choice for the title of Best Woman Bridge Player in the World. Look at her in action in today’s deal from a world championship.

West

East

♠ 10 7 5 3 ♥ K 10 6 2 ♦J82 ♣5 4

♠J42 ♥985 ♦ K 10 9 7 3 ♣6 2 South

♠96 ♥AJ3 ♦AQ65 ♣K Q J 8

Auken, South, was declarer in the uninspiring contract of seven clubs. However, the play justified the bidding. West led a diamond to the king and ace. Declarer ruffed a diamond, crossed to the club queen, and ruffed another diamond. She now drew another round of trumps, cashed the spade ace, and had arrived at the moment of truth. The simple line is to take a heart finesse, and indeed this is what happened at several other tables. But Auken decided that given East’s likely diamond length (West’s jack had fallen on the third round), she also had a good chance of success if West held the heart king. She reasoned that West was more likely to hold the heart king than East because with neither red king, she might have led a heart. Leading from an honorless heart suit almost certainly would have been more attractive than leading a diamond from three to the jack.

♠AKQ8 ♥Q74 ♦4 ♣ A 10 9 7 3

South

West

North

1

♣

Pass

1

2 NT

Pass

♥ 5♣** 4

♠ 4♦*

Pass

4 NT

Pass

♣

East Pass Pass Pass

All Pass 7 *Short diamonds, setting clubs as trumps **Three aces, counting the trump king as an ace

♦2

Opening Lead:

So declarer played a club to hand and cashed her last club, her heart ace, her diamond queen and the last trump. Dummy held only K-Q-8 of spades, while declarer had a spade and J-3 of hearts in hand. West could not keep three spades as well as the heart king, so Auken landed her grand slam. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠AKQ8 ♥Q74 ♦4 ♣ A 10 9 7 3 South

West

North

East

Pass

2 Pass

♦

Dbl. ?

Rdbl.

ANSWER: Nobody can say there is a right or wrong bid here, but I strongly believe that when the opponents pre-empt, as here, you cannot allow them to talk you out of playing for penalties by redoubling. It is up to your partner to run from two diamonds if he does not want to defend. So cross your fingers and pass — you do have quick tricks after all.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, March 6, 2010 by admin on March 20th, 2010 “Lookers-on see most of the game.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: All

♠A76 ♥J ♦AJ53 ♣ J 10 9 5 4

— English proverb One of my readers, Jim Beall, sent me a deal that had appeared in another bridge column, but he added a perceptive comment. See if you can match his analysis. In a Vanderbilt tournament Ron Smith and his counterpart both played this deal in four hearts after East had opened two spades. Both received a top club lead and spade shift.

West

East

♠94 ♥K932 ♦Q76 ♣A K 6 2

♠ K Q J 10 8 3 ♥— ♦ 10 9 8 2 ♣8 7 3 South

The unsuccessful declarer won the spade ace and let the heart jack run to West when East showed out. West continued spades and got a second heart trick via a trump promotion on the third round of spades — down one. By contrast Smith, who foresaw what might happen if the opposing hearts were divided 4-0, immediately played the diamond king and ace, then advanced the diamond jack, pitching his spade to achieve a Scissors Coup before touching trumps. Now the defenders had no communication for the trump promotion.

♠52 ♥ A4 Q 10 8 6 5 ♦K4 ♣Q South

West

North

East

♠

2

♥

4

All Pass

As Beall pointed out, so long as the unsuccessful declarer believed East began with six spades, he should have been able to avoid losing a swing. To circumnavigate the Opening Lead: K trump promotion, once trumps are known to split 4-0, South must not let the heart jack run to West. Instead, declarer overtakes dummy’s heart jack with his ace, takes the diamond king, finesses in diamonds, pitches his losing spade on the diamond ace, and concedes two trump tricks. He risks going down two, but it is his only practical chance.

♣

Incidentally, at trick three, running the club jack to pitch a spade should also be considered. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠A76 ♥J ♦AJ53 ♣ J 10 9 5 4 South

West

North

♣

1 ?

East

♥

1

ANSWER: One possible start is to cue-bid two hearts to show a limit raise or better. (Remember, a jump to three clubs is WEAK, neither a limit raise nor a forcing raise.) Better, though, is a jump cue-bid to three hearts, showing a gameforcing hand in clubs and a singleton heart — a splinter-bid. That lets partner decide on which game to play, with a good idea about your primary support and heart shortage.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, March 7, 2010 by admin on March 21st, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

In standard bidding, if you double and then raise your partner’s response, is that a courtesy action or does it show real gameinterest? And does it matter if the auction is competitive? — Double Action, Boulder, Colo. ANSWER: If opener does not re-enter the auction, a raise would be a game-try and promise real extras. If opener rebids his suit or bids a new suit, then the raise by the doubler suggests suitable shape but does not guarantee any extras. With a good hand and support, the doubler must cue-bid or double again. Dear Mr. Wolff:

♠ ♥

♦

♣

I held 9, 9-3-2, A-J-10-3-2, KQ-7-4, and my partner opened two clubs. Our agreement is that two diamonds is a waiting bid, with a suit bid showing length and strength. Is there any upper limit to the two-diamond bid — and what would you do here? — The Spin Room, Waterbury, Conn. ANSWER: No, there is no upper limit. Partner can hardly double-cross you by passing two diamonds, so you can describe your hand accurately later. Your partner may not expect you to have a decent hand, but he will not discount that possibility. I would not bid an immediate three diamonds with this hand, as it pre-empts partner’s description of his hand. Dear Mr. Wolff: A recent column showed a bidding sequence that baffled me. I am a novice who doesn’t play tournament bridge, but this one sure took the cake. In response to South’s one-no-trump opening, North bid two hearts with only a low singleton heart and five spades! With eight points in an unbalanced hand, I could understand either a bid of two clubs or two spades, but not two hearts. Do you have a simple answer for me? — Stunned, San Ramon, Calif.

ANSWER: You bring up a delicate issue. As I understand it, most players are now taught Jacoby transfers when they learn the game (hence no footnote for this auction). Bidding a red suit in response to one no-trump SHOWS the major suit one step higher than the bid suit, hearts and spades respectively. In the example here, North’s bid showed spades. Please write to me if you need more help.

Dear Mr. Wolff:

♠

♥

♦

♣

I held A-Q-9-7-4, J-8-2, J-6-2, 9-5. When the opponents bid two clubs over my partner’s opening bid of one diamond, what is my best approach with this hand? — Negative Thinker, Ketchikan, Alaska ANSWER: First things first: Do not bid two spades, which vastly overstates your highcard strength, as it guarantees at least invitational values. One choice is to pass and hope that you get a chance to bid spades later (or not mention them at all). The second choice is to make a negative double. The problem here is that if partner responds two hearts, you do not know whether to pass or correct to two spades. I think I would double. (Give me the diamond queen instead of the jack, and you could sell me on the idea that I could not afford to pass.) Dear Mr. Wolff: Up to what level are second-turn doubles by opener for takeout as opposed to penalties? If I open one diamond, my LHO bids one heart, and my RHO bids two notrump, what should my double mean now? — Double, Double, Miami, Fla. ANSWER: The general rule is that all doubles of suits at your second turn facing a passing partner are takeout. However, sometimes doubles of no-trump bids just show good hands — the sequence you quote is somewhere in between. I’d expect a really good hand for the auction you give — maybe a three-suiter with 17-plus HCP.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, March 8, 2010 by admin on March 22nd, 2010 “I planned her a nest in a leafless tree But the passers eyed and twitted me,

Dealer: South North

♠AKJ8632 ♥AJ64 ♦Q6 ♣—

Vul: E/W

And said: ‘How reckless a bird is he….’” — Thomas Hardy How often have we all received the advice to plan the whole deal at trick one — and ignored it, to our ultimate regret?

West

East

♠7 ♥82 ♦ 10 8 5 3 ♣ 10 9 6 4 3 2

♠ Q 10 9 5 4 ♥7 ♦KJ9 ♣A K J 8 South

Today’s declarer carefully played the whole heart grand slam through in his head before touching a card, and that care paid off when his contract rolled home despite the unfavorable lie of his opponents’ cards. When West led the heart two, declarer calculated that he could make his grand slam as long as spades did not split 6-0. If the spades split 3-3 or 4-2, it would not matter where the first trick was won, but if spades were 5-1, four entries to dummy were needed — three for spade ruffs and a fourth to access the set-up spades.

♠— ♥ K Q 10 9 5 3 ♦A742 ♣Q 7 5 South

♥ 3♥ 4♦ 7♥ 1

West

North

Pass

2

♠ 4♣

Pass

Pass 5 NT So, essentially, as it transpired, declarer won the trump lead in dummy, then ruffed a spade. A heart to dummy All Pass drew all the trumps, and this was followed by a second spade ruff. Now South’s care at trick one was rewarded Opening Lead: 2 when the 5-1 break came to light. A club ruff and another spade ruff set up four spade tricks in dummy, and they could be accessed by a club ruff with dummy’s last trump. Cashing spades from the top allowed South’s three losing diamonds and losing club to be discarded.

East Pass Pass Pass

♥

In the end declarer drew two rounds of trump, scored his remaining six trumps separately, and took four spade tricks and the diamond ace. (Try winning the first trump in your hand; you will find the contract is unmakable.) LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ 10 6 2 ♥98 ♦Q432 ♣K 9 6 3 South

Pass Pass

West

♥ 2♣ 1

North

East

1

♣

Dbl.

Pass

1 NT

Pass

3 NT

ANSWER: Declarer has shown a balanced 1820 with a good club stop. Dummy looked for heart support or a spade suit, and East denied a fit. I can see that a club lead might work (especially if declarer has long diamonds and just one club stop). Equally, it might concede the game-going trick. I am torn between the majors; on balance, I’d be swayed by my heart intermediates to lead the heart nine.

All Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, March 9, 2010 by admin on March 23rd, 2010 “Beware of desp’rate steps! The darkest day (Live till tomorrow) will have passed away.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: All

— William Cowper Today’s deal is from a recent major invitational teams event. If you reach six spades and the defenders do not lead hearts, then you will surely play on clubs after drawing trumps and will probably regret you did not play the grand slam.

♠ 10 8 4 ♥AJ ♦K952 ♣K J 8 6

West

East

♠5 ♥ K 10 7 5 3 2 ♦863 ♣ Q 10 4

♠9632 ♥Q84 ♦ J 10 7 ♣7 3 2 South

On a heart lead things are more complex. After two top spades show the 4-1 split, you discard any thoughts of an endplay. You simply draw trumps, duck a heart, ruff the return, then cash a couple of top diamonds from hand.

♠AKQJ7 ♥96 ♦AQ4 ♣A 9 5

The fall of the diamond 10 on your right gives you a real problem — you are now faced with a choice of approaches. Should you cash the diamond king, planning South West North to fall back on the club finesse if diamonds do not break? Pass 1 2 This gives you about a two-thirds chance of success Pass 4 (basically 3-3 diamonds plus half the balance). Or should 3 you rely on finessing the diamond nine? The chance that All Pass 6 East has a doubleton honor compared to J-10-x is also about two to one. That is because there are twice as many doubleton-honor holdings as there are three-card holdings Opening Lead: 5 to the J-10. A third approach would be to cash the club AK and then fall back on diamonds — the problem here being that a truly devious East might have false-carded in diamonds from J-10-8-7.

♠ ♣ ♠

♣ ♠

East Pass Pass

♥

My gut reaction is that the first line is best. Opinions differ here, but since at least two world-class players disagreed (and went down), I’d better not say that too loud. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ 10 8 4 ♥AJ ♦K952 ♣K J 8 6 South

♦

1 ?

West

♥

1

North

East

Dbl.

Pass

ANSWER: I can see a case, of sorts, being made for a minimum action in spades, no-trump or clubs. With better spades and worse hearts, one spade with the three-card suit might easily be right; a two-club call suggests, strongly, holding 5-4 in the minors, so is unattractive. That leaves a call of one no-trump, which at least limits the hand — never a bad thing.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 by admin on March 24th, 2010 “We’ve trod the maze of error round, Long wandering in the winding glade;

Dealer: North North

♠J973 ♥9854 ♦AJ ♣Q 9 3

Vul: N/S

And now the torch of truth is found, It only shows us where we strayed.” — George Crabbe Eddie Kantar, in his book “Kantar on Kontract” (at kantarbridge.com) remarks that when almost every player in a championship event makes the same defensive error on the same hand, you begin to realize the game cannot be played mechanically; there is still a premium for clear thinking. When this deal was played in the Blue Ribbon Pairs one year, many Souths bought the contract in four or five spades and invariably made five, even though there are three inescapable heart losers. What happened? Apparently every West player who saw partner play the heart 10 at trick one couldn’t wait to cash the ace and try to give partner a ruff. What partner was supposed to ruff with remains a mystery. Surely South has seven spades for his vulnerable pre-empt, which leaves East with a void. If West leads any card other than the heart ace at trick two, the hand can be defeated, as South cannot avoid three heart losers.

West

East

♠42 ♥AK2 ♦Q432 ♣K J 4 2

♠— ♥ Q 10 ♦ 10 9 8 7 6 ♣ A 10 8 7 6 5 South ♠ A5 K Q 10 8 6

♥J763 ♦K5 ♣— South

West

North Pass

East Pass

♠

Pass

Pass

4 NT*

Pass

♣

♠

4

Pass 5 5 Pass Dbl. All Pass *Two-suited takeout including diamonds

♥K

Opening Lead:

There is a lesson here. Think before you play, and if the bidding tells you that partner is void in trumps, it is probably not a great idea to try to give him a ruff. Yes, partner might have had the Q-10 of hearts in a long suit, but where are declarer’s heart losers going? If declarer has four small hearts, he will not be able to discard all his losers on winners from dummy, so you can sit back and wait to collect your heart winners at the end of the hand. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠J973 ♥9854 ♦AJ ♣Q 9 3 South

West

Pass

1

?

♦

North

East

Dbl.

Pass

ANSWER: Even as a passed hand you are not really worth more than a minimum action — but you surely intend to compete if the opponents join in again. That said, the best way to get both majors into play is to respond one spade, so you can bid hearts economically if the opponents compete in the minors.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, March 11, 2010 by admin on March 25th, 2010 “‘Guess now who holds thee?’ –‘Death,’ I said, but there The silver answer rang… ‘Not Death, but Love.'”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: None

♠96 ♥AQJ5 ♦Q9432 ♣J 4

— Elizabeth Barrett Browning Estoril in Portugal (the most westerly point of continental Europe) was the site of one of the more successful recent Bermuda Bowls. A pleasant and popular European bridge congress is held annually there, and the final round of last year’s Swiss Teams saw an England-Bulgaria squad face a Portuguese-Spanish one. This was the final board, and just one point separated the teams. Had the Spanish declarer made her contract, her team would have lifted the trophy, but her opponents collected the prize. The contract was the same in both rooms — and yes, South might well have passed one no-trump. As you can see, there are seven top tricks in spades, and good chances for an eighth. West led the diamond king, then switched to the heart nine to the queen and king. Back came the only card to beat the contract, a diamond to West’s king. Again the defenders found the key switch, back to hearts. This was won in dummy, and now declarer was faced with a choice of losing options: drawing trumps leaves three club losers; a winning heart is ruffed by West; and the diamond queen is ruffed by East.

West

East

♠J52 ♥97 ♦ A K 10 8 ♣ A 10 9 3

♠74 ♥ K 10 8 6 4 ♦75 ♣Q 8 6 2 South

♠ A K Q 10 8 3 ♥32 ♦J6 ♣K 7 5 South

♠ 2♠ 1

West

North

East

1

♦

Pass

1

Pass

1 NT

Pass

♥

All Pass

♦K

Opening Lead:

See the difference if dummy’s heart ace is played at trick two. Trumps are drawn, then South exits with a diamond or a heart. Now the defense must either give declarer a redsuit trick for a club discard, or open the clubs, giving declarer the one trick he needs from that suit. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠96 ♥AQJ5 ♦Q9432 ♣J 4 South

West

North

♣ 2♣ 1

♥

1 ?

Pass

East Pass Pass

ANSWER: There are sound reasons for raising to three clubs. To start with, your hand offers decent chances for game facing club length, be it in three no-trump or five clubs. And you have no reason to let the opponents in cheaply by passing two clubs, since if your partner has a minimum, they may have play for a partscore in spades.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, March 12, 2010 by admin on March 26th, 2010 “We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: None

♠ 10 3 ♥KQ83 ♦K73 ♣J 8 7 3

— Patrick Henry In today’s no-trump game declarer was beguiled by the fact that he could make two tricks in spades. Taking them, however, meant the demise of the contract. West led the spade six to East’s king, and seeing that the jack and 10 would provide a second spade stopper, declarer won with the ace, then set about dislodging the club ace. East returned the spade five, but West withheld the queen, knowing that East had a third spade. (South’s response to Stayman denied that he held four spades.) Successfully locating the diamond queen brought the trick tally to eight, but as soon as South led a heart, East pounced with the ace to return the spade that set the contract. South had focused on the small rather than the big picture. East was marked with both missing aces by his opening bid. When West chose to ignore his partner’s diamond call and led the spade six, it was almost certainly from a five-card or six-card suit — which left no more than three spades for East.

West

East

♠Q9862 ♥6542 ♦52 ♣9 5

♠K54 ♥A9 ♦Q9864 ♣A 6 2 South

♠AJ7 ♥ J 10 7 ♦ A J 10 ♣ K Q 10 4 South

West

North

East

♦

1

♣

1 NT

Pass

2

Pass

♦

Pass

3 NT

All Pass

2

♠6

Opening Lead:

Had South sacrificed his second spade trick and withheld his ace until the third round, East would have had no spade to return when he subsequently came on lead with his aces. Even if the defenders had shifted to diamonds, declarer would have had enough time to set up hearts and clubs before the defenders got their suit going, spelling success for South’s game. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ 10 3 ♥KQ83 ♦K73 ♣J 8 7 3 South

West

North

East

♣

1 Pass

♥

2 ?

♦

1

Dbl.

Pass

Pass

2

♠

Pass

ANSWER: Your partner has shown a very good hand with five or more spades (say in the 17-20 range). You have enough to drive to game, but having jumped on the previous round, you do not need to do more than make a simple call of two no-trump, expressing your hand-type very nicely. Let partner describe his hand further at a convenient level.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, March 13, 2010 by admin on March 27th, 2010 “If it had grown up, … it would have made a dreadfully ugly child; but it makes rather a handsome pig, I think.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: E/W

♠ 10 4 ♥A7532 ♦AQ43 ♣A K

— Lewis Carroll In today’s deal it may look as if South was hogging the contract, but he did remarkably well in both the bidding and the play. After South’s game-forcing response, North was able to produce a simple raise of diamonds, then cue-bid over the jump to four hearts, which had suggested good diamonds and hearts and no black-suit first-round control. When North showed his extras by bidding five clubs, South realized he had control of all suits except spades and that both red suits did not require to be ruffed out, so there was no benefit to playing at trumps. To prevent an opening lead through his spade king, South bid the slam in no-trump. West did well to settle for the passive club lead, and now it was up to South to make his slam. South worked out at once that the contract could easily be made if the suits split normally. As a 4-0 heart split would be fatal unless West had the void, South first cashed the heart ace. When the bad break was revealed, it was extremely unlikely that West also had a void in diamonds. So South led a heart to the jack and queen, then played the diamond king, protecting against East being void there.

West

East

♠A8752 ♥— ♦J962 ♣ J 10 8 2

♠QJ93 ♥ J 10 8 6 ♦— ♣9 7 6 5 4 South

♠K6 ♥KQ94 ♦ K 10 8 7 5 ♣Q 3 South

♦ 4♥ 5♦ 2

6 NT

West

North

Pass

1

♥ 3♦ 5♣ 5♥

Pass Pass Pass

East Pass Pass Pass Pass

All Pass

♣J

Opening Lead:

Now South could finesse twice in diamonds and once more in hearts. He could cash out his diamonds, then cross to the remaining club honor in dummy to take the long heart, bringing home a hard-earned 12 tricks: five diamonds, five hearts and two clubs. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠A8752 ♥— ♦J962 ♣ J 10 8 2 South

♠ 2♣ 1

?

West

North

East

1

♣

Pass

Dbl.

Pass

1 NT

♥

Pass

Pass

2

ANSWER: The opponents have come to a stop at a disappointingly low level, given the bad heart break on the deal. Give them a little push by bidding three clubs, and hope that they will advance further in hearts. You are not really worth this call, but a small investment may pay big rewards if the opponents misjudge the deal.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, March 14, 2010 by admin on March 28th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

At a duplicate last week, I experienced one of the oddest deals I have ever seen. Each hand had a suit of at least seven cards, facing a void in that suit. I think the odds against it must be pretty huge. — Wacky Splits, Tupelo, Miss. ANSWER: You are right; this particular mesh of a long suit facing a void is unusual. But if you play enough hands, you never know what you will see! (Recently my LHO opened two hearts and bought a 12-count with no hearts. On the next deal my RHO made a four-heart call over one spade and bought a 12-count with no hearts. She should have been expecting it. To complete the symmetry both contracts went one down when they should have made!) Dear Mr. Wolff:

♠

♥

♦

♣

I held K-J-2, Q-9, J-9-3-2, A10-3-2 and passed initially. When my partner opened one club, how would you rate the choice of an inverted raise as opposed to a jump to two no-trump? And if you do bid two clubs to show a limit raise or better, would you raise partner’s two-notrump continuation to game? — Passing Fancy, Staten Island, N.Y. ANSWER: Yes, if I made the inverted raise, I would expect partner to pass some of the time that game was going to be hopeless, so the two-no-trump call sounds constructive, and I would bid game. I actually prefer the direct jump to two notrump, but if I had major-suit holdings that suggest it might be better for me to declare the hand, I’d like the inverted raise to be less balanced than this. Dear Mr. Wolff: Under what the circumstances should I lead an unsupported ace against a slam in a suit contract, or indeed at no-trump? — Wild Thing, Houston, Texas

ANSWER: If I knew the answer to that question, I’d be a far richer man than I am. There is no good answer — but ace leads are rare against no-trump slams. At a suit slam it depends somewhat on the caliber of your opponents, the holdings in the other suits, and the likelihood of dummy having discards for declarer’s losers. Also, the stronger the declarer’s hand, the more likely the ace lead will cost.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Recently I held

♣

♠ Q-9-2, ♥ A-2, ♦ K-Q-7-

4 J-6-3-2. My RHO opened one heart. I did not double, because I only had three spades, but when my LHO bid a forcing notrump and my RHO bid two hearts, I decided to balance with a double. An 800 penalty later I was told forcefully by my partner that it was cheaper to act on the first round. What do you think? — The Late Bird, Bremerton, Wash. ANSWER: Two things apply here. Yes, bidding on the first round is better (a double suggests short hearts, not a guarantee of length in the other major). And if you pass initially, you cannot back into a live auction — technically, you were not balancing, because your LHO might still have been about to invite game. Dear Mr. Wolff:

♠

♥ ♦

♣

Holding A-Q-7-4, 3, 7-2, K-Q10-7-4-3, I responded one spade to my partner’s one-diamond opening bid. Over her two–diamond rebid, I tried three clubs, and passed her bid of three no-trump. She thinks I should have bid two clubs and then three clubs, never showing my spades. Do you think I should have reversed by bidding two clubs and then three spades?) — First Responder, Kenosha, Wis. ANSWER: If you think this hand is worth a force to game (and we both do, don’t we?), it is a pretty good principle ALWAYS to respond in your longest suit — especially where, as here, you have a two-card disparity. Bid clubs, then spades, the latter delivering a four-card suit most, if not all, of the time. The spade call does not say anything about extras, beyond your initial statement of game-forcing values.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, March 15, 2010 by admin on March 29th, 2010 “All tragedies are finished by a death; All comedies are ended by a marriage.”

Dealer: North North

Vul: All

— Lord Byron To mark the spring nationals now taking place in Reno (you will be able to follow some of the action on bridgebase.org), all the deals this week come from last year’s spring nationals at Houston. When Kit Woolsey gives you a deal, you can be sure there is either a fine technical point or a good joke. This deal falls into both categories. Kit, South, after his partner had opened three clubs, produced the technically correct response of three hearts, which was raised to game. How should you play on a spade lead? You could rely on the heart jack coming down in three, but if that does not happen, you have a raft of diamond and spade losers. Instead, why not duck a heart at trick two? You should be able to draw trumps easily enough now. This line runs into trouble only if clubs are 4-0 … but look at the East-West cards!

♠4 ♥ 10 9 ♦865 ♣A K J 7 6 5 4

West

East

♠ K J 10 9 ♥J6 ♦A72 ♣ 10 9 3 2

♠Q832 ♥7543 ♦KQJ94 ♣— South

♠A765 ♥AKQ82 ♦ 10 3 ♣Q 8 South

West

North

♣ 4♥ 3

♥

3

Pass

East Pass All Pass

♠

Suppose West plays a spade at trick three. Declarer ruffs Opening Lead: J and tries to cross to hand with a low club. Alas for him, the defenders ruff in, cash two diamonds and two spades, get another club — down four! The good news for Woolsey was that West won the heart jack and, played back a trump for minus 680. In the other room, South responded three no-trump to the pre-empt and played there on a spade lead for plus 720. One IMP to Woolsey’s opponents. LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠765 ♥Q82 ♦ J 10 9 3 ♣Q 8 4 South

West

Pass

♥ 3♠ 4♠ 1

Pass

North

East

Pass

1

Pass All Pass

♠ 4♦

ANSWER: The four-diamond call is a cue-bid, showing slam interest. Best practice here would be for this sequence to DENY a club control. West’s sign-off suggests no club control, so you need to cash club tricks at once. The lead of a low club is normal, but just in case dummy has king-third of clubs, the lead of the queen might be best.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 by admin on March 30th, 2010 “The public…demands certainties …. But there are no certainties.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: E/W

♠9852 ♥K5 ♦K8 ♣A 6 5 4 3

— H.L. Mencken In this deal from the Houston North American Pairs last spring, the field played four hearts on a diamond lead. It looks normal to play three rounds of diamonds, ruffing in dummy. Now you cash the heart king, play a spade to your king, and cash the heart ace, finding out the bad news. Your only chance now is a trump endplay, and you need to reduce trumps twice to achieve that. When you exit with your spade queen, East must win and should not exit with a spade. If he does, you ruff, cross to the club ace to ruff a spade, then exit with a club to collect one of the last two tricks. Instead, East plays a club at the critical moment, and you can no longer ruff two spades in hand. You may be able to do better, although protecting against 4-1 hearts onside with West having a low singleton trump may be against the odds. Win the opening diamond lead in dummy and play a spade to the king. If it holds the trick, exit with the spade queen. The defenders rate to return a diamond. After that you can ruff a diamond, cash the heart king, then ruff a spade. When you take the heart ace to find the 4-1 break, you can then enter dummy with the club ace and ruff another spade.

West

East

♠ J 10 6 4 ♥8 ♦Q9732 ♣ Q 10 2

♠A73 ♥ Q 10 4 2 ♦ J 10 4 ♣K 9 7 South

♠KQ ♥AJ9763 ♦A65 ♣J 8 South

♥ 2♥ 4♥ 1

West

North

Pass

1

♠ 3♥

Pass

East Pass Pass Pass

All Pass

♦3

Opening Lead:

You have nine of the first 10 tricks in the bag, can exit with a second club, and will collect a trump trick from your J-9. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠9852 ♥K5 ♦K8 ♣A 6 5 4 3 South

West

♣

1 ?

North

East

♦

Pass

1

ANSWER: Bidding a major suit in response to an overcall suggests either a five-carder or better, or a really good four-card suit. Your spades do not qualify, so simply bid one no-trump and rely on partner to introduce the spades if that is the right strain for your side to declare.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 by admin on March 31st, 2010 “I know enough of the world now, to have almost lost the capacity of being much surprised by anything.”

Dealer: North North

Vul: All

— Charles Dickens In today’s deal from the Vanderbilt Knockout Teams held in Houston last spring, Glenn Milgrim demonstrated some nifty footwork defending against three no-trump. As West, he led a fourth-highest heart to the king and ace. Declarer now led a spade to dummy and a spade to the jack and queen. East’s spade plays were the two and seven. A high-low would have been conventional (the Smith Echo), suggesting either surprising extra heart length or an additional heart honor — in this case the jack.

West

East

♠ Q 10 ♥Q863 ♦K98 ♣K 7 4 3

♠872 ♥K942 ♦ Q 10 2 ♣ J 10 5 South

♠AJ954 ♥AJ7 ♦J5 ♣A 8 6

What should West do now? Glenn inferred that declarer’s decision to go after spades rather than diamonds argued strongly that he had five spades to the A-J together with A-J-third in hearts, plus the club ace.

♠K63 ♥ 10 5 ♦A7643 ♣Q 9 2

South

West

1 NT

Pass

North Pass 3 NT

East Pass All Pass

The defenders could set up hearts, but that would only give them three quick tricks, while declarer would already Opening Lead: 3 be up to eight (the two minor-suit aces, two hearts and four spades). If declarer was left to his own devices, dummy’s club queen would represent his ninth trick; so desperate measures were called for.

♥

Glenn therefore shifted to the diamond king. As you can see from the full hand, after that play, declarer could do nothing to avoid his fate. He ducked the diamond, won the continuation, and led up to the club queen, but the defenders had sufficient communications to take two diamond tricks and one trick in each of the other suits. Three no-trump was made on less challenging defense at the other table. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠AJ954 ♥AJ7 ♦J5 ♣A 8 6 South

♠

1 ?

West

Dbl.

North

East

Pass

1

♠

2

♣

Pass

ANSWER: Did you consider trying for game? Remember that partner probably has only three spades and has opted for the weakest way to raise spades. He did have a cue-bid of two clubs with any hand interested in higher things. Even if partner gives you the missing trump honors and the diamond ace, you’d be worried about five possible losers — and he might be a LOT weaker than that. Pass and hope to make two spades.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, March 18, 2010 by admin on April 1st, 2010 “Honesty is a good thing but it is not profitable to its possessor unless it is kept under control.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: E/W

♠ 10 8 7 5 3 2 ♥KJ7 ♦J84 ♣8

— Don Marquis Neither of the major-suit games was really anything to write home about on this deal from the second qualifying session of the Silodor Open Pairs held at the U.S. Nationals in Houston last spring. In four spades declarer would need to find a minor miracle in the trump suit to hold the losers to two. However, one South bid to four hearts after East had opened one diamond. West therefore led that suit, and declarer won the diamond ace to play a low spade from hand. What should you do as East after winning the spade jack? If you play two rounds of diamonds, declarer will ruff, give up a spade, cross to the heart jack, and ruff the spades good. Declarer can then draw trumps ending in dummy and run the spades.

West

East

♠K96 ♥ 10 3 2 ♦Q93 ♣9 6 5 3

♠AJ ♥84 ♦ K 10 7 5 2 ♣ K J 10 7 South

♠Q4 ♥AQ965 ♦A6 ♣A Q 4 2 South

West

North

East

♦

1

♠ ♥

Pass 1 The best defense is to play back a club at trick three. If Dbl. declarer rises with the ace and plays a second spade, you Pass 2 3 win the spade ace and lead the diamond seven (the All Pass count-card from your remaining four cards) to partner’s 4 queen. You hope that this will encourage West to shift back to clubs now. Declarer can ruff the club in dummy, Opening Lead: 3 but his late entry to all the spades has gone, and his trump spots are not good enough to play a crossruff. West’s heart 10 comes into its own.

♥ ♥

Pass Pass

♦

At the table, when East found the club shift, declarer did exceedingly well to take the “practice” club finesse, after which life was easy for him. Plus 420 was worth most of the matchpoints for South. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q4 ♥AQ965 ♦A6 ♣A Q 4 2 South

West

North

East

♥

Pass

1 NT

Pass

1 ?

ANSWER: It is tempting to jump to three clubs now, but this hand is really not worth driving to game. Of the two plausible alternatives, the simpler one is to bid two no-trump, suggesting a balanced 17-19 or so. The second choice is to bid two clubs, planning to convert a preference bid of two hearts to two no-trump to show these values. You might play two clubs, I suppose — but who is to say that would be wrong?

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, March 19, 2010 by admin on April 2nd, 2010 “We cannot bring ourselves to believe it possible that a foreigner should in any respect be wiser than ourselves.”

Dealer: South North

♠ Q 10 7 4 ♥942 ♦J64 ♣K 8 4

Vul: All

— Anthony Trollope Bob Hamman always says that when you have to make a decision in bidding, if three no-trump is in the picture, bid it. In this deal from the Houston Vanderbilt Knockout Teams, Hamman found himself in a decidedly dicey no-trump game, but you don’t get a reputation like Hamman’s by giving up. West led a heart to the queen, ducked by Hamman. He inserted the jack on the heart continuation, losing to West’s king. Another heart cleared the suit as East discarded a club. Things looked bleak with the clubs and diamonds blocked, but Hamman cashed the diamond ace in case something nice happened, then took his two top clubs and played a spade to dummy’s 10. East won the king and started thinking — good news! Eventually, East returned a low spade to the jack and queen. Hamman cashed dummy’s club king as East pitched a spade. Now the diamond jack was covered all around as West pitched a club.

West

East

♠J5 ♥ K 10 8 5 3 ♦5 ♣J 9 6 5 2

♠AK96 ♥Q7 ♦Q972 ♣ 10 7 3 South

♠832 ♥AJ6 ♦ A K 10 8 3 ♣A Q South

♦

1 2 NT

West

North

East

Pass

1 3 NT

♠

Pass

Pass

All Pass

♥5

Opening Lead:

Hamman then played a spade to East, who was forced to lead a diamond from the 9-7 into Hamman’s 10-8: contract made! East had more than one chance to set the contract, but his easiest was to win the spade king and play the diamond queen. Declarer is now blocked off from his own hand. (South could have avoided the possibility of this defense by not cashing the top diamond earlier.) Equally, had East pitched a spade instead of a club at trick three, the defenders would still have prevailed. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ Q 10 7 4 ♥942 ♦J64 ♣K 8 4 South

West 1 NT

North Dbl.

East Pass

Pass

2

♥

Pass

Pass

?

ANSWER: Although it might be right to defend two hearts here, it seems inappropriate to risk doubling the opponents into game with three small trumps. I’d try two spades now, without much confidence, hoping that partner knows from our failure to bid spades earlier that this could easily be bid on a four-card suit.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, March 20, 2010 by admin on April 3rd, 2010 “The irresponsive silence of the land, The irresponsive sounding of the sea,

Dealer: North North

♠ 10 6 3 2 ♥J5 ♦ A K 10 8 ♣A 7 3

Vul: None

Speak both one message of one sense to me…” — Christina Rossetti This deal from the first final session of the Silodor Open Pairs in Houston last spring shows the benefits of restraint in the auction and reveals the beauties of an unlikely ending.

West

East

♠A ♥Q98 ♦9 ♣ K5 2Q J 10 8 6

♠KQ984 ♥ 10 6 ♦QJ532 ♣4 South

♠J75 ♥AK7432 ♦764 ♣9

At many tables, West, having heard his partner overcall one spade, chose to punt five clubs doubled — down 500. However, when Craig Huston held the West cards, he sold out to a three-heart contract by South. I marveled at his restraint, but Craig correctly pointed out that four clubs doubled would be set two and cost 300 points. South’s three-heart contract is far from easy to bring home, and it was not managed at the table. West will lead his spade ace, then shift to the club king. As declarer, you’ll win dummy’s club ace and guess to play three rounds of hearts. West wins the third heart and plays a diamond, which you win in dummy.

South

West

North

♦

♥ 3♥ 2

♣

3

East

♠

1

1

Pass

Pass

All Pass

♠

You have now reached an ending as declarer where you Opening Lead: A have eight tricks in the bag and need to set up one more. Clearly, playing a spade or a diamond from dummy will lead to immediate failure. The winning line, a beautiful one, features two loser-on-loser plays. Lead dummy’s club seven and pitch a spade from your hand, then throw a diamond from hand when West leads the next club! You will ruff West’s next club lead, run your trumps, and squeeze East in spades and diamonds. That’s how to rectify the count! BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠J75 ♥AK7432 ♦764 ♣9 South

West

North

East

♥

Pass

2

♠

Pass

2 ?

ANSWER: Partner’s call is natural and forcing. Your most descriptive action (albeit a rather aggressive one) is to jump to four clubs as a splinter-bid, agreeing spades and showing a singleton club. Yes, you would rather have a trump honor larger than the jack, but the opportunity to reach the perfect-fit slam should not be passed up.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, March 21, 2010 by admin on April 4th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

I dealt and opened one diamond. My LHO overcalled two clubs, and my partner doubled. I took her double to be takeout for the unbid suits, but she meant it as showing diamond support and at least two club stoppers. Needless to say, we got completely mixed up. What is your take on the double? — Hoofbeats of Zebras, Torrance, Calif. ANSWER: Partners can agree on the best use for a bid and have a different agreement from the rest of the world. Here, your agreement was the normal one — takeout for the majors. All cheap doubles of this sort are takeout, not because they will always be best, but because you probably want to describe a hand that is short in the suit the opponents are long in. With the hand your partner describes, a no-trump bid or a diamond raise sounds appropriate. Dear Mr. Wolff: In third seat you hold

♦

♣

ANSWER: Thank you — that is very helpful, and sounds like an inherently fairer approach.

Dear Mr. Wolff:

♠

♥

♦ ♣

I held J-9-3-2, A-K-Q-2, —, AJ-10-7-4. I opened one club and bid one heart over my partner’s one-diamond response. Now my partner bid one notrump. Should I look for a spade fit, or settle for what I think to be a reasonable contract and not risk getting too high? — Potted Plant, Midland, Mich. ANSWER: This is a very hard hand to evaluate, but I suspect passing and trying to go plus at a low-level is the sensible view. Partner might have bid one spade (most play this sequence does not guarantee more than invitational values) if he had a hand that could get your side to game. Dear Mr. Wolff:

♠ A-10-3-2, ♥ K-Q-

7-4, Q-3, K-J-4. Would you consider opening one club to ensure you find a major-suit fit if partner has a minimum hand? If not, say you open one no-trump and partner bids Stayman, to which I assume you respond two hearts. What should you do when partner next bids two no-trump? — Lost in Space, Casper, Wyo. ANSWER: The French often open this sort of hand one club, but I prefer the simple route and open one no-trump. My preferred continuations over one no-trump are that a Stayman inquiry guarantees one major. Since my partner has spades and an invitation, and I have a minimum, I would sign off in three spades. Dear Mr. Wolff: A recent column contains a question about handling late plays when one pair wants to play a board and the other doesn’t. The approach we use in our club is to score the board as unplayed. This effectively awards each pair their overall percentage score on the board they didn’t play, which we think is fairer than rewarding a pair having a belowaverage game with an average score for not playing a board. — Fair and Square, Greenville, S.C.

I led from a holding of J-10-6-2 in an unbid suit against a suit contract. Dummy came down with the guarded king, and my partner had A-Q-fourth in the suit. After winning the queen, partner continued with the ace, thereby establishing the king in dummy. My partner argued that I should have led the jack when holding the J-10. Is it always correct to lead an honor from these sorts of holdings? — The Leading Edge, Little Rock, Ark. ANSWER: Just between us two, your partner made a rookie error — and you accepted part of the blame. Yes, J-10-6-2 is not the same as J-10-8-2 or J-10-9-2. Either low or high might be right. No generalizations are sensible here except that you do your best by drawing inferences about declarer’s and dummy’s lengths from the bidding, and leading accordingly.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, March 22, 2010 by admin on April 5th, 2010 “(Studies) perfect experience.”

nature

and

are

perfected

by

Dealer: South North

♠A53 ♥J5 ♦AJ9762 ♣K Q

Vul: All

— Francis Bacon Today’s deal contains points of expert technique in both the auction and the play. To start with, when North’s overcall is raised, he should visualize making three notrump if South can solidify the diamond suit or has a second spade stopper. The three-spade bid should deliver a whole or partial spade stopper and is superior to a direct three-no-trump bid. With the right hand, which he has, South can bid three no-trump and make it. But note that North would go down if he played three no-trump and received a spade lead. As it is, South declares three no-trump and is happy to receive a spade lead into his tenace. He wins the first trick cheaply in hand and now must focus on what can go wrong in his game.

West

East

♠ K J 10 8 4 ♥K963 ♦3 ♣A J 6

♠972 ♥Q84 ♦ Q 10 8 ♣8 7 5 2 South

♠Q6 ♥ A 10 7 2 ♦K54 ♣ 10 9 4 3 South

West

♠

North

♦ 3♠

1

2

The obvious hitch will come if diamonds do not split. To Pass 3 neutralize the spade attack, South should lead a club at 3 NT All Pass once, developing one trick there in case the diamonds do not run. If West ducks, declarer establishes the diamond suit. If West wins and plays spades, then South ducks the Opening Lead: J spade to cut defensive communications. Now it would not help West to play on either hearts or clubs. Assuming he continues the attack on spades, South can set up diamonds without allowing West on lead to run the spade suit.

♦

East Pass Pass

♠

Note that if East’s diamond entry is knocked out first, a spade return leaves the contract dead in the water when diamonds do not behave. LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q974 ♥92 ♦J64 ♣K J 4 3 South

West

North

East

1

Dbl.

1

1 NT

2

♣

♠

1 All Pass

♠

♦ 3♦

ANSWER: There seems to be no rush to play spades. Declarer is surely very short in that suit and leading spades might just set up discards for him. If you WERE to lead a spade, the queen might be right, in case declarer has a bare jack or 10. It seems more likely that your side has heart ruffs coming. Lead the top of your doubleton and hope to build your diamond jack into a trick.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 by admin on April 6th, 2010 “It is far safer to know too little than too much.”

Dealer: North North

♠73 ♥J7532 ♦Q84 ♣A 7 3

Vul: E/W — Samuel Butler One mark of an expert is knowing when to duck and when to win a trick. Even if he has no definite plan in mind, it generally helps interfere with the opponents’ communications to duck tricks early when a loser cannot be avoided. However, this strategy is not always best. Against two spades, West led the club queen. South routinely ducked and won the second round with dummy’s ace. He then played a spade to East’s 10 and his jack, then wished he had won the first club so that he would have had an exit card! Let’s roll back the play. Suppose declarer wins the first club, plays a spade to the 10 and jack, then exits with a club. Best is for East to continue with a third club, which can be ruffed in hand. Now declarer plays ace and another heart. East wins and has a problem. All he can do is exit with the ace and another diamond, but South unblocks his king, wins the second diamond in dummy, and leads another spade, picking up East’s queen: two spades made.

West

East

♠64 ♥ Q 10 8 ♦ 10 5 3 ♣ Q J 10 9 5

♠ A Q 10 ♥K9 ♦AJ962 ♣K 8 2 South

♠KJ9852 ♥A64 ♦K7 ♣6 4 South

♠

2

West

North Pass

East 1 NT

All Pass

♣Q

Opening Lead:

Given the actual line, South was stuck in hand at trick three. He played the ace and another heart, but the defense was in control. East won and played a third club. Declarer ruffed and played a third heart, West winning with the queen and playing the diamond ten. Now, whatever South did, he could not reach dummy to pick up East’s spades — down one. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠73 ♥J7532 ♦Q84 ♣A 7 3 South

West

North 1 NT

East Pass

2

Pass

2

♥

Pass

Pass

2

Pass

Pass

♦

?

♠

ANSWER: This is a rare position where you can double, suggesting that you are happy to defend, even though lacking trump tricks. You have already passed the transfer response to show five hearts, but limited your hand to 8 HCP. With a maximum, you would consult partner as to whether to defend or bid on.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 by admin on April 7th, 2010 “Question not, but live and labour Till yon goal be won,

Dealer: West

North

Vul: N/S

♠ K 10 9 2 ♥Q32 ♦J65 ♣K 9 3

Helping every feeble neighbour, Seeking help from none.” — Adam Lindsay Gordon Eddie Kantar, in his “Kantar on Kontract” (Kantarbridge.com), wonders why there are so many bridge books aimed at preventing you from making a mistake rather than preventing partner from making a mistake. Everyone knows that most mistakes at the bridge table are made by partner. Assume you are West playing matchpoint pairs in four hearts with a partner weaker than yourself. This should be easy because everyone you play with is weaker than you. South ruffs the second diamond and continues with the heart ace and a heart to the queen, dropping your partner’s jack, and ruffs dummy’s last diamond. At this point you should know that South started with six hearts and one diamond. Declarer continues with a spade to the king as you play low, and now a spade from dummy, partner playing the jack. Which spade do you play?

West

East

♠A863 ♥64 ♦AQ42 ♣Q 4 2

♠QJ7 ♥J5 ♦K9873 ♣ 10 8 5 South

♠54 ♥ A K 10 9 8 7 ♦ 10 ♣A J 7 6 South

♥ 4♥ 2

West

North

East

1

♦

Pass

2

Pass

3

♥

♦

Pass

All Pass

♦A

Opening Lead:

It seems obvious to play low, but West regretted his play a moment later. His partner shifted to a low club, declarer played low, and West was forced to play the queen. Now the defenders’ club trick had vanished. What West should have done is overtake partner’s jack and play another spade to partner’s queen. Yes, South trumps and the spade 10 in dummy is high, but so what? Declarer has four clubs (remember, West is counting and can tell from the way spades are being played that declarer has a small doubleton, leaving him with four clubs). One club discard on a spade won’t help. He still has a club loser. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ K 10 9 2 ♥Q32 ♦J65 ♣K 9 3 South

West

North

East

♣

1 Pass ?

♦

1

1 NT

Pass

ANSWER: Partner has shown a strong no-trump, so you have enough to invite to game, but is it worth looking for a spade fit via Stayman or a forcing call of two clubs? I think not. The danger of ruffs in one minor or the other — even if partner does have four spades — is so large that you should just bid two no-trump and let partner take it from there.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, March 25, 2010 by admin on April 8th, 2010 Dealer: South North

“The wretched have no friends.”

♠982 ♥ K Q 10 9 4 ♦85 ♣A Q 8

Vul: None — John Dryden West led the heart eight against four spades, and East took his ace, South false-carding with the jack. East correctly surmised that his partner would not have led from a doubleton heart, but refrained from the knee-jerk reaction of giving his partner an immediate ruff. That would be two tricks for the defense, but there could not be two further tricks to come.

West

East

♠ 10 3 ♥8 ♦AJ9432 ♣J 9 7 6

♠Q5 ♥A7652 ♦ Q 10 6 ♣ 10 5 2 South

The defense also needed two fast diamond tricks, so the right card to play at trick two had to be a diamond. East saw that everything would be fine if he switched to a low diamond and South played the king; but what if South decided to duck? He might well decide that West had the diamond ace because East would surely have given his partner an immediate ruff if he had an ace as a re-entry. Then there would no longer be an entry to East for the heart ruff. East decided that it must be better to shift to a high diamond to remain on lead if South were to duck. He then avoided the second trap: that of leading the diamond queen. Had he done so, West might have led three rounds of the suit, trying to give his partner an overruff in that suit.

♠AKJ764 ♥J3 ♦K7 ♣K 4 3 South

♠ 3♠ 1

West

North

Pass

2

♥ 4♠

Pass

East Pass All Pass

♥8

Opening Lead:

Accordingly, East carefully played the diamond 10, covered by the king and ace. He then overtook his partner’s jack to give West his heart ruff. “What took you so long?” was all the thanks he got. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠982 ♥ K Q 10 9 4 ♦85 ♣A Q 8 South

West

North

♣ 1♠ 1

♥

1 ?

Pass

East Pass Pass

ANSWER: This is an impossible problem. If you bid no-trump, partner will have short diamonds. If you rebid hearts, partner will have a void. If you jump-raise clubs, partner will have only three trumps. All things considered, it looks best to force to game with a call of two diamonds, the fourth suit. You may get a little too high, but you will at least find the best strain.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, March 26, 2010 by admin on April 9th, 2010 “To throw away the dearest thing he owned

Dealer: South North

♠QJ3 ♥J75 ♦ A K 10 4 ♣J 9 6

Vul: All

As ’twere a careless trifle.” — William Shakespeare Against four spades West led out the three top clubs, East discarding a low heart. West continued with a fourth club, ruffed in dummy with the spade queen as East discarded the heart 10. Now the spade jack and a spade to the ace brought the 4-1 trump split to light. The heart ace was followed by a diamond to the king; then came a heart ruff, East shedding a diamond. South now carefully cashed the diamond queen before entering dummy with the diamond king. A red-suit lead from dummy completed the trump coup, East’s trump 10-6 being powerless in front of South’s K-9. East’s choice of discards was not best, though I suspect many would have done the same. With 12 points on display in dummy and West having shown nine points in clubs, South had to have the heart ace for his opening bid and the acceptance of the game-try. Also, West would have cashed the heart ace before leading the fourth club if he held that card. Since West surely held six hearts, that left just one for declarer.

West

East

♠8 ♥K98642 ♦73 ♣A K Q 4

♠ 10 6 5 2 ♥ Q 10 3 ♦J962 ♣5 2 South

♠AK974 ♥A ♦Q85 ♣ 10 8 7 3 South

♠ 4♠ 1

West

♥

2

North

East

♥

Pass

3

All Pass

♣K

Opening Lead:

See the difference if East discards two diamonds on the clubs. Now when South tries to reach dummy via the third round of diamonds, East ruffs in for the setting trick. Does that mean declarer cannot make the contract? No; the winning line is to finesse against the spade 10 on the second round of the suit – -not such an unreasonable line if West has six hearts and four clubs. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠AK974 ♥A ♦Q85 ♣ 10 8 7 3 South

♠

1 ?

West

♥

2

North

East

1

♣

Pass

Pass

Pass

ANSWER: Standard expert practice these days is to play all doubles under the opponents’ trumps as takeout or card-showing. You may think you would be unhappy if your partner passed now, but bear in mind he would likely have trump tricks and short spades. If so, how bad would it be to defend two hearts doubled?

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, March 27, 2010 by admin on April 10th, 2010 Dealer: South North

“Sometimes I think

Vul: N/S

I’ll tell him how he’s fooled, But when I see his eyes, I shrink, My purpose cooled.” — Charles Frederick Johnson During the last 80 years, one of the most testing areas of the game for experts has been to compose and solve par hands — deals for which there is a correct line in abstract. These can be either single-dummy problems, when you see just your hand and dummy, or double-dummy, when you see all four hands. Today’s deal is a single-dummy problem in six spades, but the published solution was not best. It said that rather than trying to ruff out the diamonds, you should establish the club suit.

West

East

♠ 10 8 7 ♥Q96 ♦75 ♣K 7 5 4 3

♠9 ♥ J 10 8 3 2 ♦KJ98 ♣8 6 2 South

♠AKJ654 ♥5 ♦ A 10 6 4 3 ♣A South

♠ 3♦ 4♣ 6♠ 1

It claimed that you should win the lead of the heart jack, pitch the club ace on the heart king, and run the clubs, pitching diamonds. Even if the club king is offside, the solution suggested that you can get all four of your diamond losers away.

♠Q32 ♥AK74 ♦Q2 ♣ Q J 10 9

West

North

Pass

2

♣ 3♠ 4♥

Pass Pass

East Pass Pass Pass

All Pass

♥

But this line would fail if West had started with a doubleton Opening Lead: 6 club. Also, given today’s lie of the cards, if West were devious enough to duck the club king twice, he would take the third club and return the suit for East to ruff, killing a vital discard. The correct line, after you take two successful ruffing finesses, seems to me to draw one trump from hand, then lead the diamond ace and another diamond, planning to ruff your last diamond with the spade queen and claim. Unless trumps are 4-0 and some other bad things happen, this line is virtually guaranteed to bring home the contract. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q32 ♥AK74 ♦Q2 ♣ Q J 10 9 South

West

North

East

♦

1 Dbl.

♥

2

2

♦

Dbl.

Pass

Pass

2NT

Pass

ANSWER: Your partner has suggested about 1011 points with four spades. It is not clear whether he has club length, but since you have a little extra and decent club intermediates, as well as help in diamonds, you seem to have enough to bid three no-trump.

?

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, March 28, 2010 by admin on April 11th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

Must utilization of Jacoby transfers be announced at the start of the game, or can it be announced at the moment this convention is being used? It seems to me this second procedure would be equivalent to talking across the board. — TMI, Saint John, Newfoundland ANSWER: No pre-alert is required for these bids. But the ACBL regulations do require announcements for two conventions — forcing no-trump and transfers — where the partner of the bidder actually SAYS “transfer” or “forcing.” All other artificial bids require the partner to say “Alert,” then the other side can ask if interested. Dear Mr. Wolff:

♠

♥

♦

♣

I held 9-3-2, A-Q-7-4, K-J-2, J10-7 and in third seat opened one heart to keep the opponents out and to direct the lead. My LHO overcalled one no-trump, and my partner doubled. As a passed hand, can this really be for penalties, or is it negative? — Shadow of a Doubt, Woodland Hills, Calif. ANSWER: Just because your partner is a passed hand does not mean he cannot have a better hand than you. (This would not be hard here!). He has shown 9-11 points, and either a decent suit of his own to lead or some heart fit. You may not feel like passing, but anything else would be worse. Dear Mr. Wolff: North opened two no-trump, East passed, South responded two hearts (a transfer), and West called the director and refused to accept the insufficient two-heart bid. The director permitted South to correct to three hearts and the auction continued. Was that correct? I thought that after an insufficient conventional call, the opener should have been barred from the auction. Has there been a change to the Laws? — Enforcer, White Plains, N.Y.

ANSWER: Law 27 has been recently changed. (See http://www.acbl.org/play/DuplicateLawsChanges.pdf.) The director may permit an insufficient bid to be corrected without penalty (i.e., bidding restriction) by another call that has, in the director’s opinion, the same meaning or a more precise meaning. Here the threeheart bid can replace the two-heart bid since both are transfers. So your director was right.

Dear Mr. Wolff: My hand was

♣

♠ A-J-4-3-2, ♥ K-Q-7-4, ♦

9, A-Q-9. I opened one spade and rebid two hearts over my partner’s two-diamond call. Now my partner jumped to three notrump. In our system, two no-trump would have shown a better hand, so am I justified in bidding on? And if so, with what call? — Upwardly Mobile, Elkhart, Ind. ANSWER: You have extras (about a king better than a minimum), but have no fit. Your lack of intermediates in both of your long suits suggests slam would be an uphill struggle, so pass. If you had both the spade and heart 10s, you could consider bidding four no-trump because now both major suits would be easier to develop. Dear Mr. Wolff: Over the opponents’ strong no-trump we play a defense called DONT, which allows us to come in with two-suiters quite freely. I know I need nine points or so to act, but should I count only high-card points, or can I also count short-suit values? And do I have to be in direct seat over the no-trump, or does it also apply in balancing seat? — Points Shmoints, Twin Falls, Idaho ANSWER: Points are irrelevant; shape is all that matters. To bid with 5-4, you need a moderate hand, but almost any 5-5 will suffice at suitable vulnerability, whatever the points. And yes, it applies in both direct and balancing seats. I do not think it essential for all the points to be in the long suits — within reason.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, March 29, 2010 by admin on April 12th, 2010 “Those that merely talk and never think.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: None

♠ A K 10 6 3 ♥AJ7 ♦42 ♣A K 4

— Ben Jonson In this deal from the 2005 Central American Championships, the opponents’ bidding gave one declarer the clue he needed to bring home his game. At the unsuccessful declarer’s table, West passed his partner’s opening bid. North doubled, and South stretched to bid two spades, raised to four. West led the heart five to the seven, 10 and king. South drew trumps and exited with a diamond. East played three rounds of the suit, so South ruffed, then cashed the ace and king of clubs. When the queen failed to fall, he got off play with a low club. All would have been well if East had won the trick or if East had started with a six-card heart suit, but West was able to win his club queen and play his second heart through dummy’s ace-jack. South ended up a trick light.

West

East

♠J4 ♥54 ♦9763 ♣ Q 10 8 7 3

♠92 ♥ Q 10 8 3 2 ♦AKQ8 ♣9 5 South

♠Q875 ♥K96 ♦ J 10 5 ♣J 6 2 South

West

North

At our featured table the auction was far more revealing. Declarer won the heart lead in hand, drew trumps, and Pass 1 NT Dbl. played on diamonds. Again East sensibly gave nothing Pass away by plugging away with diamonds. With East now 2 4 marked with a minimum of five hearts and four diamonds and having shown up with two spades, he had room for two clubs at most. Since the diamonds had been Opening Lead: 5 eliminated, declarer could cash his remaining heart and club winners, then could choose which opponent to endplay. Whether he played a club or a heart, whoever won the next trick would have to offer a ruff and discard, eliminating the fourth loser.

♠

♠

East

♥ 2♦ 1

All Pass

♥

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q64 ♥AJ6 ♦QJ94 ♣9 6 3 South

♣

4 All Pass

West

Dbl.

North

East

3

♣

Dbl.

Pass

4

♠

ANSWER: It certainly feels right to lead a club rather than broaching the diamond sequence. I would guess to lead the club nine rather than a small club, just in case partner takes a finesse against me at the first trick, believing I have an honor, thus letting declarer score a singleton queen or king.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 by admin on April 13th, 2010 “As for life, it is a battle and a sojourning in a strange land; but the fame that comes after is oblivion.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: E/W

— Marcus Aurelius The Home International Series in Great Britain and Ireland used to be dominated by England. But these days Ireland has become the favorite. Today’s deal from a recent match between England and Scotland accounted for a 20-IMP swing in favor of the latter. Both North-Souths reached the good seven hearts. The Scottish declarer received a diamond lead to his ace. He cashed the club ace, ruffed a club, ruffed a diamond, and ruffed another club. When clubs did not break, he chose to ruff three clubs in the dummy, playing either for trumps to break 2-2 or for the 10 to fall singleton — a successful line. The English declarer received a trump lead. Now, although the prospect of a trump loser shrank considerably, he could no longer ruff three clubs in the dummy. In the event, he won in hand, played the club ace, ruffed a club, came back to hand with the diamond ace, and ruffed a club. Now he knew that clubs were not breaking, but the spade blockage meant that he could not take advantage of the favorable position of the spade king.

♠AJ642 ♥KJ3 ♦7652 ♣7

West

East

♠ K 10 7 3 ♥76 ♦QJ983 ♣J 3

♠985 ♥ 10 4 ♦ K 10 4 ♣Q 9 8 6 5 South

♠Q ♥AQ9852 ♦A ♣ A K 10 4 2 South

♥ 3♣ 4♣ 5♦ 7♥ 1

West

North

Pass

1

♠ 3♥ 4♠ 6♣

Pass Pass Pass

East Pass Pass Pass Pass

All Pass

♥

A better line would have been to cash both the ace and Opening Lead: 7 king of clubs at tricks two and three. Now ruff a club, discovering the bad news. Ruff a diamond back to hand and play the spade queen. When it holds, ruff another club, cash the spade ace while discarding a club, and the grand slam is made. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠AJ642 ♥KJ3 ♦7652 ♣7 South

West

♣

1

♠

1 ?

Pass

North

♥ 2♠ 1

East Pass Pass

ANSWER: I’m not sure a call of three hearts does justice to this hand. If the hand opposite has the missing major-suit honors, you are cold for game in either major. I would jump to four hearts, assuming that partner will know to go back to spades if he has four-card support.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 by admin on April 14th, 2010 “My heart aches, and a drowsy numbness pains My sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk.”

Dealer: North North

♠83 ♥ J 10 7 ♦ 10 8 6 ♣A K J 6 5

Vul: None

— John Keats Eddie Kantar, in his book “Kantar on Kontract,” shows his readers a trick deal that no student ever gets right. Can you figure out how to make six spades? The trick is to get to dummy to use the ace-king of clubs without crawling under the table. Win the diamond opening lead and play the ace, king and two of spades. West must win the trick and, as you know from the auction, has no more diamonds to lead and so must lead a club or a heart. Either exit puts you in dummy, where you can cash your club winners. Although Eddie generally does not watch his students play the hands, he couldn’t resist watching this one at several tables. This is what happened. At the first table, declarer ducked the diamond opening lead and East shifted to a heart instead of giving partner a diamond ruff. No matter, declarer still had to lose a heart. Down one. At table two, declarer won the diamond lead and led a low spade! West rose with the nine and led a heart, so declarer made the hand by winning the heart in dummy and discarding a diamond on the club ace, etc.

West

East

♠ 10 9 4 ♥Q984 ♦2 ♣ 10 8 7 4 3

♠— ♥652 ♦KQJ9754 ♣Q 9 2 South ♠ A2 K Q J 7 6 5

♥AK3 ♦A3 ♣— South

♠

6

West

North

East

Pass

3

♦

All Pass

♦2

Opening Lead:

At table three, declarer won the opening lead and played the ace-king of clubs from dummy, discarding two red-suit losers. This is clearly the best play if the defenders let you get away with it. “What’s the problem?” she asked, as she tabled her cards. At that point, Kantar stopped watching. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠83 ♥ J 10 7 ♦ 10 8 6 ♣A K J 6 5 South

West

North

East

Pass

Pass

1

♠

Pass

?

ANSWER: There are two problems with responding two clubs. The first is that the hand is not quite good enough, since you really don’t have much of a fit for spades. The second is that as a passed hand, many people play two clubs as artificial here. If you play Drury, the call shows a maximum pass and at least three-card trump support. For both of those reasons, I recommend a response of one no-trump.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, April 1, 2010 by admin on April 15th, 2010 “Since all that I can ever do for thee Is to do nothing, this my prayer must be:

Dealer: South North

♠J984 ♥J6 ♦643 ♣A K 7 6

Vul: Both

That thou mayst never guess nor ever see The all-endured this nothing-done costs me.” — Earl of Lytton Are you a good guesser? Whatever the answer to that question, why speculate when you don’t need to? Good players guess better than poor ones, but what they really try to do is avoid the need to take a chance at all. Cover up the East-West hands and make a plan in this fourspade contract. Superficially it looks as if four spades depends on the spade position. Should declarer play for spades to be 2-2 or take a second-round finesse?

West

East

♠2 ♥Q43 ♦ A K 10 7 5 2 ♣ Q 10 9

♠Q53 ♥ 10 9 8 5 2 ♦98 ♣J 5 4 South

♠ A K 10 7 6 ♥AK7 ♦QJ ♣8 3 2 South

West

North

♠ ♣

♦

♠ ♠

2 2 Norway’s Geir Helgemo showed why such a guess was 1 unnecessary. West started with three rounds of diamonds. 3 Pass 4 Declarer ruffed and cashed one top spade. He then led a club toward dummy, a heart to his hand and a second club. This was quite safe because if West had started with Opening Lead: King a singleton club, he would have been ruffing thin air. Declarer now played another heart to his hand and ruffed a heart in the dummy. When West followed suit to this trick, he was known to have started with six diamonds, three hearts, at least one spade and at least two clubs. This left precisely one unknown card. Accordingly, at this point declarer was safe to play a spade to his 10. He would be home if the finesse held and West showed out, or if the finesse lost to the queen, because then West could have no more clubs. He would now be endplayed and have to lead a diamond to give a ruff and discard.

East Pass All Pass

♦

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠J984 ♥J6 ♦643 ♣A K 7 6 South

West

North

East

♠

Dbl.

1 ?

ANSWER: These days it is standard practice at all levels of the game, and not just among experts, to play a jump to three spades here as pre-emptive, suggesting four trumps and 3-7 points or so. Accordingly, one needs a call to show a limit raise; and the standard bid for that is two no-trump. This convention is called Jordan (or Truscott) and I recommend it to everyone.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, April 2, 2010 by admin on April 16th, 2010 “Teach me to feel another’s woe,

Dealer: West

North

To hide the fault I see;

Vul: Neither

♠AJ ♥AK63 ♦Q98 ♣ J 10 9 8

That mercy I to others show, That mercy show to me.” — Alexander Pope If you look at the North-South cards, you will see that the heart slam seems to hinge on not losing a heart trick and a club trick. You can afford one loser but not two. Now look at the East and West hands and you will see that the cards are not cooperating for you. What can declarer do to avoid going down? South won the spade-king lead with the ace and discarded a club. This play turned out to be the first good decision. Then he cashed the heart ace, ruffed the spade jack back to hand, led the heart jack (just in case), and went up with the king when West discarded. The club finesse could be taken any time, but declarer saw that it could not cost to cash the top diamonds first. It was now revealed that West had started with precisely three diamonds, one heart, and presumably six spades. He must therefore hold three clubs, so there was no point in taking the club finesse. If the queen was onside, it would be doubleton.

West

East

♠ K Q 10 9 5 2 ♥5 ♦J73 ♣Q 7 4

♠87643 ♥Q97 ♦ 10 5 2 ♣5 3 South

♠— ♥ J 10 8 4 2 ♦AK64 ♣A K 6 2 South

West

North

East

♠

Dbl.

4

Pass

5 NT

Pass

2

♠ 6♥

5

♠

All Pass

Opening Lead:

♠ King

So declarer cashed the club ace-king — no luck there either. However, declarer was still in control. He led the fourth diamond and discarded a club from dummy. East also discarded, postponing the evil day for one more trick; but South could now exit with a trump. East had to win and give a ruff and discard on his return, so declarer’s last club loser went away, and the contract came home. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠AJ ♥AK63 ♦Q98 ♣ J 10 9 8 South

West

North

East 1

Dbl. ?

Pass

2

♥

♠

Pass

ANSWER: One of the hardest things to do at the bridge table is give up on a good hand. Here you showed an opening bid with short spades, and partner wants to stop in a partscore. Who are you to say he is wrong? Pass two hearts, since a raise to three hearts would show a trick more (make the spade jack the king, perhaps).

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, April 3, 2010 by admin on April 17th, 2010 “Time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides; Who covers faults, at last shame them derides.”

Dealer: North North

♠ K J 10 5 2 ♥AJ84 ♦7 ♣ 10 9 5

Vul: Both

— William Shakespeare [BFQ 208.27] Against four hearts West led the club king, which declarer ducked. With this type of holding in a suit contract and no immediate prospect of a discard, it often works well to duck at trick one. It will cost only if the suit breaks 6-1 — relatively unlikely when West did not overcall. When the suit divides 5-2, it may be much harder for the defenders to take their second winner in the suit. Declarer won the club continuation and ran the spade nine to East’s ace. Developing the side suit before touching trumps is often a good idea if the defenders are not threatening a ruff. East switched to a diamond, won in hand, and now declarer again resisted the urge to touch trumps. Instead he repeated the spade finesse, ruffed a spade low as East pitched a diamond, and only now laid down the heart king. Had trumps split, he would have drawn them all ending in dummy, but when the 5-0 split came to light, he ruffed a diamond to dummy and led dummy’s low spade. If East ruffed in, declarer could overruff and draw trumps. When East discarded again, declarer simply played on a high crossruff and conceded trick 13 to both defenders.

West

East

♠Q763 ♥— ♦Q986 ♣K Q J 6 3

♠A8 ♥ 10 9 7 3 2 ♦K542 ♣4 2 South

♠94 ♥KQ65 ♦ A J 10 3 ♣A 8 7 South

West

North Pass

1 NT

Pass

2

♥

Pass

2

Opening Lead:

♣ 4♥

East Pass Pass All Pass

♣ King

If declarer had not ducked the first club trick, then, when the spade lost to the ace, East would have returned a club and set the game by force. And if South had started to draw trumps prematurely, that too would have been fatal. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠A8 ♥ 10 9 7 3 2 ♦K542 ♣4 2 South

West

North

♦ 1♠ 2♠

1

♥ 2♦

1

?

Pass Pass

East Pass Pass Pass

ANSWER: : Your partner has shown six diamonds and five spades, and your miserable seven-count is transformed into gold. Even a jump to five diamonds may not do credit to this hand, but it is hard to see what else you can do. Perhaps partner can now bid slam with the right cards.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, April 4, 2010 by admin on April 18th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

As responder to a two-club opening bid, when the opponents intervene, I would like to be quiet when negative and vocal when positive (using the pass as weaker than a double and bids as positives), but our club experts tell me this is the reverse of how the pros handle interference. Who is right? — Passive-Aggressive, Arlington, Texas ANSWER: There is NO technical merit that I can see to playing double as weaker than a pass, or vice versa. It seems that once an idea is established, it is stuck to, right or wrong. Go right ahead with whatever you like in this position. By the way, you are not alone in your preferences! In competition, you should, however, be prepared to shade a positive response if you have a good suit. Still, all that matters is that you have an agreement and can remember it. Dear Mr. Wolff:

♠

♥

♦

♣

I held Q-9, Q-3-2, J-8-7-2, KQ-7-4. When my RHO opened one diamond, I passed this around to my partner, who doubled. How would you now rate a call of two clubs, three clubs, and one no-trump? — Rating System, Newport News, Va. ANSWER: If you believe, as I do, that partner will bid one no-trump with most balanced or quasi-balanced hands in the 10-15 range, then a call of one no-trump by you suggests 10-13 or so. I’d be happier to make that call with the diamond nine instead of the eight (now we have a second diamond stop facing any minor diamond honor), but I’ll do it anyway! Second choice: two clubs, not three clubs. Dear Mr. Wolff: Do you enforce the rules on penalty cards if an opponent drops a card or leads out of turn? Do you enforce the penalty selectively, all of the time, or none of the time? — Legal Beagle, Rockford, Ill.

ANSWER: At the local club I’m inclined to let players pick up their penalty cards, unless my partner would be upset by my being lenient. In serious competition I expect the rules to be enforced on me, and would normally stick by the rules myself unless playing against a someone with a physical disability, when it would not be appropriate to be a stickler.

Dear Mr. Wolff: In third seat, holding

♣

♠ 9-6-3, ♥ 7, ♦ A-J-

7-4, A-Q-9-6-4, I opened one club. My LHO overcalled one spade, my partner doubled, and I was not sure which minor suit to bid, or whether to gamble on one notrump. My partner told me later that a call of two diamonds would not show extras, since the concept of a reverse does not apply in this auction. Is that so? — Shady Pines, Jackson, Miss. ANSWER: With reservations, I agree. I would open your hand one club (some would bid one diamond), and — specifically — after my partner’s negative double, I believe any suit at the minimum level, such as a call of two diamonds, DENIES extras. With reversing values, one would have to jump to three diamonds, or cue-bid if prepared to force to game, then bid diamonds. Dear Mr. Wolff: At the Duplicate Club what can you do about folks who replay every hand and jabber away about who should have done what? Is there a rule about limiting conversations? — Trappist Monk, Lorain, Ohio ANSWER: There is really no way to stop a post-mortem. Even when players are running late, it is human nature to want to attribute blame appropriately. One must rely on the director to assist in the smooth running of the game, but if a pair is not overly late, it is hard to hurry them up. A firm comment such as “We are running late — PLEASE let’s start the new deal” sometimes helps … but not always.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, April 5, 2010 by admin on April 19th, 2010 “Nor force nor fraud shall sunder us! O ye Who north or south, on east or western land,

Dealer: South North

Vul: Both

Native to noble sounds, say truth for truth….” ” — Sydney Dobell Today’s deal shows an application of the forcing no-trump, fast becoming part of Standard American. North’s combination of no-trump response followed by the jump in hearts suggests three trumps and about an 11-count. South has enough in aces and shape to accept the invitation. When dummy comes down, 10 tricks may seem relatively easy if a spade is ruffed in dummy. Alas, on the trump lead the danger is all too obvious. If the defenders can regain the lead quickly and declarer misguesses spades, the defenders might lead a third trump, causing South to lose two trumps and two spades. The first question is whether to win or duck the first trump. Ducking the first heart is good technique. It allows a second round of trumps to be drawn — which works to declarer’s advantage, without chancing that the fatal third round will be led.

♠ Q 10 ♥432 ♦ 10 9 7 6 ♣A K Q 5

West

East

♠98753 ♥ 10 9 ♦QJ85 ♣9 3

♠KJ6 ♥KQJ ♦K432 ♣ 10 4 2 South

♠A42 ♥A8765 ♦A ♣J 8 7 6 South

♥ 2♣ 4♥

1

West

North

East

Pass

1 NT

Pass

Pass

3

♥

Pass

All Pass

Opening Lead:

♥ 10

When South wins the second heart lead and West follows suit, how should you play the spades to best effect? The answer is that no lie of the cards can beat declarer if he ruffs three diamonds in his hand, a technique called reversing the dummy. He cashes the diamond ace and ruffs three diamonds by using dumnmy’s clubs as entries. If a defender ruffs in at any point, then the only other loser will be a spade. At the end of the operation, declarer will have won two aces in the majors and eight minor-suit tricks. He can then gracefully retire. LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠42 ♥A82 ♦5432 ♣J 8 7 6 South

West

♣

Pass

2 NT

Pass

1 Pass All Pass

North

East

♠ 4♠ 1

ANSWER: I seldom advocate the underlead of an ace, but if ever there was a moment to experiment with such a dangerous act, this is it! You must try to set up tricks quickly, and my guess is that the heart lead won’t catch declarer with a singleton, so it is relatively safe — as these things go.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, April 6, 2010 by admin on April 20th, 2010 “Love sounds the alarm, and Fear is a-flying.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: Both — John Gay How should you play three no-trump on the lead of a low heart? This is a difficult card to parse. It could be from four hearts or five, so you really have no indication how to tackle the diamonds. At matchpoints your approach would be very different from that at teams since your target is not the same. At matchpoints, although you want to make your contract, your real desire is to take more tricks than the other Souths. If one time in 10 you go down, and nine times in 10 you get your overtrick, that is a fair return on your investment. By contrast, at teams (and especially at rubber bridge) you would rather follow as safe a line as possible to make your contract; the overtricks rarely matter over the course of a long match. So at pairs you win the heart lead, play a diamond to the ace, and cash the diamond king. If the queen falls doubleton (as it will about a quarter of the time), you take five diamond tricks instead of four.

♠ 10 5 3 ♥96 ♦AK765 ♣K J 5

West

East

♠J9 ♥ Q 10 8 3 ♦ Q 10 3 2 ♣9 7 3

♠AQ84 ♥J752 ♦9 ♣ 10 6 4 2 South

♠K762 ♥AK4 ♦J84 ♣A Q 8 South 1 NT

West Pass

Opening Lead:

North 3 NT

East All Pass

♥3

Conversely, at teams you cash the diamond ace, noting the fall of the nine on your right, and you drop the eight. You now lead a diamond toward your jack. This protects you against a 4-1 break on either your left or right. As the cards lie, your jack will lose to the queen, but when you regain the lead, you can finesse in diamonds against West and run the suit. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ 10 5 3 ♥96 ♦AK765 ♣K J 5 South

West

North

East

Pass

Pass

1

♣

Pass

?

ANSWER: Did you look for some heroic action to catch up in the auction? That is unnecessary; simply respond one diamond. If your partner passes, you will not have missed a game. If your partner bids on, you will get a chance to describe your hand, knowing quite a lot more than you do at the moment.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, April 7, 2010 by admin on April 21st, 2010 “Now is not the hour that requires such help, nor those defenders.”

Dealer: South North

♠AKJ ♥J73 ♦972 ♣A Q 6 4

Vul: Both

— Virgil There is nothing more embarrassing than to go past game while exploring slam, stay low for safety, and still go down. To avoid that embarrassing fate, you will need to play today’s contract of four no-trump carefully. North’s four-no-trump bid is a natural if slightly pushy slam invitation, which South should pass with his 16-point minimum. A 4-3-3-3 distribution is always a negative, and although the controls are good and you have two 10s, that is not quite enough. It can do no harm to duck the opening lead of a top diamond, but you should win the second diamond. Once East shows out, the only reason to duck would be to tighten the position for a squeeze, and that seems somewhat unlikely today.

West

East

♠4 ♥82 ♦ K Q 10 6 4 3 ♣J 9 7 5

♠976532 ♥ Q 10 9 6 5 ♦J ♣8 South

♠ Q 10 8 ♥AK4 ♦A85 ♣ K 10 3 2 South 1 NT

West Pass

North 4 NT

East All Pass

♦

King The right thing to do next is to test clubs by playing the Opening Lead: ace and queen. Deep down you know that if anyone is long in clubs, it MUST be East, so you should arrange to finesse against that player. But lo and behold! It is West who has length in both minors. When East shows out on the second club lead, your 10 presumed winners have shrunk to nine. But by cashing the top spades and hearts, you can force West to discard two of his good diamonds or unguard the clubs. Then you can lead a diamond, forcing West to lead a club into your tenace and giving you the game-going winner in clubs. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠AKJ ♥J73 ♦972 ♣A Q 6 4 South

West 1

?

♣

North 1

♥

East 1

♠

ANSWER: You have a very good hand, but while you may want to play in game, which is the right strain? The best way to show your values is to bid two clubs, a cue-bid showing a heart raise, planning to follow up over a minimum continuation from your partner with a bid of three no-trump, suggesting that you have a good hand with the black suits stopped.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, April 8, 2010 by admin on April 22nd, 2010 “Those who know how to win are much more numerous than those who know how to make proper use of their victories.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: Neither

— Polybius At no-trump it is often right to duck tricks early, not late. But how would you play three no-trump today when West leads the spade six? At the other table, the declarer allowed East’s spade jack to win. He intended to exhaust East of spades so that if he held at least one of the club honors, he would have no spade to play when he gained the lead. East returned a spade to dummy’s bare ace, and when West turned up with both the high clubs, declarer had to go one down.

♠A3 ♥ 10 7 ♦AJ98 ♣ Q J 10 9 7

West

East

♠ Q 10 7 6 2 ♥J3 ♦754 ♣A K 2

♠J4 ♥Q86542 ♦632 ♣6 3 South

♠K985 ♥AK9 ♦ K Q 10 ♣8 5 4

Unlucky, admittedly, but this line did not seem best to our featured declarer, Omar Sharif. For one thing, if he ducked South West North a club, a heart switch at trick two could have been 1 NT Pass 3 NT dangerous. Additionally, the spade six was a fourth-best card and he could therefore tell from the rule of 11 that East held the queen, jack or 10. (He could not hold the spade seven, because West would surely have led an Opening Lead: 6 honor from a Q-J-10 combination.) So declarer could block the spades by rising with the ace at trick one, avoiding the risk of receiving a heart switch.

East All Pass

♠

When declarer played on clubs, West won the first round and returned another spade. Sharif allowed East to win with the bare jack, and now could not be prevented from setting up the club suit, ending with an overtrick. I don’t know about you, but this particular play strikes me as exceedingly elegant. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ Q 10 7 6 2 ♥J3 ♦754 ♣A K 2 South

West

North

♣ 2♦

1 1 ?

♠

Pass

East 1

♥

Pass

ANSWER: In a competitive auction of this sort, a bid of three clubs would normally be nonforcing facing your partner’s reverse, whatever your agreements might be had the sequence been noncompetitive. To set up a game-force, cuebid two hearts, then raise clubs later. You are definitely going to game, but you have no idea which strain yet.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, April 9, 2010 by admin on April 23rd, 2010 “But if success I must never find, Then come misfortune, I bid thee welcome,

Dealer: West

North

Vul: Both

♠Q853 ♥AKQ94 ♦6 ♣A 9 3

I’ll meet thee with an undaunted mind.” — Robert Burns Had West opened the bidding in this deal, North-South might well have reached three no-trump, which would have been relatively easy to play, given the even heart split. As it was, West passed initially and overcalled on the second round. Now South had to play well to land the major-suit game. West kicked off with a club against four spades. Declarer won in hand and played a spade to West’s ace. Another club was continued, won by dummy’s ace, and three rounds of hearts stood up. One possibility was for declarer to ruff a club and play a trump. However, if spades were 41, then East could take two top trumps and play a fourth round of clubs, promoting a fourth defensive trump trick.

West

East

♠A ♥J52 ♦ K 10 8 7 5 3 ♣Q 8 7

♠KJ76 ♥ 10 8 7 ♦92 ♣ J 10 5 2 South

♠ 10 9 4 2 ♥63 ♦AQJ4 ♣K 6 4 South

1

♠

West

North

Pass

1

2

♥ 3♠ 4♠

♦

Declarer logically assumed that West had six diamonds for 3 NT Pass the vulnerable two-level overcall, and could surely be counted for three cards in each of clubs and hearts, so it was probable that the spade ace could be taken at face Opening Lead: 7 value as a singleton. Accordingly, declarer continued with a fourth heart, East and South discarding diamonds. Declarer could not allow East to discard his other diamond, so he played a diamond to his ace and ruffed a diamond with the spade eight. East was helpless. If he overruffed and played king and another spade, declarer would make the spade queen and a long heart; otherwise, declarer would be in dummy to play another heart and establish one more trump trick.

East Pass Pass All Pass

♣

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ 10 9 4 2 ♥63 ♦AQJ4 ♣K 6 4 South

West

North

East

♥

1 NT

Pass

1 ?

ANSWER: Normal partnership agreements these days are to play “system on,” meaning that if you play Stayman in response to the opening bid of a no-trump, you play it in response to an overcall in no-trump too. Here, a 4-4 spade fit could very easily play better than no-trump (imagine partner with only ace-third of hearts for example). So bid two clubs and find out.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, April 10, 2010 by admin on April 24th, 2010 “Has not (wisdom) come from the dying out of the power of temptation, rather than as the results of thought and resolution?”

Dealer: South North

♠ K 10 5 ♥J75 ♦ K Q J 10 2 ♣A Q

Vul: Both

— Anthony Trollope In today’s auction North’s jump-shift followed by a new suit was a cue-bid for spades, since the partnership had the agreement never to jump-shift with a two-suited hand.

West

East

♠A ♥KQ ♦976543 ♣ J 10 4 3

♠643 ♥ 10 9 6 4 3 2 ♦8 ♣9 7 5 South

That got his side to slam, but pinpointed the heart lead for the defense. Now they were threatening to cash their heart winner on getting in with the spade ace. Obviously, declarer could not draw trumps before trying to discard his losing heart. So he played on side-suits to get his discard, an approach that turned out to present more problems than might have been expected, given the bad side-suit breaks. However, today’s declarer, with careful planning, was equal to the task. Declarer won his heart ace, unblocked the diamond ace, and went to the club ace to lead a top diamond, ruffed and overruffed. A second club to dummy’s queen let declarer lead a diamond, again ruffed and overruffed.

♠QJ9872 ♥A8 ♦A ♣K 8 6 2 South

♠ 3♠ 4♦ 5♥

1

West

North

Pass

3

Pass Pass Pass

Now declarer ruffed a club in dummy, led a fourth Opening Lead: diamond, again ruffed and overruffed, and finally crossed his fingers before leading the club king and ruffing it in dummy.

♦ 4♣ 4♠ 6♠

East Pass Pass Pass All Pass

♥ King

Finally, something went right for him: East could not ruff, so declarer was in dummy to lead the fifth diamond and pitch his heart loser. He could now claim 12 tricks. Notice that declarer has to ruff his winner to get to the board. It does him no good to pitch on the club king since there is still a heart loser left in both hands if he does. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠A ♥KQ ♦976543 ♣ J 10 4 3 South

West 1

?

♣

North 1

♥

East 1

♠

ANSWER: It looks natural to bid two diamonds now, but with such a bad suit it may misdirect partner and get him off to the wrong lead. An alternative is to double. Since one spade was a forcing call, this double cannot be for penalties; instead it suggests values, heart tolerance and some diamond length. It is sometimes referred to as a snapdragon or competitive double.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, April 11, 2010 by admin on April 25th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

I notice that the better players use thirdand-fifth leads. What are the benefits of them, and where can I learn more about them? — Willing to Learn, Montreal, Quebec ANSWER: The theoretical advantages of third-and-fifth as opposed to fourth come when you as a defender are trying to work out how long partner’s suit is. In fourthhighest a player leads the same card from suits one apart in length; in third-and-fifth the same card from holdings two cards apart. Bridge logic normally helps you work out a two-card disparity more easily and more often than a one-card disparity. Two books called “Opening Leads,” one by Bob Ewen, one by Mike Lawrence, are highly recommended, as is the book by Rosler and Rubens called “Journalist Leads.” Dear Mr. Wolff:

♠

♥ ♦

♣

Holding Q-8-7-4, 9, 9-3-2, A-J10-3-2, I responded one spade to my partner’s opening bid of one heart. My partner jumped to three spades, and now I thought with only four trumps and a singleton in his suit that I should pass. He turned up with a singleton diamond and we made five in a canter. Was I wrong to pass?

ANSWER: You get to claim honors till the score for the rubber has been agreed. So as you suspected (and for precisely the reason you mention) they do NOT have to be claimed at the start of the play of the hand. Best is to claim them when leading the last of the sequence or when drawing what is clearly the last trump.

Dear Mr. Wolff: What is meant by balancing or protecting? How is bidding in that seat different? — Shifting Perspective, Columbia, S.C. ANSWER: When you are last to speak, after two passes, so that your pass would end the auction, you are in the balancing or protecting seat. You tend to reopen when possible, and so overcalls tend to show about a king less than they guarantee in direct seat. By contrast, jump overcalls (often played as weak) should be intermediate in balancing seat, say 12-16 with a good six-carder, and an overcall of one no-trump has a somewhat wider range, say 11-15. Dear Mr. Wolff: A few weeks ago you had a column touching on differences in defense between IMPs and matchpoints. Recently I held

♥

♦

♣

♠

ANSWER: I understand your logic and (especially if playing with an aggressive partner) might duplicate your decision. However, the good club spots might enable me to set that suit up for discards and thus persuade me to bid on.

A-9, K-J-3-2, A-Q-10-8-3-2, 6. Defending four spades after my partner had eventually raised my diamond suit, I led the club six, won by declarer. I took my trump ace, and underled my diamonds, hoping my partner had the king and would give me a club ruff. Alas, declarer had the singleton diamond king. Result: misery! Was my play sensible?

Dear Mr. Wolff:

— Master Blaster, Charlottesville, Va.

When should honors be declared? Some of us were taught (we couldn’t remember where or when) that one should declare honors immediately before playing the hand. We thought about this and decided that this system would give the opponents too much information, and therefore began to question what we believed we had learned.

ANSWER: Your play sounds reasonable, but let me give you a suggestion. If you use your partner’s plays in trumps as SUIT PREFERENCE — not count or attitude — some of the time you will be able to work out what to do. If your partner follows under your spade ace with a high spot, you may decide not to play him for an honor in the low suit. This requires partnership trust, I admit. But let me leave you with the thought that the pleasure you would have gotten from your play, had it succeeded, would have far outweighed the pain you actually felt when it did not!

— Chicken Little, Huntington, W.Va.

— Honor Bound, Portland, Ore.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, April 12, 2010 by admin on April 26th, 2010 “Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There’s no better rule.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: Both

— Charles Dickens To mark the 10th anniversary of the last Bermuda Bowl to be held in Bermuda, this week’s deals all come from that event. In 2000 Fred Gitelman of Canada was part of the team that won the Transnational silver medal. Having missed the ideal contract here, he had to demonstrate that he was capable of recovering from the auction by finding the best line of play.

♠ 10 2 ♥AK543 ♦872 ♣K 5 2

West

East

♠K63 ♥ 10 9 6 ♦ K Q 10 9 3 ♣Q 9

♠754 ♥QJ82 ♦J64 ♣ 10 7 3 South

♠AQJ98 ♥7 ♦A5 ♣A J 8 6 4

When North, focusing on the diamond stop, used the fourth suit instead of showing delayed spade support, he put Gitelman into an awkward contract of no-trump, rather than the more comfortable spade game.

Of course the defense led a top diamond, and the South West North diamond-king lead conventionally requested an unblock, Pass so East dutifully played the jack. Gitelman ducked the first Pass 1 2 trick and won the next round of the suit. Now the game Pass appears to depend on the spade or the club finesse, but 3 3 All Pass each of them is rather less than a 50 percent chance. 3 NT Gitelman saw the possibility that he might combine his Opening Lead: King chances in the two suits by tackling them in the right order. He cashed the ace of clubs, then the king, intending to take the spade finesse if nothing nice happened. When the club queen popped up, Fred did not need the spade finesse, but simply ran for cover by taking his nine top tricks.

♠ ♣

♥ ♦

East Pass Pass Pass

♦

This strategy of combining two chances is sometimes referred to as an echelon play and is a very useful way to get two bites at the apple. LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠A42 ♥KQ5 ♦972 ♣9 7 4 3 South

West

♥ 2♦

1 Pass All Pass

North

East

Pass

1

Pass

♠ 3♠

ANSWER: If you play fourth-highest leads in this position, you may prefer to lead second from a bad suit and start with the club seven. But there is certainly something to be said for simply leading the true-count card, the three. If you play third and lowest leads, then you must lead the four. You cannot sensibly combine secondhighest leads with this method.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 by admin on April 27th, 2010 “A shade of sadness, a blush of shame, Over the face of the leader came.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: Both

♠A2 ♥ A J 10 ♦ Q 10 8 7 4 3 ♣A 5

— John Greenleaf Whittier It is always embarrassing to make a technical error, and to perpetrate it on Vugraph in front of a large audience makes the experience even more painful. Carefully consider the play as South in six spades on a club lead if you want to avoid humiliation — and the turnover of a significant number of IMPs. What happened in the real world (at the 2000 Bermuda Bowl) was that declarer won the club lead and cashed the top spades, discovering the loser there, then took the diamond ace and king before going to dummy in hearts. When she tried to cash the diamond queen, East ruffed, and while declarer could pitch on this trick, there was still a club or heart loser for declarer one way or the other. The correct line allows the contract to succeed. Win the club lead, cash the spade king, then take the top diamonds. While you might fail against a 4-1 diamond split, that is considerably less likely than a 3-1 spade split. (Just for the record, spades split evenly somewhat less than half the time; diamonds split 3-2 just over two-thirds of the time.)

West

East

♠ 10 ♥K97652 ♦952 ♣9 7 2

♠QJ9 ♥Q4 ♦J6 ♣ K Q 10 8 4 3 South

♠K876543 ♥83 ♦AK ♣J 6 South

♠ 3♠ 4♦ 5♦ 6♠

2

West

North

Pass

1

Pass

2 NT

Pass

Pass

4

♣ 4♥ 6♦

Pass

Pass Pass

South Holds:

♠A2 ♥ A J 10 ♦ Q 10 8 7 4 3 ♣A 5 South ?

West

North

East

2

♣

Pass Pass

All Pass

Now cross to dummy with the spade ace and cash the Opening Lead: diamond queen, discarding your club loser. East can ruff in, of course, but you still have the priceless re-entry to dummy in the heart ace and can discard your heart loser at your leisure. BID WITH THE ACES

♦

East

♣2

ANSWER: I do not want you to think I’m a fuddyduddy; sometimes one has to break the rules. Ignore the fact that you have a six-card suit and instead focus on the fact that this hand is approximately balanced, in the 15-17 range, so the least lie comes from opening it one no-trump. Opening one diamond will give you an ugly rebid problem, no matter what partner does.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 by admin on April 28th, 2010 “And now the matchless deed’s achieved,

Dealer: North North

Vul: N-S

Determined, dared and done.” — Christopher Smart In the quarter-finals of the 2000 Bermuda Bowl World Championships, from where all this week’s deals are taken, put yourself in Jacek Romanski’s seat (East) and cover up the South and West hands to match wits with Zia as declarer.

♠J3 ♥ Q 10 9 6 ♦ 10 9 8 ♣ A 10 9 7

West

East

♠764 ♥A852 ♦753 ♣J 3 2

♠AK852 ♥KJ3 ♦2 ♣8 6 5 4 South

Against three no-trump Kowalski led the spade four, promising a three-card suit, and Romanski had to decide on a plan. If his partner had a high diamond, the winning defense would be to duck the first or second spade to preserve communications. West would win his diamond to return a spade and let the defenders cash out for down one. However, if declarer’s diamonds were solid (and the auction had suggested this might be so), then a different defense might be necessary. Romanski guessed very well when he elected to cash two top spades; Kowalski obediently gave suit preference for hearts on the second one by following with the spade seven, and Romanski shifted to a low heart away from his K-J. Kowalski lost no time in winning his ace and returning the suit, to cash out for down one.

♠ Q 10 9 ♥74 ♦AKQJ64 ♣K Q South

2

♦

3 NT

West

Pass

North

East

Pass

1

3

♦

♠

Pass

All Pass

Opening Lead:

♠4

In the other room South reached three no-trump by treating his hand as balanced while concealing his diamonds, making a one-no-trump overcall at his first turn. Now the defense stood no realistic chance of guessing what to do on a spade lead. East returned a low spade at trick two, so declarer finished up with 11 tricks and an 11-IMP gain. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠J3 ♥ Q 10 9 6 ♦ 10 9 8 ♣ A 10 9 7 South

West

North

East 1

♥

Pass

1

Pass ?

Pass

♠ 2♦

1

♣

1 NT Pass

ANSWER: It is not clear whether this auction guarantees five diamonds as well as five spades. But given that your partner may need to ruff spades in your hand, your good diamond spots suggest that the 4-3 diamond fit may play as well as spades. On that basis I would pass out two diamonds rather than correcting to two spades.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, April 15, 2010 by admin on April 29th, 2010 Dealer: South North

“A truth that’s told with bad intent

Vul: E-W

Beats all the lies you can invent.” — William Blake One problem of being known as a great player is that your opponents will think you capable of doing just about anything. You may get away with some mistakes, but equally, you will not be able to fool your opponents that easily.

♠K9 ♥AKQ3 ♦94 ♣A J 9 8 6

West

East

♠85432 ♥982 ♦AJ3 ♣ Q 10

♠ Q 10 7 ♥J754 ♦ K 10 5 ♣K 5 3 South

♠AJ6 ♥ 10 6 ♦Q8762 ♣7 4 2

That bad luck befell Maria Erhart of Austria in today’s deal from the 2000 Venice Cup semifinals against the Netherlands (the eventual winners of the event). She found the best defense, but she was playing against someone who was not going to fall for a subtle falsecard. South

West

North

In the other room Austria had played one no-trump from Pass Pass 1 the North seat and had made 11 tricks on a heart lead. Pass However, three no-trump by South on a spade lead from 1 1 Erhart was not so comfortable. Van der Pas took the lead Pass 1 NT 3 NT in hand and played a club, intending to cover West’s card, but Erhart found a challenging counter when she put up the club queen on this trick. Van der Pas had to take Opening Lead: 3 dummy’s ace and now had to decide what to do at once since she did not have the entries that would permit her to cross back to hand to play a club up. Had she led a low club from dummy, the defense would have collected five tricks in the minors sooner or later. But she knew Erhart was capable of the deception, so she eventually decided to lead the club jack from the table, pinning the 10 and making her contract.

♣ ♥

♦

East Pass Pass All Pass

♠

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠K9 ♥AKQ3 ♦94 ♣A J 9 8 6 South

West

North

East

♥

Pass

1

Pass

Pass

1 2 ?

♣

♠ 2♠

ANSWER: Just because you have a strong hand does not mean your side has a fit, or that you will do better declaring than defending. When you bid two clubs, you suggested you had a reasonable hand. But you have no extra shape, thus no basis for bidding again. So pass in tempo and hope your partner can balance with three clubs if appropriate.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, April 16, 2010 by admin on April 30th, 2010 “Though I beheld at first with blank surprise This Work, I now have gazed on it so long

Dealer: West

North

Vul: N-S

♠KQ9 ♥AQJ ♦96432 ♣8 6

I see its truth with unreluctant eyes.” — William Wordsworth When you lead a singleton 10 in a side suit against a suit contract, your main hope is that partner is going to be able to give you a ruff. It is rare to find yourself still on lead at trick two – but you now have a chance to rethink your defense plan. See if you can match the strategy devised by Terry Weigkricht of Austria in this deal from the quarterfinals of the 2000 World Championships, from where all this week’s deals come. After an artificial auction Weigkricht found herself on lead to four hearts. The diamond 10 held the first trick as Doris Fischer followed with the five, and Weigkricht realized that the auction and play thus far strongly indicated that she should play a club. It may look natural to play the club ace and give your partner a ruff, but that does not defeat the hand. Declarer can ruff the next diamond high, then draw trumps, and throw all three diamond losers on the blacksuit winners. Weigkricht found the accurate defense of leading a low club at trick two. Fisher ruffed and led a top diamond, forcing declarer to ruff high. Now declarer could establish the clubs for only one discard. Whether she drew trumps or not, she would finish one trick short.

West

East

♠ 10 6 ♥ 10 9 2 ♦ 10 ♣ A2 J 10 9 5 3

♠8732 ♥753 ♦AKQJ85 ♣— South

♠AJ54 ♥K864 ♦7 ♣K Q 7 4 South

West

North

East

2 NT*

Pass

3

Dbl.

Pass

4

Pass

Pass

Rdbl.

4

♥

♣

♣

Dbl. Pass

All Pass

Opening Lead:

♦ 10

At several tables, including that at which her teammates were North-South, the defense shifted to ace and another club at trick two against four hearts, letting through the contract. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠KQ9 ♥AQJ ♦96432 ♣8 6 South

West

North

♣ 4♣

1 3 NT ?

Pass

East 1

♥

Pass

ANSWER: Your partner is making a slam-try for clubs, with extra values and long clubs. You showed game-forcing values at your first turn; thus, in context, you have nothing to spare. So bid four no-trump, which is discouraging and not Blackwood!

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, April 17, 2010 by admin on May 1st, 2010 “Anger is never without an argument, but seldom with a good one.”

Dealer: North North

♠QJ54 ♥9865 ♦AK7 ♣4 2

Vul: N-S

— Marquis of Halifax Any contract that will make if a finesse succeeds cannot be considered hopeless. Sometimes, though, the auction will tell you that there has to be something better. Put yourself in South’s shoes and see if you can spot the improvement.

West

East

♠96 ♥ K J 10 7 3 ♦ 10 4 ♣ K Q J 10

♠ 10 8 7 2 ♥42 ♦QJ83 ♣6 5 3 South

At the world championships held in Bermuda in 2000 when Denmark played Canada in the qualifying round of the Venice Cup, both declarers reached three no-trump and knew from the auction that the heart finesse would fail. They ducked the first two clubs, and worked out that West had the long club from the defenders’ signals. They won the third club and decided against trying to find a doubleton J-10 or the heart king onside. Instead, they cashed the ace and king of diamonds, took two top spades, and exited with the fourth club. At this point West, with nothing but hearts left, had to lead into declarer’s AQ, conceding the ninth trick.

♠AK3 ♥AQ ♦9652 ♣A 9 8 7 South

West

1 NT

2

2 NT * Hearts and **Takeout

Pass

♥*

North Pass

East Pass

Dbl.**

Pass

3 NT

All Pass

a minor

As you can see, the natural play might be for declarer to win an early club and cash all the spade winners, but then Opening Lead: King there would be no way back to hand to endplay West in clubs. To succeed, declarer must find West with relatively short spades and diamonds. The auction has made that a virtual certainty since with nine cards in hearts and clubs, West could not have much room for length in either of the other suits.

♣

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠QJ54 ♥9865 ♦AK7 ♣4 2 South

West 1

?

♦

North

East

♥

1 NT

1

ANSWER: If the opponents had not tipped you off to a likely bad break in hearts, you might have made a cue-bid of two diamonds to show a good raise in hearts. But the auction has suggested your hand will not be pulling its full weight, so maybe a simple if somewhat heavy raise to two hearts might now be more discreet.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, April 18, 2010 by admin on May 2nd, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

How is the bidding box’s stop card used? Some people employ it; others don’t. Can it ever convey information other than a jump bid? — Hop-Skip-Jump, Fayetteville, N.C. ANSWER: The stop card should be used every time a jump bid is made. This is not because you expect the opponents to bid, but because this way no inferences can be taken on comparable auctions. The idea is to relieve your LHO of ethical pressure when you make a skip bid. Emphatically, the player using the card should NOT use it only for weak jumps as opposed to strong ones. No information should be conveyed to the partner of the skip-bidder by his use of the card. Dear Mr. Wolff: I had a flat hand with 14 points, including four hearts and four clubs. I bid one club, and my partner had 10 points, a stopper in every suit except clubs, and four hearts to the king. She responded one no-trump and we missed the heart-fit. When I later asked her why she had not bid her hearts, she said it was a perfect one-no-trump response. Who was right? — Losing Heart, Seneca, S.C. ANSWER: You are right; your partner is wrong. An OPENING bid in a major shows five. A response at the one-level to a minor guarantees only four; you may have more, but not necessarily. When your partner responds in a major, you as opener generally raise only with four, but may in emergencies raise with three. The objective of bidding is to find your eight-card fit. The player with four must help find the 4-4 fit by bidding the suit as soon as is logical — which means at responder’s first turn. Dear Mr. Wolff: When are count signals used as opposed to attitude signals? Do some foreign players have methods and priorities different from ours? — Learning Curve, Dayton, Ohio

ANSWER: Most people in the United States signal attitude (like/dislike) at their first turn. But when attitude is already defined by what is in dummy or by what declarer is just about to play to the trick, or by the auction, then count or even suit preference may be more important. In many countries players believe that count should take precedence over attitude.

Dear Mr. Wolff: In our local club one member of a pair, after winning a trick on the board and while contemplating his next action, will hear his partner, the dummy, automatically and without fail say, “You’re on the board.” Is this legal? Even if it is legal, is it to be discouraged? And how should the Director deal with this irritating and puzzling situation? — Bothered and Bewildered, El Paso, Texas ANSWER: To prevent partner from leading out of turn, dummy is entitled to remind declarer which hand he is in. So long as there is no unauthorized information flowing (e.g., “the spade queen is on your RIGHT partner!”) I would happily ignore the comments from dummy. Preventing irregularity trumps the other issues, I think. My comments may not have the force of law, but so be it! Dear Mr. Wolff: I was second to speak with

♦

♣

♠ 9, ♥ A-J-10-

3-2, K-Q-7-4, A K 4. After a twospade pre-empt on my right, I doubled and corrected a three-club response to three hearts. Should this be forcing? Does it even show extras? And what if we were playing Lebensohl, so that my partner’s three-club call showed values? (He would have bid two no-trump as a negative.) — How High Is Up?, Harrisburg, Pa. ANSWER: In all the scenarios you discuss, the three-heart bid must show extras — though with this hand an immediate threeheart call would not be unreasonable. If the three-club call shows values, then the three-heart bid is forcing; if not, it is highly encouraging.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, April 19, 2010 by admin on May 3rd, 2010 “People of quality know everything without ever having been taught anything.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: E-W

— Molière Deciding to follow the principle of bidding to the maximum at your first turn when at favorable vulnerability, you open five clubs. There are, after all, two opponents and only one partner. After everyone passes, how should you play the hand on the lead of the diamond king?

♠A943 ♥652 ♦7532 ♣A 8

West

East

♠ 10 7 6 ♥ K 10 8 3 ♦KQJ6 ♣K 5

♠KJ82 ♥J97 ♦ A 10 9 8 4 ♣7 South

Naturally you ruff, but what do you do next? Instinct tells you to take the trump finesse, rather than playing for the trump king to drop. If West has two clubs, they are twice as likely to include the king as to be two small cards.

♠Q5 ♥AQ4 ♦— J 10 9 6 4 ♣Q 32

When the finesse holds, you would normally hasten to draw trumps and lead a heart to your queen. That would be natural — but wrong. South

West

North

If the heart finesse is right, it can wait. Far better is to lead All Pass 5 a trump to the eight at trick two, then play a spade toward your queen. If this loses to the king on your left, you can take the heart finesse later on. If East has the spade king, he must use it or lose it. His best play will be to shift to a Opening Lead: King heart, and now comes the next trap. If you finesse, West wins his king and plays back his second club to cut you off from the spades. Instead rise with the heart ace, unblock your spade queen, draw the last trump, cash the spade ace to pitch a heart, and concede one trick to the heart king.

East

♣

♦

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q4 ♥KQ952 ♦A74 ♣J 4 2 South

West

North

East 1

1

♥

Pass ?

1

♠

2 NT

Pass All Pass

♣

1 NT

ANSWER: Opinions differ on whether you should trust the opponents in auctions like this. If you had a sensible alternative to a heart lead, you might make it; but nothing else looks remotely attractive, and East may well have no more than a single heart stop. So lead a fourth-highest heart as your best chance to set up and cash winners for your side.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 by admin on May 4th, 2010 “The best of prophets of the future is the past.”

Dealer: South North

♠AK53 ♥K85 ♦763 ♣A Q 2

Vul: Both — Lord Byron In today’s deal South shows first club shortage, then a club void. After North’s encouraging three-spade bid, nothing will keep South out of slam. But how you should plan the play in six spades on West’s passive trump lead? Obviously you will succeed if East has the diamond king, but you can also succeed if West has the club king. Win the trump lead, draw a second trump ending in dummy, then cash the club ace and ruff a club. Now play off three rounds of hearts, ending in dummy, and lead the club queen. If East plays low, you can discard a diamond, and when West wins, he will be endplayed. He can either lead a diamond into your tenace or give you a ruff-sluff to let you ruff in dummy and discard your diamond queen from hand.

West

East

♠84 ♥J76 ♦KJ9 ♣ K J 10 5 4

♠6 ♥ 10 9 4 3 ♦ 10 8 5 ♣9 8 7 6 3 South

♠ Q J 10 9 7 2 ♥AQ2 ♦AQ42 ♣—

* Game-forcing with spades ** Short Clubs South

♠ 3 ♣** 4♣ 6♠

1

West

North

East

Pass

2 NT*

Pass

If East plays the club king on the queen, nothing has been Pass 3 lost. You ruff, cash the diamond ace, play a trump to Pass dummy, then lead a diamond toward your queen. All 4 things being equal, you plan to put the queen on in due All Pass course, thus taking the finesse against East. But this line is better than taking a straightforward diamond finesse on the first round of the suit. The point is that if West started Opening Lead: 8 life with the doubleton diamond king, he will be endplayed upon winning this trick. Again, the ruff-sluff will let you pitch your diamond loser from hand while ruffing in the dummy.

♠ ♠

Pass Pass

♠

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠84 ♥J76 ♦KJ9 ♣ K J 10 5 4 South

West

North

Pass

Pass

1

♣

Pass

2 ?

♦ 2♥

East 1

♥

Pass

ANSWER: Your partner’s cue-bid of two hearts shows extras and asks you to describe your hand further. Your first duty is to bid no-trump with a heart stop, or to raise partner, or otherwise describe your hand by bidding a second suit or showing extra length in your first suit. Here a simple bid of three diamonds shows your support and lets partner decide where to go from here.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 by admin on May 5th, 2010 “A learned man is an idler who kills time with study. Beware of his false knowledge: it is more dangerous than ignorance.”

Dealer: North North

♠ K 10 6 4 3 ♥AK4 ♦A753 ♣4

Vul: N-S

— George Bernard Shaw In today’s auction South asked for specific kings with his call of five no-trump, but North bid six hearts, unwilling to go past that contract with just the spade king. However, South knew his partner had to have at least one king for his bidding so far, so quite reasonably moved on to the seven-level.

West

East

♠5 ♥83 ♦ K Q J 10 8 4 ♣J 8 7 5

♠J982 ♥975 ♦9 ♣ 10 9 6 3 2 South

♠AQ7 ♥ Q J 10 6 2 ♦62 ♣A K Q

A casual look at the deal suggests there should be no problem taking 13 tricks in hearts: declarer has 10 tricks in the majors and four tricks in the minors. A second glance reveals the bad spade break, but that appears only to reduce 14 tricks to 13. The real problem comes with the lead of a diamond, which removes the side-suit entry to the spades. This means real care is necessary — but what else would you expect in a grand slam?

South

West

North

♠ 4♦ 5 ♣* 6♥

1 2

♥

4 NT

3

♦

Pass

East Pass Pass Pass

South won the diamond lead in dummy and, after counting 5 NT Pass Pass the top tricks, prepared to protect himself against possible All Pass bad breaks. Since the auction showed that West was the 7 hand far more likely to be short in spades, South decided to protect against this eventuality, with West also holding *Three of the five "aces", counting the no more than two trumps. Instead of drawing all the trump as an ace trumps, he cashed the trump ace and queen, then took two top spades. Had they split, he would have completed Opening Lead: King drawing trump. When they broke badly, he ruffed out the spades, went back to the board with the trump king, and pitched his diamond on the 13th spade. Contract made.

♥

♦

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ K 10 6 4 3 ♥AK4 ♦A753 ♣4 South

West 1

?

♣

North

East

Pass

3

♣

ANSWER: Whether the jump to three clubs is weak or invitational, you cannot afford to sell out now. You must act, and the choice is to double for takeout or bid your spades. While spades might be your best suit, considerations of safety should suggest that the double will help you find your best fit whenever possible (and who knows, partner might pass for penalties).

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, April 22, 2010 by admin on May 6th, 2010 “A fool … is a man who never tried an experiment in his life.”

Dealer: South North

♠KQ3 ♥A63 ♦73 ♣A K 9 4 2

Vul: Both

— Erasmus Darwin Bridge literature is full of exotically named coups. My favorite has always been “the coup without a name.” (Does this mean it DOES have a name?) Nowadays it is known simply as the Scissors Coup. But today’s deal features the coup en passant, which is a way to negotiate a finesse in trumps, despite the fact that the hand you lead from has no trumps left. Does that sound impossible? Read on…. Consider the play in today’s five diamonds. South wins the opening heart lead in dummy and leads a diamond for the winning finesse. A club back to dummy lets declarer take a second diamond finesse, and the bad split shows up. Having to lose a heart and a spade, declarer has got to pick up the trump king to make his contract. He therefore must shorten his trumps for a possible endplay.

West

East

♠ A 10 8 2 ♥ K Q J 10 5 ♦4 ♣J 7 5

♠965 ♥942 ♦K982 ♣ Q 10 6 South

♠J74 ♥87 ♦ A Q J 10 6 5 ♣8 3 South 3

♦

West 3

North

♥

5

♦

East All Pass

♥

Opening Lead: King He should lead another club to dummy and ruff a third round of clubs. Next he leads a spade, and West must put up the ace. (If he does not, dummy’s good club will be cashed and South will shed his losing heart.) West takes his heart trick and only helps declarer if he leads a third round. The best he can do is exit with a spade. South wins the trick in dummy and leads the third heart, which he ruffs. He gets back to dummy with the remaining spade at trick 11, and the lead from dummy at trick 12 picks up the guarded trump king. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠J74 ♥87 ♦ A Q J 10 6 5 ♣8 3 South

West

North

♣ 1♥ 2♠

1

♦ 2♦

1

?

Pass Pass

East Pass Pass Pass

ANSWER: Your partner’s two-spade call shows a good hand (since he is bidding on over a weak bid from you) and asks about your suitability for no-trump. He is likely to have two or three spades and 16-18 points. With a partial spade stop and a nonminimum, I would simply gamble on three no-trump now.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, April 23, 2010 by admin on May 7th, 2010 “I pass with relief from the tossing sea of Cause and Theory to the firm ground of Result and Fact.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: Both

— Winston Churchill Eddie Kantar, one of the game’s best writers, explains what an expert thinks about when the dummy comes down. If the contract looks nearly hopeless, the expert places the opposing cards where he needs them to be to make the hand. If the contract looks relatively easy, he asks himself what can go wrong and what, if anything, he can do about it.

West

East

♠Q9873 ♥J62 ♦A7 ♣ 10 8 4

♠K4 ♥ 10 9 8 5 ♦K42 ♣J 9 7 3 South

♠ A 10 ♥KQ74 ♦963 ♣K Q 6 2

In three no-trump East plays the spade king at trick one, and the attention shifts to you (South). What is your plan? Diamonds have to be set up before the opponents can establish three spade tricks. If spades are 4-3 and West has the queen, which is apparent from East’s play of the king, the hand cannot be defeated whether you win the first spade or not. However, if spades are 5-2 and the diamond honors are divided, the hand can be defeated if you take the spade ace. East can win the first diamond and return a spade, allowing West to win the queen and drive out the jack. When West gets in with the other diamond honor, he has the setting trick in spades.

♠J652 ♥A3 ♦ Q J 10 8 5 ♣A 5

South

♣ 1♥

1

1 NT

West

North

Pass

1

♦ 1♠

Pass Pass

Opening Lead:

3 NT

East Pass Pass All Pass

♠7

But if you duck the first trick, win the second, and now knock out a diamond honor, you are home free. If East wins the trick, he has no spade to return and the diamonds can be easily established. So, to protect against 5-2 spades and split diamond honors, duck the opening lead. See how easy it is! BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ A 10 ♥KQ74 ♦963 ♣K Q 6 2 South

West

North

♣ 4♣

1 1 ?

♥

Pass

East Pass Pass

ANSWER: The jump to four clubs shows six good clubs, four hearts and extra values. The simple way forward is to use Blackwood. Yes, you have no diamond control, but how can partner not have a one? Even if he does not, who is to say that the opponents will lead that suit?

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, April 24, 2010 by admin on May 8th, 2010 “Whether I shall complete what is here started, Whether I shall attain my own height, to justify these, yet unfinished …

Dealer: East

North

Vul: N-S

♠954 ♥K74 ♦AKQJ8 ♣K 7

Depends, rich persons, upon you.” — Walt Whitman The bidding in today’s deal left a lot to be desired. To start with, West produced a rather flimsy overcall, then South jumped to three no-trump, promising a suitable minimum.

West

East

♠A7 ♥QJ853 ♦764 ♣8 6 5

♠QJ83 ♥ 10 6 2 ♦ 10 2 ♣ 10 9 4 2 South

♠ K 10 6 2 ♥A9 ♦953 ♣A Q J 3

North thought (correctly, I believe) that South had real extras and so landed his partnership in a slam that was not overly blessed with high cards. Not that slam was hopeless — far from it — but it does seem to hinge on a spade finesse which, as you can see, will not succeed. However, watch what happened. West sensibly led a diamond rather than a heart, and declarer cashed five rounds of diamonds, pitching two spades from hand. Then he took the four club winners, and as the last one was led out, he had two cards in each major in hand, while dummy had three hearts and two spades and had yet to discard.

South 1

♣

3 NT

West 1

North

♥

2

Pass

♦

6 NT

East Pass Pass All Pass

♦

Opening Lead: 7 West correctly decided he needed to keep the spade ace guarded, so came down to two hearts only, dummy threw a spade, and East, needing to keep three hearts to protect against dummy’s long heart, threw a spade honor. Declarer triumphantly cashed the ace and king of hearts, then led a spade to the queen, king and ace. At trick 13, West had to play his spade, and declarer’s 10 took the trick. This position is referred to as a vise squeeze. As the jaws close, East is forced to unguard spades, and subsequently West has to give the lead back to declarer. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠QJ83 ♥ 10 6 2 ♦ 10 2 ♣ 10 9 4 2 South

West

North

East

♣

Pass

2 NT

Pass

2 2 ?

♦

Pass

ANSWER: You have just enough values to go to game. Standard practice is to use the same conventional continuations over the delayed twono-trump bid as you would over an opening two no-trump. Since a response of three clubs to two no-trump would be Stayman, bid three clubs as Stayman here.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, April 25, 2010 by admin on May 9th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

What is the best book to teach me to play bridge in the style described in your columns? — Bookworm, Phoenix, Ariz. ANSWER: You will need more than books to play like the masters. You will need a certain spark! That said, I’m always delighted to encourage players to read about bridge. You’d be amazed at how practice makes perfect. Books by Hugh Kelsey, Terence Reese, Eddie Kantar or Mike Lawrence are all good reads and will help you improve your game. Dear Mr. Wolff: Holding

♠ K-Q-7-4, ♥ A-J-10-3-2, ♦ K-5,

♣ J-4, I opened one heart. When my

partner responded with a forcing no-trump, I was tempted to pass, but assuming that I would not breach discipline in that way, what should I do? — Trapped, San Francisco, Calif. ANSWER: You actually have a hand that would accept any invitation, so should not pass and risk missing a game. Instead, your choice is to rebid two hearts, showing an imaginary sixth heart, or bid two clubs, pretending you have three of them. Unless partner passes, you ought to be well placed. And even if he does pass, he may have five trumps. Dear Mr. Wolff: What is your opinion about leading from partner’s suit with a low sequence such as 9-8-6 or 10-9-5? Does it matter whether you have supported your partner or not as to which card to lead? — Tops and Bottoms, Dodge City, Kan.

ANSWER: It is impossible to generalize here, but my instinct is to lead a low card from 9-8-6 if I have not supported my partner. Otherwise, I would lead the nine. With 10-9-5 I would lead the top card in either scenario. Never, ever, lead the middle card, which can often cause confusion.

Dear Mr. Wolff: My partner held

♣

♠ Q-4, ♥ Q-9-3-2, ♦ A-8-

2, K-6-4-3. I made a two-heart overcall over one spade and he jumped to four hearts. Now the next hand bid four spades and I passed. Was that forcing on him to bid? He did bid five hearts and we went down 500. — A Bridge Too Far, Lakeland, Fla ANSWER: There are two issues here. The first is that the jump to four hearts is consistent with a pre-emptive raise, so that does not even announce ownership of the hand, no less set up a forcing pass. The second is that instead of bidding four hearts, maybe your partner does better to cue-bid two spades to show a high-card raise in hearts. That may make your decision easier in a competitive auction. Dear Mr. Wolff: Is it legal for players to consult their own convention cards during the play of the hand? We seem to have a great many players who look at their cards often, and I feel that doing so is comparable to an openbook exam. — Is There a Proctor in the House? Troy, N.Y. ANSWER: No, it is inappropriate to consult your own convention card as an aidememoire. If you cannot remember all the conventions you play, you should switch to a simpler card.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, April 26, 2010 by admin on May 10th, 2010 “To do nothing and get something formed a boy’s ideal of a manly career.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: E-W

— Benjamin Disraeli Grand slams are rare and, as today’s deal demonstrates, it pays to play them carefully. West led the club 10 against seven no-trump, and declarer could count 12 certain tricks. The 13th could come from finding a 3-3 club break, and if that failed, successfully picking up the spade queen. Declarer tried clubs first, cashing those in hand, then crossing to dummy with the diamond queen to play the club king, discarding a spade from hand. No joy there. Since there was no hurry to play spades, South began cashing red-suit tricks, hoping to glean further clues. The first came when hearts broke 5-2. Hearts had to be cashed before diamonds as one club discard could be made on the third diamond, but what should be sluffed on the fourth?

♠AJ5 ♥KJ6 ♦Q6 ♣K 7 4 3 2

West

East

♠9872 ♥74 ♦ 10 8 3 ♣ 10 9 8 5

♠Q4 ♥98532 ♦9742 ♣J 6 South

♠ K 10 6 3 ♥ A Q 10 ♦AKJ5 ♣A Q South

West

North

East

♣

Pass

2

♦

Pass

2

Had West followed to the last diamond, spades would Pass 2 NT have split 3-3, still leaving South unsure of the location of the queen. But when West showed out on the fourth diamond, his shape was revealed as 4-2-3-4, which meant Opening Lead: East was marked with a doubleton spade. West had already been forced to discard one spade on a heart, and another had to go on the last diamond to retain the club guard.

7 NT

All Pass

♣ 10

With spades now 2-2, declarer could cash the ace and king, certain that the queen would fall, promoting the 10 into the 13th trick. This position is sometimes referred to as a show-up or pop-up squeeze. LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠J7 ♥ 10 6 3 ♦AJ94 ♣ 10 4 3 2 South

West

♣ 2♥

1 2

♦

All Pass

North

East

Dbl.

1

Pass

♠ 2♠

ANSWER: Dummy rates to be strong, with five clubs and four hearts. The best suit for your side to try and develop winners in appears to be hearts. Lead a small heart to avoid confusing your partner about your length in that suit.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, April 27, 2010 by admin on May 11th, 2010 “Nothing astonishes men so much as common sense and plain dealing.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: E-W

— Ralph Waldo Emerson Which is more important at the bridge table: technique or table presence? For example, how should you play six clubs today on a heart lead? Let us look at the technically superior line first. You can increase your chances over a simple finesse in either spades or diamonds by winning the heart ace, then playing the diamond ace and ruffing a diamond high. Next, you cash the club ace, lead the club 10 to the jack, and ruff another diamond. If the diamond king has fallen, you have a home for your heart loser. If not, you take the spade finesse now. This line allows you to take your chances in order; the bad news is that the extra chance you have created for yourself is really not all that significant — less than 10 percent.

♠Q7 ♥AJ5 ♦AQ54 ♣J 8 7 4

West

East

♠K432 ♥ 10 9 8 7 ♦ K 10 8 3 ♣5

♠986 ♥KQ63 ♦J972 ♣6 3 South

♠ A J 10 5 ♥42 ♦6 ♣ A K Q 10 9 2 South

♣ 1♠ 3♣ 4♠ 6♣

1

West

North

Pass

1

♦ 2♥ 4♣ 5♣

Personally, I much prefer the psychological line of winning Pass the heart ace at trick one and, without hurrying your Pass opponents inappropriately, smoothly calling for the spade Pass queen and observing your RHO’s reaction. Even against a real expert, I would wager that if East has the king, he All Pass would have to be truly inspired not to cover the queen, or at least to consider doing so. If the spade queen is not Opening Lead: 10 covered, then you should assume it is because West has the king. Accordingly, you should rise with the spade ace, draw trumps, and take the diamond finesse to discard your heart loser. Against anything but outstandingly quickwitted defenders, this line will succeed approximately three times in four.

East Pass Pass Pass Pass

♥

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q7 ♥AJ5 ♦AQ54 ♣J 8 7 4 South

West

North

East

♥

Pass

Pass

Pass

2 NT

Pass

1 1 NT ?

ANSWER: The range for an overcall of one notrump in the balancing seat is approximately 1215 (maybe a little less if you overcall the opening of a minor suit). So in context you are far from a minimum and should raise to three no-trump, UNLESS you think your partner does not know, or has forgotten, what the range of your action was!

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, April 28, 2010 by admin on May 12th, 2010 “Riches are for spending, and spending for honor and good actions. Therefore extraordinary expense must be limited by the worth of the occasion.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: E-W

— Francis Bacon The negative inferences from partner’s silence in the auction are often just as available — if a little more subtle — than his actual bids. Consider this deal from the 1994 World Championships at Albuquerque.

♠9632 ♥AKJ3 ♦ 10 9 ♣ A 10 4

West

East

♠ K 10 4 ♥974 ♦652 ♣9 6 3 2

♠AJ7 ♥ Q 10 8 5 ♦AK3 ♣8 7 5 South

West had been given a good idea of what to lead, but the stakes had been considerably raised. Jimmy Cayne (South) had his work cut out when Lars Blakset obediently led the heart nine against one no-trump , doubled and redoubled. Here the top heart is better than a small-heart lead. As the cards lay, declarer could have ducked the heart four and gained a tempo in some variations.

♠Q85 ♥62 ♦QJ874 ♣K Q J South

West

North

East

♥

Pass

As it was, Cayne took the heart ace, played the diamond Pass 1 nine, which held the trick, then led another diamond, won Pass by Jens Auken (East), who tried a low spade. To make the Pass 1 NT Pass hand, Cayne had to produce the nice play of the spade All Pass queen, which he did. This would gain if both spade honors Rdbl. were right (almost impossible or East would probably have overcalled one no-trump), but would also gain where, as Opening Lead: 9 here, the play of the spade queen blocked the spades, preventing West from getting in a second time in spades. West played a second heart, and Cayne won the heart king and cleared the diamonds. The defense could cash out six tricks, but no more.

Dbl.

♥

By the way, the 2010 World Championships will return to the United States (in Philadelphia) this October. More details are at http://www.usbf.org. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q85 ♥62 ♦QJ874 ♣K Q J South

West

North 1

2 ?

♦

2

♥

♣

Pass

East 1

♥

Pass

ANSWER: Your hand seems too good to pass, so you should reopen. However, while a double is takeout, it is far from clear that you want your partner to bid spades. I would bid three clubs, knowing that my partner will correct clubs to diamonds if he has only three cards in each minor.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, April 29, 2010 by admin on May 13th, 2010 “Every man is the maker of his own fortune.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: N-S — Sir Richard Steele Declarer frequently wants to keep one defender off lead for fear of a damaging shift or continuation and is prepared to invest a trick in the effort. In today’s deal from a teams match, both Wests led the diamond 10 against four spades. At the first table South won in hand, drew trumps, then took the club finesse. When East came in with the king, he promptly switched to the heart queen, and down went the game. At the second table South received the same lead. He appreciated the danger if East came on lead, so when East played the diamond six, not the jack at the first trick (would you have worked out to cover your partner’s card as East?), declarer ducked, keeping West on play. The diamond continuation was won with the ace, perforce, and declarer continued with two rounds of trump. (He left a trump outstanding when the 3-1 break came to light, since an extra entry was needed to dummy.)

♠AJ9 ♥863 ♦K75 ♣ A Q 10 8

West

East

♠763 ♥A752 ♦ 10 9 2 ♣7 4 2

♠4 ♥ Q J 10 ♦QJ643 ♣K 6 5 3 South

♠ K Q 10 8 5 2 ♥K94 ♦A8 ♣J 9 South

♠ 2♠

1

West

North

Pass

2

♣ 4♠

Pass

East Pass All Pass

♦

A club went to the ace, then came the diamond king, on Opening Lead: 10 which South did not discard a heart, but his second club. The scene was set for a ruffing finesse in clubs. East covered the second club, as good as anything. South ruffed, then entered dummy with a trump to discard two hearts on the established clubs. Had the club king not appeared, declarer would have discarded a heart. If West had possessed the club king, he would not have been able to attack hearts from his side of the table. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠AJ9 ♥863 ♦K75 ♣ A Q 10 8 South 1 ?

♣

West 1

♥

North

East

Dbl.

Pass

ANSWER: Partner’s double is negative, suggesting exactly four spades, whereas a bid of one spade would have shown at least five. Your choice is to rebid one no-trump, showing a balanced hand but suggesting a heart stop, or to bid one spade. That call often delivers four spades but on hands like this, it may be the smallest lie.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, April 30, 2010 by admin on May 14th, 2010 “Every man desires to live long, but no man would be old.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: N-S

♠642 ♥2 ♦AK7543 ♣J 9 2

— Jonathan Swift Wales’ two leading teams met in the 64-board final, which featured a husband and wife (Filip and Diane Kurbalija) on opposite sides. The best journalist hand of the match fell to a member of the losing team, Patrick Jourdain, who was declarer. Against South’s no-trump game, the spade 10 went to East’s queen (yes, ducking might have been a better play), and Jourdain ducked. A switch to the heart nine was covered by jack and queen. Now West switched to a low diamond, attempting to cut communication with dummy. Jourdain won with the queen and played a high heart, pitching a diamond from the board. West won and played a second diamond (a club would have defeated the contract, but was not easy to find). Jourdain won dummy’s ace and cashed the diamond king, disposing of a club. He then finessed the spade jack and cashed his two hearts, throwing a diamond from dummy.

West

East

♠ 10 9 ♥AQ643 ♦ 10 9 8 2 ♣ 10 3

♠KQ853 ♥975 ♦J ♣K Q 8 7 South

♠AJ7 ♥ K J 10 8 ♦Q6 ♣A 6 5 4 South

West

North

East 1

1 NT

2

♥

3 NT

♠

All Pass

What could East discard in the four-card ending? If he 10 threw a club, Jourdain would play ace and another club, Opening Lead: scoring up the last two tricks in hand with the spade ace and good club. So East came down to a singleton spade. But now Jourdain cashed the spade ace to remove East’s exit card (West throwing a heart), then led a small club. When West played low, Jourdain put in dummy’s nine. East won and had to return a small club, which ran around to dummy’s jack for declarer’s ninth trick.

♠

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠AJ7 ♥ K J 10 8 ♦Q6 ♣A 6 5 4 South

West

North

♣ 1♠ 3♣

1

♥ 2♦

1

?

Pass Pass

East 1

♦

Pass Pass

ANSWER: It looks likely that your side will play five clubs, but it would be premature to jump to game. First of all, repeat the cue-bid in your opponents’ suit, hoping to play three no-trump if partner has a half-stop in diamonds such as jackthird. You plan to bid four clubs next if no-trump looks impractical, suggesting slam interest and club support.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, May 1, 2010 by admin on May 15th, 2010 “Life grants nothing to us mortals without hard work.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: E/W

♠Q985 ♥A73 ♦J3 ♣A K 6 3

— Horace Vincent Demuy of Canada, who is just out of the junior ranks, has achieved some spectacular results in national and international events. He was in action on this deal from the 2005 Cavendish Teams. When Demuy ventured a balancing action of two spades over West’s weak two, he quickly found himself in game.

West

East

♠ 10 ♥ K2 10 9 8 6 5 ♦A85 ♣ Q 10

♠KJ2 ♥J4 ♦ K 10 9 7 ♣9 8 7 2 South

♠A7643 ♥Q ♦Q642 ♣J 5 4

The lead was the heart 10, and since declarer thought he needed to find a home for his club loser (not knowing that West had a doubleton queen), Demuy ducked the opening lead to his queen. At this point the hand hinged on losing no more than one trump trick, so Demuy set about locating the positions of the outstanding honor cards. He started with a diamond to the jack and king. Back came a club to the jack, queen and ace. Declarer exited dummy with a diamond to his queen and West’s ace. The heart return was taken by dummy’s ace, and declarer assembled the clues.

South

♠

2

West

North

East

2

♥

Pass

Pass

Pass

4

♠

All Pass

♥

West had opened with a weak two-bid and had already Opening Lead: 10 shown up with an ace, a king and a queen. If West also held the spade king, he would have opened one heart, not two. So Demuy led the spade queen from dummy, hoping for an even trump split or for a significant spade singleton in West. When the spade 10 put in an appearance, Demuy had held his trump losers to one and made his game. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ 10 ♥ K2 10 9 8 6 5 ♦A85 ♣ Q 10 South ?

West

North

East

ANSWER: In our featured deal West treated this hand as a vulnerable weak two in hearts, not a three-level pre-empt. I agree with his choice: a three-level pre-empt requires a better suit and suggests less outside. Nonvulnerable, I would not do that. Even though the suit is a little too weak, I would open either three hearts or one heart. I am not in favor of passing such hands — one never can catch up.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, May 2, 2010 by admin on May 16th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

When using Key-Card Blackwood, if my partner responds five diamonds, how do I know if he is showing one ace or the trump king? If I held two aces, I would need this information to know whether to bid slam. — Key-Card Conundrum, Atlanta, Ga. ANSWER: If you have agreed a trump suit, you do NOT want to play slam if you are missing two aces, OR missing one ace and the trump king, as slam could be no better than the trump finesse. Sometimes that finesse can work, but you will rarely be in a position to take advantage of that information. So the trump king is as good as an ace — and you do not need to differentiate. Whether you always need the trump QUEEN is more problematic — but we’ll discuss that another day! Dear Mr. Wolff: In third seat, after you hear partner open one diamond and your RHO bid one spade, what would you respond with

♦

♣

♠ J-9, ♥ A-

Q-7-3-2, K-10-3-2, 10-4? It seems the choice is to raise diamonds, bid hearts, or make a negative double — but if I double, how do I cope with a pre-emptive raise to three spades on my left? — Tough Choices, Saint John’s, Newfoundland ANSWER: Raising diamonds seems wrong — you might all too easily miss a heart contract. Because of the diamond fit, you could take a rosy view of this hand and bid two hearts, planning to raise diamonds later. If your minor suits were switched, a double might be more advisable since you have no certainty of a fit. As it is, if you double — not my choice — and hear the raise to three spades, I’d double again at my next turn. This would be primarily for takeout. Dear Mr. Wolff: I find it easy enough to take care of the trumps when I am about to draw a few rounds, but find it more difficult when I’m playing to ruff things or scramble to score my small trumps. Any suggestions? — Trump Manager, Grand Junction, Colo.

ANSWER: The key here is always to count trumps in the following fashion before playing to trick one. Add up your trumps and dummy’s, then subtract that number from 13. Count down from that number from now on. So if you are missing five trumps, when they ruff in, the number goes to four; you draw a round of trumps and if they both follow, that number is two, and so on. Dear Mr. Wolff: In fourth chair you hold

♦

♣

♠ J-4-2, ♥ A-10-3-

2, K-J-7-4, Q-9 and have heard a weak two hearts on your left, doubled by partner. Next, RHO bid three hearts, and you make a three-no-trump call, over which partner bids four spades. Should you bid on now? — Overpowered, Cartersville, Ga. ANSWER: You have a pretty good hand but you already showed most of it when you contracted for game. Now the question is whether you should cue-bid five hearts, or pass. Go for the pessimistic pass because with a slam-drive, partner might have done more himself. Dear Mr. Wolff: My wife and I used to play a lot of bridge but then stopped for a number of years. Now I would like to explore getting back to playing, but I understand Goren is “history” and there are new bidding strategies. Could you recommend a book or two book that can familiarize us with the modern techniques? — Rip Van Winkle, Houston, Texas ANSWER: Congratulations on your return to the fold. Eric Rodwell and Audrey Grant have produced a book on two-over-one that might be at just the right level; “25 Bridge Conventions” by Seagram and Smith might also work. Max Hardy’s book on two-overone is also still available.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, May 3, 2010 by admin on May 17th, 2010 “Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other.”

Dealer: South North

♠876 ♥ A 10 8 ♦8 ♣A K Q J 3 2

Vul: None

— Benjamin Franklin We all know a few more-than-senior citizens who love to play bridge. But few couples have grown old as gracefully as Sidney and Lillian Matthews. A few years ago Sidney celebrated his 100th birthday in Marbella. At that dinner Sidney, still an enthusiastic golfer, announced his retirement as a bridge tournament director, but gave no indication he was ready to stop playing for the foreseeable future. Matthews had recently played this hand in a duplicate pairs, which he was also directing. West led the spade king against six hearts. Matthews won with his ace, then led two rounds of trump to discover that the overcaller had started with three. Having escaped a diamond lead, declarer appreciated that as long as clubs broke no worse than 4-2, he could discard his five losers in hand on dummy’s clubs. But Sidney thought that he should secure his slam against a 5-1 break, even at the expense of an overtrick. How right he was, for after cashing the club ace, then ruffing a club high in hand, he saw West discard a diamond.

West

East

♠KQ5 ♥532 ♦ A Q J 10 9 7 ♣ 10

♠ 10 9 4 3 2 ♥6 ♦K4 ♣9 7 6 5 4 South

♠AJ ♥KQJ974 ♦6532 ♣8 South

♥ 4♥ 5♠ 1

West

♦

2

Pass Pass

Opening Lead:

North

♦ 5♣ 6♥ 4

East Pass Pass All Pass

♠ King

A heart to dummy drew the last trump, and Sidney was home in a slam that few pairs had bid, and even fewer had brought home. The logic behind the successful line is that if making your contract will secure you a good score, the merits of playing for an overtrick are strictly limited. LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠J42 ♥Q85 ♦ Q 10 6 3 ♣J 8 4 South

Pass All Pass

West

♥

1

North

East

1

♣

Dbl.

Pass

2

♠

ANSWER: Declarer has shown eight playing tricks in spades, and dummy will be very weak, so ask yourself which lead is least likely to give away a trick or take a finesse for declarer he could not take himself. Partner will probably have a balanced 12-14 points, and on that basis a trump rates to be least likely to cost a trick. A club is a VERY close second, though.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, May 4, 2010 by admin on May 18th, 2010 Dealer: South North

“Syllables govern the world.”

Vul: None — Sir Edward Coke One of my favorite collections of deals this year comes from the fertile imagination of Patrick Jourdain, who is president of the International Bridge Press Association. For many years he has written sets of problems for Bridge Magazine in the U.K. and contributed a weekly problem for Teletext on Channel Four Television. I shall be running some deals from his book “Problem Corner” all this month. In today’s deal, consider how you should play three notrump on a spade lead. If clubs split, you have no problem, so you have only to protect yourself against a 4-1 break. One solution is to lead the club king, then the jack, which works fine if West has length. But if East has the length, he may duck the jack, just as he would if you had started by running the jack as your first play in the suit. Now you have only three club tricks and few chances to get the hearts going.

♠873 ♥943 ♦95 ♣ A 10 9 8 2

West

East

♠KJ652 ♥K752 ♦ J 10 3 ♣7

♠ 10 9 ♥Q86 ♦Q874 ♣Q 6 5 3 South

♠AQ4 ♥ A J 10 ♦AK62 ♣K J 4 South

West

North

East

♣

Pass

2 3 NT

♦

Pass

2 2 NT

Pass

All Pass

A better line is to win the spade, play the club king, and (unless East shows out) lead a low club from hand to Opening Lead: 5 dummy’s eight! If the defense wins the second club, you can later overtake the club jack to ensure nine tricks. If, on the second club, dummy’s eight wins, but either defender still has the guarded queen remaining, then take a heart finesse. You will later use the club ace as your entry to dummy to take a second heart finesse.

♠

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠KJ652 ♥K752 ♦ J 10 3 ♣7 South

West

♦

1 ?

North

♣

2

East

♦

2

ANSWER: In this sequence your double would be takeout, suggesting values and either both unbid suits or one unbid suit plus support for partner. You would normally require better fit for partner than a singleton, but here you would expect partner always to deliver a six-card minor, or to be able to bid a three-card major if he did not want to repeat his clubs.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, May 5, 2010 by admin on May 19th, 2010 “The line, often adopted by strong men in controversy, of justifying the means by the end.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: E/W

♠ J 10 9 7 3 ♥K743 ♦2 ♣K 9 4

— Saint Jerome The overcall made by Jovanka Smederevac of Austria in today’s deal might not have been strictly textbook, but it did guide her side to a very playable contract. But once there, she needed to find an elegant play in four spades for at least two reasons. First, she had to justify her rather sporting bidding; second, she was seated opposite Maria Erhart, not the most tolerant partner of less than perfect play.

West

East

♠6 ♥ A J 10 9 5 ♦KJ873 ♣ 10 8

♠K54 ♥Q2 ♦ A 10 5 4 ♣Q J 5 3 South

♠AQ82 ♥86 ♦Q96 ♣A 7 6 2

Put yourself in the South seat and consider what your secret weapon is going to be. (Incidentally, her opponents did not look to sacrifice in five diamonds because East’s opening bid guaranteed only two diamonds, but West’s final pause before passing did not escape declarer.)

South

West

North

East

♦*

1

♠

1

♥

♠

2

4

All Pass

On the lead of the diamond seven to East’s ace for a spade return, Smederevac took two trump finesses. The *Precision 3-1 trump split meant that she had only six trump tricks, and thus needed both the heart ace onside and something Opening Lead: 7 nice from the clubs. But her gut reaction was that West had five diamonds, and thus only two clubs. Accordingly, she led a low club to the eight, nine and jack. She then won the heart return in dummy with the king, cashed the club king, and led to the club seven. When that held the trick, she had her 10th winner.

♦

This maneuver, known as an intrafinesse, combines taking a finesse with a subsequent pin of the card against which you originally finessed — one of the most elegant trickgenerating plays in the book. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠6 ♥ A J 10 9 5 ♦KJ873 ♣ 10 8 South

♥ 2♦ 1

?

West

North

East

1

♣

Pass

1

Pass

Pass

Pass

2

♠

Pass

♠

ANSWER: An out-of-the blue cuebid in a sequence like this (where your partner could not bid over one spade) suggests four-card diamond support and a maximum hand — perhaps a 4-14-4 pattern, or one with three spades and five clubs. Your high cards look to be well-placed and you have too much extra shape to be happy bidding only three diamonds. So bid four diamonds to show your extras.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, May 6, 2010 by admin on May 20th, 2010 “We will now discuss in a little more detail the struggle for existence.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: N/S

— Charles Darwin The trump coup is a way to recover from a bad trump split by reducing your own trumps. Consider declarer’s line from a match between two U.S. teams in a recent Bermuda Bowl — and what the defense might have done about it. Declarer for the USAII team ducked the top spade lead against four hearts. West now led a diamond to East’s ace and East continued the suit. Declarer won his king, then drew two rounds of trump to find the bad news. The winning line is now to cash the top clubs (pitching a diamond), ruff a club, then go to the spade ace to ruff a diamond. Declarer exits with his spade loser at trick 11 and is left with the A-10 of hearts for the last two tricks. In fact, declarer tried to ruff a diamond at trick six before ruffing a club, and East, Nick Nickell, astutely pitched his spade king. Nickell could now ruff away the spade ace, leaving declarer with a spade loser at the end.

♠A875 ♥Q2 ♦863 ♣A K 9 7

West

East

♠ Q J 10 2 ♥3 ♦QJ754 ♣Q 4 3

♠K4 ♥J954 ♦A9 ♣ J 10 8 6 2 South

♠963 ♥ A K 10 8 7 6 ♦ K 10 2 ♣5 South

♥ 2♥ 1

West

North

Pass

1

♠ 4♥

Pass

East Pass All Pass

♠

Opening Lead: Queen Even if Nickell had reverted to spades at trick three, thus removing an entry from dummy, declarer could still have succeeded by playing three rounds of clubs at once, then cashing the diamond king and drawing two trumps to finish in dummy. Now declarer ruffs another club and exits with his spade loser, taking the last two trump tricks. A spade continuation at trick two might have been more challenging, but declarer could still have prevailed with perfect play. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠A875 ♥Q2 ♦863 ♣A K 9 7 South

♣ 3♠ 1

?

West

♦

2

Pass

North

♠ 4♦ 2

East

♦

3

Pass

ANSWER: Your nonforcing three-spade bid showed 12-14 points and three or four trumps. Your partner’s cue-bid then suggested slam interest and short diamonds — improving your hand. In context, you have a moose. Cue-bid five clubs now and consider whether you have enough to move on to slam, even opposite a sign-off in five spades. The answer may depend on how much you trust your partner!

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, May 7, 2010 by admin on May 21st, 2010 “The serpent, subtlest beast of all the field.”

Dealer: South North

♠AK532 ♥KQ ♦632 ♣7 5 4

Vul: All — John Milton Sometimes imagination is called for when your contract seem hopeless. Some positions are difficult unless you have seen them before, so maybe reading about this one will help you make an apparently impossible hand in the future. Cover up the East and West hands before reading on.

West

East

♠— ♥J972 ♦Q985 ♣ Q 10 8 3 2

♠Q98 ♥ A 10 7 4 3 ♦ J 10 7 ♣J 9 South

You, South, reach four spades after electing to open one spade (a strong no-trump is a viable alternative despite the small doubleton heart). You don’t expect to have any problems making your game,since your partner responded two no-trump to your opening spade bid, showing a gameforcing hand with primary spade support. West leads a club, which you win in hand. However, when you play a spade toward dummy, West shows out, discarding the club two. It now looks as if you are going to lose one trick in each suit. Can you think of any way to avoid this? Would you be surprised if I told you that, assuming clubs to be 5-2 (which West’s discard has strongly suggested), all you need is for East to hold the heart ace?

♠ J 10 7 6 4 ♥85 ♦AK4 ♣A K 6 South

West

North

East

1

♠

Pass

2 NT*

Pass

3 NT

Pass

4

♠

All Pass

*Game-forcing spade raise

Opening Lead:

♣3

Win the spade ace and duck a diamond, the idea being to cut the defenders’ communications. Say East wins and plays another club, which is as good a defense as any. You win and play a heart. East wins and continues with, say, another heart. You win, cash your red-suit winners, and play ace and another spade. East must win and give you a ruff and discard. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠AK532 ♥KQ ♦632 ♣7 5 4 South

West

♣

1

♠

1 ?

Pass

North

♥ 2♥ 1

East Pass Pass

ANSWER: Your partner has strongly suggested at least six hearts, and thus a hand better than a weak-jump overcall. Imagine he has six hearts to the ace, the king-queen-third of clubs, and two doubletons: only a nine-count! You are still heavily favored to make game, since any minorsuit finesses rates to succeed. Accordingly, up and bid four hearts.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, May 8, 2010 by admin on May 22nd, 2010 “Martin, if dirt were trumps, what hands you would hold!”

Dealer: South North

♠873 ♥42 ♦AKJ84 ♣J 9 5

Vul: All — Charles Lamb In the duplicate game at the Cavendish Club in Manhattan, the following hand produced much discussion. The computer analysis showed that four spades can be made — but the play is especially entertaining. After West leads two rounds of clubs, declarer can succeed by ruffing, drawing precisely one round of trumps, then crossing to dummy with a diamond and playing on hearts. But imagine declarer takes the more normal line of playing both top trumps as East discards a discouraging heart. Now declarer plays the diamond queen and a second diamond. If West ruffs in, the defense is over. If he takes his last trump and then plays a third club, declarer can ruff, run the diamonds, and take a heart finesse. If West plays back a club immediately, declarer can ruff and lead his third diamond to bring about the same ending. But there is a defense. West must discard, let’s say a heart, on the second diamond. Declarer now takes the heart finesse and cashes the heart ace. If West ruffs in, he can only collect his trump tricks.

West

East

♠QJ96 ♥J6 ♦ 10 ♣A K 8 6 3 2

♠ 10 ♥ K 10 9 7 3 ♦9752 ♣Q 7 4 South

♠AK542 ♥AQ85 ♦Q63 ♣ 10 South

♠ 3♥ 1

West

♣

2

Pass

Opening Lead:

North

♠ 4♠ 2

East Pass All Pass

♣ King

So West discards a second time, and South tempts him again by leading a low heart, and West must discard a third time. Declarer ruffs his heart loser in dummy, but when he exits with a top diamond, West can ruff in, cash his spade queen, and lead a club. South ruffs, but must concede trick 13 to East’s heart king. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠AK542 ♥AQ85 ♦Q63 ♣ 10 South

West

North

East

♣

1 ?

ANSWER: It is not clear that there is a right answer. Both double and an overcall of one spade are sensible, and both might work. But be aware that this hand, while close to a maximum for a one-spade overcall, is certainly not outside the range for the call. Bid one spade, expecting to be able to bid hearts or double for takeout at your next turn to show extras.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, May 9, 2010 by admin on May 23rd, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

You once wrote that you are not a huge fan of weak-jump responses. Can you suggest a better use for jump bids in competition? — Jamming the Works, Augusta, Ga. ANSWER: Weak-jump responses to openings in competitive auctions are sensible if made by an unpassed hand. I disapprove of weak-jump responses either to an opening bid in an uncompetitive auction, or to an overcall. Also, a jump by a passed hand makes no sense as weak. Since you did not open the hand, how can you need to show a decent long suit in a weak hand? I like strong-jump responses to opening bids in noncompetitive auctions, and fit-jumps (showing a decent side suit, values, and fit for partner) in the other sequences I mentioned. Dear Mr. Wolff: After a pre-empt of three clubs on your left and a double from partner, what should you

ANSWER: Briefly, upgrade any 17-count with a five-card major into an 18-19 count, adding one for the long-suit. With 15 and no small doubleton, open 1 NT unless all your honors are effectively in two suits, when you can if you want consider opening the suit, downgrading the hand to 14 points. With 16 always open one no-trump unless your honor structure suggests you should treat the hand as a two-suiter:

With regard to position (as opposed to suit quality), you might open your long suit at pairs if vulnerable with 15 HCP slightly more often than when nonvulnerable — particularly in third seat. Dear Mr. Wolff: Does this hand qualify for an opening bid:

♠ Q, ♥ A-Q-9-7-3-2, ♦ 10-3-2, ♣ K-7-4? If so, what would you bid?

— Open for Business, Bellingham, Wash.

♣ Q-7 if your RHO passes? And what

action should you take if your RHO raises to four clubs ? Would doubling be appropriate?

ANSWER: Let’s start from a Wolffian precept. No hand with a good six-card major should be passed. Open it one heart or two, since there is no gap between those two. This hand has a good six-card major, so open it two hearts if vulnerable, or perhaps in second seat if nonvulnerable. Otherwise, open it one heart.

— Russian Steppes, Holland, Mich.

Dear Mr. Wolff:

ANSWER: I would bid four hearts in both instances. Minor suits are for the birds, and you have real extras in high cards and shape that suggest you should contract for game, taking the pressure off partner. In the second instance, double would be takeout, so you need more than two spades to make that call.

When you are playing in a major-suit contract and have eight trumps, is it better to have a 5-3 split or a 4-4 split?

bid with

♠ 10-9, ♥ K-J-9-5, ♦ Q-J-8-7-4,

Dear Mr. Wolff: My partner and I disagree on how to bid a hand that qualifies for a strong one-notrump opening bid and also contains a fivecard major suit. My preference is to open one no-trump, while he feels it is imperative to show the five-card major first. What do you advise, and does any factor such as position or quality of the suit affect the decision? — Partners at Odds, Houston, Texas

— Small Bore, Pottsville, Pa. ANSWER: Errors and omissions excepting (and there are far too many such for me to make the following statement with anything more than 90 percent confidence), a 4-4 trump fit is NORMALLY preferable. You can generate discards and extra ruffing tricks from a 4-4 fit far more easily than from a 5-3 fit. The only exceptions tend to come when you do not need discards — never easy to identify in advance.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, May 10, 2010 by admin on May 24th, 2010 “I long ago came to the conclusion that life is six-to-five against.”

Dealer: South North

♠ Q 10 6 ♥AQ64 ♦ J 10 9 3 ♣9 2

Vul: N/S

— Damon Runyon To celebrate the Cavendish Pairs tournament being played all this week in Henderson, Nev., this week’s deals all come from the event held 10 years ago. After West had shown a two-suiter, Adam Zakrzewski (South) landed in three spades. On a top-club lead, Adam ducked and won the heart-jack shift with dummy’s queen. He ran the diamond jack to West’s queen, took the topheart return in dummy, and repeated the diamond finesse. Then he played a club to the ace and a spade to the queen and ace. Once the 5-0 trump break came to light, declarer knew he had three top losers, so must try to restrict East to just one more trump trick. That looks unlikely, doesn’t it? At trick eight East returned the spade jack so that dummy would have to ruff declarer’s club loser with a significant trump. A less imaginative club return would have worked better.

West

East

♠— ♥KJ985 ♦Q52 ♣ K Q J 10 7

♠AJ874 ♥73 ♦K86 ♣6 5 3 South

♠K9532 ♥ 10 2 ♦A74 ♣A 8 4 South

♠

1

Pass

West

♠* 3♣ 2

North

East

Dbl.

2 NT

♠

3

All Pass

*Hearts and a minor

♣

Adam took the spade jack in hand, cashed the diamond Opening Lead: King ace, then ruffed his club loser in dummy with the spade 10. He had reduced to a three-card ending where both East and South were left only with spades. Adam led a red-suit winner from dummy, and when East ruffed in with the spade seven, he underruffed with the three. That left him with the trump 9-5 over East’s 8-4 for the last two tricks. LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ 10 8 ♥9642 ♦A84 ♣Q 8 5 4 South

West

♣ 1♠ 1

Pass Pass All Pass

2 NT

North

East

Pass

1

Pass

1 NT

Pass

3 NT

♥

ANSWER: West has shown clubs and spades and about 17 points. Since neither of those suits seems to be behaving well for declarer, you should aim to find as passive a lead as possible. The choice is between the heart six (second from a bad suit) and the spade 10. I prefer the spade 10 partly because partner should find it easier to read.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 by admin on May 25th, 2010 “They say everything in the world is good for something.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: All

♠842 ♥ 10 9 5 ♦J6 ♣K Q J 6 3

— John Dryden All the deals this week come from the Cavendish Pairs and Teams from 10 years ago to celebrate this year’s event currently taking place in Henderson, Nev. The Cavendish Teams in Las Vegas is the precursor to the main event, the auction pairs. Ten years ago this was the deal from the final match that decided the eventual winner.

West

East

♠KQ95 ♥6 ♦ A K 10 9 7 2 ♣ 10 9

♠ AJ 10 7 6 3 ♥J ♦8 ♣A 8 7 4 2 South

As you can see, six spades goes down when diamonds refuse to behave, but that was not obvious to anyone at the table. The auction generally began with South preempting in hearts and North bidding clubs to promise a heart fit and club values. When the eventual winners of the event were doubled in six hearts with the East-West card, Zia Mahmood as West led a top diamond and shifted to a spade, letting South escape for minus 500. But in the other room the auction went as shown. For the winners, Lew Stansby led two top diamonds and Chip Martel threw a discouraging spade. Eventually Stansby worked out to play a third diamond, promoting the heart jack to a trick for down 1100 and a 12IMP swing to the winners.

♠— ♥ A2 K Q 8 7 4 3 ♦Q543 ♣5 South

West

♦ 4♠ 1

♥ 6♥ 4

Pass

North

East

Pass

1

♣

5

Pass

Pass

Pass

7

♥

♠ 5♥ 6♠ Dbl.

All Pass

♦

Was this the clearest way to get West to continue with a Opening Lead: King third diamond? Perhaps not, as demonstrated somewhat flamboyantly by Fred Gitelman, who was sitting East, partnering Brad Moss. They were defending six hearts doubled on an auction almost identical to the one shown, and when Moss cashed two rounds of diamonds, Gitelman discarded his spade ace! Now Moss knew what was necessary. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠KQ95 ♥6 ♦ A K 10 9 7 2 ♣ 10 9 South

West

North

♣

1 ?

East

♥

1

ANSWER: The simplistic answer is to double for takeout, showing four spades. But that would ignore the main feature of your hand, the diamond suit. There will be plenty of time to bid spades later, but for the time being bid two diamonds, which is natural and forcing.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, May 12, 2010 by admin on May 26th, 2010 “He ventured neck or nothing — heaven’s success Found, or earth’s failure.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: E/W

♠Q94 ♥Q8 ♦ Q J 10 7 6 ♣K 4 2

— Robert Browning In today’s deal from the 1999 Cavendish, from which all this week’s deals are taken, the defenders added insult to injury. It is bad enough to stay low and miss a cold game, but when your opponents beat you in the “safe” partscore you have reached, it rubs salt into the wound. After Peter Weichsel’s natural but limited opening of two clubs, Paul Chemla (North) did not have enough to overcall in diamonds. When Christian Mari (South) reopened with two hearts rather than a double, Chemla decided not to explore for the no-trump game. a contract where nine tricks would have been straightforward. Instead, he settled for what he thought was a safe partscore in hearts. Weichsel led the club ace, an incisive shot, then carefully played the club seven for Alan Sontag to ruff. In situations of this sort, the size of the spot-card West leads should tell East what to play next. Sontag now found the fine move of underleading the diamond ace. (Weichsel’s middle club clearly indicated that he had no preference between the pointed suits; hence, he was likely to have both kings.)

West

East

♠KJ3 ♥73 ♦K5 ♣A J 8 7 6 3

♠ 10 8 7 2 ♥9542 ♦A832 ♣5 South

♠A65 ♥ A K J 10 6 ♦94 ♣ Q 10 9 South

West

♣*

2

♥

2

North

East

Pass

Pass

All Pass

*Natural, 11-15 points

Opening Lead:

♣ Ace

Weichsel won his diamond king, then led a high club, giving Sontag a second ruff. At this point, Sontag led the spade two to ensure one down, setting up the defense’s spade trick before declarer could establish the diamonds for discards. Accordingly, declarer had to lose three clubs tricks, two diamonds and one spade, for down one. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q94 ♥Q8 ♦ Q J 10 7 6 ♣K 4 2 South

West

North

East

1

Dbl.

1

Pass

2

♥

♦

2 ?

♠

♠

Pass

ANSWER: Your partner had a forcing cue-bid available (a two–heart bid). Two spades was therefore natural, showing a good hand. You now have more than enough to jump to four spades. If your partner foolishly meant the spade bid as artificial, no doubt he will have diamond support and can revert to five diamonds.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, May 13, 2010 by admin on May 27th, 2010 “Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive, But to be young was very heaven!”

Dealer: South North

♠A7 ♥J63 ♦J5 ♣Q J 9 6 4 2

Vul: E/W

— William Wordsworth At the Las Vegas Cavendish in 1999 Jeff Meckstroth won the Best Played Hand of the Year on the following deal. Tim Cope led ace and another trump against three hearts, after Meckstroth had opened systemically on very light values. Declarer now knew West had four spades and six diamonds and inferred that each opponent had a top honor in each of the minor suits.

West

East

♠QJ93 ♥A4 ♦K98732 ♣K

♠842 ♥ Q 10 2 ♦Q6 ♣ A 10 8 7 3 South

♠ K 10 6 5 ♥K9875 ♦ A 10 4 ♣5

At trick three he led his singleton club, won West’s return of the spade queen in dummy, and advanced the club queen, covered (ducking would be a better play) and ruffed. At this point, playing on diamonds does not work: East will win and draw a third round of trumps. Similarly, ruffing a spade in dummy brings in only eight tricks. Meckstroth found the spectacular coup of leading the spade 10 from hand. Be honest — would you have thought of it?

South

♥

1

Pass

♥

3

West

North

♦ 2♠

♥ 3♣

2

2

East Pass Dbl.

All Pass

If West takes the trick and leads a spade back (a diamond Opening Lead: Ace is no better), declarer wins in hand, pitching a diamond from dummy. He plays the diamond ace, ruffs a diamond, ruffs a club, and leads his losing heart. East is endplayed, forced to lead a club at trick 12 into the tenace in dummy.

♥

In fact, West ducked the spade 10, hoping his partner had the king. That let Meckstroth cash the spade king to pitch a diamond. Then he could take the diamond ace and a diamond ruff and cash the top club in dummy, with a heart trick to come, for plus 140. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠A7 ♥J63 ♦J5 ♣Q J 9 6 4 2 South

West

♥

3 ?

North

East

Dbl.

Pass

ANSWER: When your partner doubles a preempt, he is forcing you to bid, even with a Yarborough. When you have extras, as here, you must show them by making more than a minimum call. The logical bid now is five clubs; you can do no less. If you were playing matchpoints and wanted to try for a swing, you might try three no-trump, but it would be hard to explain to your partner if you were wrong!

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, May 14, 2010 by admin on May 28th, 2010 Dealer: South North

“I to my perils

Vul: All

Of cheat and charmer Came clad in armour By stars benign.” — A.E. Housman This week’s deals all come from the Cavendish tournament in Las Vegas a decade ago. Today’s deal shows Paul Soloway getting the worst of it against a fine defense.

West

East

♠K654 ♥ 10 2 ♦Q32 ♣ K 10 6 3

♠ J 10 9 2 ♥QJ ♦A9764 ♣Q 7 South

♠A83 ♥A853 ♦K8 ♣A J 9 8

Soloway was South in the delicate contract of four hearts. West found the best lead of a low trump to South’s ace, and Soloway drew trumps in two rounds, then led a club from the board, intending to put in the nine. If West had won his 10, his best play would have been to return the suit. Declarer wins and plays a third club, and West can do no better than exit with a fourth club. Declarer discards dummy’s spade, ruffs out the spades, and has to guess diamonds for his contract.

♠Q7 ♥K9764 ♦ J 10 5 ♣5 4 2

South

West

North

1 NT

Pass

2

♥

Pass

3

Shifting to a diamond at trick four is no better for West. Opening Lead: That clears up the diamond guess, but lets East play a spade. Now the second club loser will eventually go away on the spades.

♦ 4♥

East Pass All Pass

♥2

However, at trick three East put up the club queen! This was the critical defensive play, in that it enticed declarer to release the club ace prematurely and set up two quick club winners for the defense. When Soloway took this trick with the ace and exited with a low club, West took his 10 and led a small diamond to his partner’s ace. That allowed East to win and switch to a spade, which set up the defense’s fourth winner before declarer had any discards coming for his black-suit losers. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q7 ♥K9764 ♦ J 10 5 ♣5 4 2 South

West

North

♣ 2♠ 2

♦

2 ?

Pass

East Pass Pass

ANSWER: In this auction three clubs by you (the cheaper minor) is commonly played as a very weak hand, all other calls being natural and game-forcing. The question is whether your hearts are good enough to bid now, or if a temporizing bid of two no-trump might prove more economical. I can see both sides of the case, but I’d prefer somewhat better hearts to introduce the suit now. So bid two no-trump.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, May 15, 2010 by admin on May 29th, 2010 “At every word a reputation dies.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: N/S

♠ K 10 9 ♥A653 ♦K752 ♣K 2

— Alexander Pope On this deal from the 1999 Cavendish Pairs, three notrump by North is as good a spot as any (if the opponents let you play there), assuming the auction has marked East with both black aces. On a passive diamond lead, you can run the heart jack to establish a ninth winner painlessly. If you are going to play a suit game, reaching four hearts may not be all that easy, particularly if East-West can preempt actively in clubs, as happened at our featured table. And of course the five-club sacrifice would be extremely cheap. Fred Gitelman found a great extra chance in five diamonds, giving East the missed opportunity for an equally fine defense. West led a heart, providing declarer with a helpful start. Gitelman won in hand, crossed to dummy with a trump to ruff a club, drew a second trump, and then cashed the heart ace to get the bad news that he had a slow heart loser. Now he found the neat maneuver of leading the club king, on which he discarded a low spade from hand. East won his club ace (ducking does not help) and had to avoid giving a ruff-sluff.

West

East

♠7654 ♥Q872 ♦J ♣J 9 7 3

♠AQ3 ♥9 ♦84 ♣ A4 Q 10 8 6 5 South

♠J82 ♥ K J 10 4 ♦ A Q 10 9 6 3 ♣— South

West

North

East

♣*

2

♦

2

♣

♦

4

5

All Pass

*Clubs, 11-15 points

Opening Lead:

♥2

So he cashed the spade ace and led another spade, playing his partner for the spade jack, and now Gitelman had a home for his heart loser on dummy’s spade winner — contract made. To beat the game, East had to find the unusual play of underleading his spade A-Q. That would have left declarer with an inevitable loser in each major. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ K 10 9 ♥A653 ♦K752 ♣K 2 South

♦ 2♠ 1

?

West

♥

1

Pass

North

♠ 3♦ 1

East

♥

2

Pass

ANSWER: This three-diamond call is forcing. (That you opened one diamond is irrelevant — spades are going to be trump.) The threediamond call asks for help in diamonds; your partner has three or four cards to an honor and most likely a game-try for spades. You have good controls but nothing else, and only three trumps, so sign off in three spades.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, May 16, 2010 by admin on May 30th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

In a club duplicate, with both sides nonvulnerable, you hold

♠ A-K-9, ♥ K-2,

♦ A-K-10-3-2, ♣ J-7-4. You open one

diamond in second seat, and LHO bids three clubs, passed back to you. What is your call? — Dream Spinner, Raleigh, N.C.

ANSWER: While passing might work, I’d be inclined to speak. A call of three diamonds seems too unilateral, so why not gamble with a bid of three no-trump, or double and hope something good happens? I’d try the latter, but without even the slightest confidence in my decision. Dear Mr. Wolff: Given that our opponents in my local club intervene aggressively over our strong notrump, should we not play penalty doubles and teach them a sharp lesson? — Hard Knocks, Muncie, Ind. ANSWER: The idea is not to maximize your result from the double; it is to maximize the use of the call when you would otherwise not have a bid. Best is to use double for takeout at your first turn to act, and to agree that opener should also double for takeout both under and over the trumps whenever he has a small doubleton in their suit. This way, responder won’t miss too many penalty doubles, since opener will pick up the slack.

ANSWER: Four spades and five clubs both sound natural and nonforcing to me. So four hearts should be an all-purpose good hand with diamond support — perfect! I’d make that call, and accept a sign-off in five diamonds.

Dear Mr. Wolff: My partner wants me to hold a minimum of 12 HCP to overcall when we are vulnerable. I agree with that when overcalling at the two-level, but not at the one-level, as it seems to me that too many opportunities would be lost. Do you agree? — Lone Star, Dallas, Texas ANSWER: I side emphatically with YOU (and not just because it was you who wrote to me!). Overcalls are about offensive strength; hence, at the two-level we require tricks and suit length. Conversely, at the one-level there is virtually no nine-count with a good fivecarder that I wouldn’t overcall with … I think. The more space a one-level overcall consumes, the more latitude you have to intervene. Dear Mr. Wolff: I assume you would respond one spade to a one-diamond opening with

♠ A-J-6-3-2,

♥ 7-3, ♦ J-9-3-2, ♣ K-Q. What would a

jump by your partner to four spades mean now, and what should you do next?

Dear Mr. Wolff:

— Freedom Fighter, Salinas, Calif.

Playing in a knockout match, I was pleased

ANSWER: In Standard American a jump to four spades suggests a relatively balanced hand in the 18-19 range. With a side-suit singleton, partner can make a splinter raise to four hearts or four clubs. Given that, your hand has real slam potential, but using Blackwood with two small hearts feels wrong. I suggest cue-bidding five clubs and reverting to five spades over a red-suit response. Partner will have to do the running from here on.

to pick up

♣

♠ A-Q-7-3-2, ♥ 10-3-2, ♦ Q-4,

A-J-7. I was faced with a three-heart pre-empt on my left and a four-diamond call from my partner. What is forcing here — and what would a four-heart bid mean? — Help Wanted, Honolulu, Hawaii

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, May 17, 2010 by admin on May 31st, 2010 “You’re leaping over the hedge before you come to the stile.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: None

♠862 ♥ K J 10 4 ♦A74 ♣6 5 2

— Miguel de Cervantes Today’s deal is perhaps misleadingly straightforward, until you consider the implications of the auction. If you declare four hearts from the South seat, you’d imagine there would be no problem in taking 10 tricks. You’d expect to be able to draw trumps and ruff a spade in dummy. However, the auction has indicated that spades will surely split 6-0, and if trumps are 4-0, you may find that the route to 10 tricks will be a rocky one if you don’t start out properly. The key to the deal is that even if hearts do break 4-0, you will not be able to trump a spade in the dummy without your spade ace getting ruffed away. However, the hearts in dummy are robust enough to be used to draw West’s trumps. This means that a dummy reversal is the safest line: win the diamond ace, ruff a diamond, play a heart to the king, and ruff a diamond high. Then take the heart queen, followed by a heart to dummy to draw trumps and claim.

West

East

♠— ♥9853 ♦ K Q J 10 9 ♣Q 9 7 4

♠ K Q J 10 7 3 ♥— ♦8653 ♣ J 10 8 South

♠A954 ♥AQ762 ♦2 ♣A K 3 South

West

North

East

♠

2

♥

3

Pass

Opening Lead:

♥

4

All Pass

♦ King

One piece of advice that bridge columns give the improving player is to get the women and children off the streets — i.e., draw trumps as soon as possible. But the corollary is that if you want to ruff the side suits, don’t draw trumps. Try to make the contract if you play anything but a diamond from the dummy at trick two.But don’t work too hard at it — it can’t be done! LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q2 ♥ 10 9 5 3 2 ♦Q53 ♣7 5 2 South

West

♦ 3♠ 1

♥

3 Pass

Pass

North

♥

1

Pass Dbl.

East

♠ 6♠ 1

All Pass

ANSWER: Your partner’s double calls for an unusual lead, typically with a void and a trick on the side. He did not have to double to get you to lead a club (you would probably have done that without the double, since East was clearly ready for a heart lead), so with some fear and trembling, lead a low diamond. Maybe your RHO is 5-5 in spades and diamonds.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, May 18, 2010 by admin on June 1st, 2010 “Until you understand a writer’s ignorance, presume yourself ignorant of his understanding.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: All

— Samuel Taylor Coleridge Today’s deal comes from Patrick Jourdain’s “Problem Corner,” a collection of excellent bridge problems with degrees of difficulty ranging from relatively simple to intriguingly difficult. This one ranks somewhere in the middle. How should South play three no-trump on a low spade lead?

♠ K 10 9 3 ♥ 10 3 ♦ Q 10 9 3 ♣K 4 2

West

East

♠A8765 ♥Q54 ♦65 ♣J 9 3

♠Q4 ♥KJ872 ♦A8 ♣ 10 8 7 5 South

The answer is that you should make the unnatural move of rising with dummy’s spade king at once. This is not your best play to maximize tricks in the spade suit. Rising with the king virtually ensures two losers sooner or later, but you need only one spade trick for your contract. More to the point, your plan is to win the first trick and set up the diamonds for your nine winners. To succeed in this plan, you must obtain the lead before the defense has a chance to switch to hearts. By successfully putting up the spade king, you have gained a vital tempo. The defenders can win the diamond ace and unblock their spade winners, but still have only three fast winners. Meanwhile, you have nine tricks — four diamonds, three clubs, and one trick in each major.

♠J2 ♥A96 ♦KJ742 ♣A Q 6 South

West

North

East

1 NT

Pass

2

♣

Pass

♦

Pass

2 NT

Pass

2 3 NT

All Pass

Opening Lead:

♠6

Finessing in spades by playing low from dummy at trick one is an error because even if West has the queen and East the ace, a heart switch beats you. And if the cards lie as shown, East will find it easy to switch to a heart after winning his spade queen at trick one. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q4 ♥KJ872 ♦A8 ♣ 10 8 7 5 South

West

North

East

♥

Pass

1 ?

ANSWER: This is more of a problem of system than of judgment. You want to get to four hearts as fast as possible. (Who knows who can make what here?). Equally, you would jump to four hearts with a far weaker hand, so that action might easily miss a slam. The solution is to reserve the response of three no-trump to one heart as artificial, suggesting a shapely raise to four hearts with some defense.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 by admin on June 2nd, 2010 “The truth is rarely pure, and never simple.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: None

♠QJ4 ♥Q63 ♦J832 ♣A 8 3

— Oscar Wilde Today’s deal comes from the Carrousel Cup, a European junior event which was contested between eight national teams. Playing in three no-trump, Maria Dam Mortensen as South won the club lead in her hand and could count eight tricks. Sensibly enough, she went after diamonds, leading the king out of her hand to try to establish her ninth trick. West took the king with the ace and returned a heart. Declarer won in hand, and tested the diamonds. When they failed to break 3-3, Mortensen’s only realistic hope was spades. The most likely division of the top spade honors was one for each defender, but declarer realized that this would not help her cause. East would win the first spade, cash the winning diamond, then return a club. The other spade honor would then be the entry for the set-up clubs.

West

East

♠8765 ♥ 10 4 ♦ A 10 ♣ K 10 6 5 4

♠ A K 10 ♥8752 ♦9754 ♣9 7 South

♠932 ♥AKJ9 ♦KQ6 ♣Q J 2 South 1 NT* *14-16

West Pass Pass

North Pass 3 NT

East Pass All Pass

So South had to assume that both the ace and king of 5 spades sat with one defender. But which? If West, then a Opening Lead: spade toward dummy would suffice. However, West was already marked with the diamond ace and club king and would not have passed if holding the top spades.

♣

Deciding to play East for both spade honors, Mortensen cashed the hearts and the club ace, stripping East of exit cards, then led a spade to dummy’s jack. East won and could cash the diamond nine and spade ace, but then had to give dummy the game-going trick with the spade queen. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠QJ4 ♥Q63 ♦J832 ♣A 8 3 South

West

♣

1 ?

North

♥

1

East

♣

3

ANSWER: You would not have committed your hand beyond two hearts without the opponents’ pre-emption, but as it is, you cannot afford to sell out. It is a good general rule with a fit to allow yourself to be pushed up one level but not two. So bid three hearts and tip your hat to the opponents if they have jockeyed you into trouble.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, May 20, 2010 by admin on June 3rd, 2010 “The end of man is an action and not a thought, though it were the noblest.”

Dealer: South North

♠KJ8 ♥KQ42 ♦54 ♣K 5 4 2

Vul: All

— Thomas Carlyle A piece of advice that recurs in bridge columns is that if you reach a contract that you can see is excellent, you should go out of your way to consider what might go wrong, then protect yourself against that eventuality. Today’s deal (surprise!) provides one such example. You play in six hearts on a diamond lead, which you win. You test trumps, protecting yourself against East’s having the length by leading to the heart king, but they break 2-2. Then you lead out your three top spades, discarding your diamond loser, and note that East turns up with six spades while West has only two. You ruff the last diamond to hand and now know that West is the only defender who can hold long clubs. If the suit is 3-2, you are home, of course, but what if the suit is 4-1? You should lead a low club from hand and duck West’s card — a line that will ensure your slam unless West holds Q-J-10-8, in which case you were doomed anyway. If West plays his low club, then East must win the first club and give you a ruff and discard. If West plays a high club on the first round, then he can do no better than exit with a high club. You win in hand and are left with the 9-7 of clubs with the K-5 on the board and can finesse West out of his remaining honor. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠KJ8 ♥KQ42 ♦54 ♣K 5 4 2 South ?

West

North Pass

East Pass

West

East

♠96 ♥J9 ♦ Q J 10 9 2 ♣ Q J 10 6

♠ 10 7 5 4 3 2 ♥86 ♦K873 ♣8 South

♠AQ ♥ A 10 7 5 3 ♦A6 ♣A 9 7 3 South

West

North

East

1

♥

Pass

2NT*

Pass

3 NT**

Pass

4

♥

Pass

♥

6

All Pass

*Game-forcing trump raise **Extra values, balanced

Opening Lead:

♦ Queen

ANSWER: In third seat with a marginal opening bid, your first thought should be to open with your best suit. Even if you play five-card majors, as most of us do, it will generally work better to bid one heart with a hand of this sort. You shut out diamonds (the suit LHO is most likely to be bidding) and get your partner off to what you assume to be the best lead.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, May 21, 2010 by admin on June 4th, 2010 “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: E/W

— Albert Einstein The auction to six spades might have unsophisticated, but the play was interesting.

been

As South you received a club lead to your queen, then lead a trump to the king to protect against a possible 4-0 break. You drew trumps in three rounds, intending to cash the top clubs next. But what do you plan to discard from hand and what is your plan?

West

East

♠J85 ♥KJ42 ♦76 ♣ 10 9 8 3

♠ 10 ♥ 10 6 5 3 ♦ Q 10 5 3 ♣J 6 5 2 South

♠AQ94 ♥AQ8 ♦K842 ♣Q 4

There are a lot of possibilities in both red suits. You can pitch either a heart or a diamond on the clubs, and you have a whole range of finesses you might take. But so long as you make the right discard, then follow up correctly, you can claim your contract. What you must do is pitch a heart from hand on the top clubs, then run the diamond jack. (Equally valid would be to run the diamond nine, but that gives up on overtrick chances.)

♠K7632 ♥97 ♦AJ9 ♣A K 7

South

West

North

1 NT

Pass

2

♠

Pass

3

♥ 6♠

East Pass All Pass

♣

If West could win the diamond queen, a diamond return Opening Lead: 10 gives you an extra trick from your eight and nine of diamonds, allowing you to pitch a heart from dummy. But a heart or a ruff and sluff would be immediately fatal. And if East covers dummy’s diamond jack, then again your eight and nine of diamonds build to a trick on which you can discard a heart from dummy. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠J85 ♥KJ42 ♦76 ♣ 10 9 8 3 South

West

♣

1 ?

North

East

Dbl.

1

♠

ANSWER: This does not look like the right hand with which to bid two hearts. The opponents are highly unlikely to be raising the auction beyond two spades (you have three spades, your partner at least three) so at your next turn you may well be able to bid two hearts and get your limited values across nicely. I’d bid two hearts now if my heart jack were the queen.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, May 22, 2010 by admin on June 5th, 2010 Dealer: South North

“So many worlds, so much to do,

♠ 10 4 3 2 ♥QJ8 ♦A83 ♣A K Q

Vul: E/W

So little done, such things to be.” — Alfred, Lord Tennyson It is not normally a good idea to bid a grand slam with only 12 top tricks, but today’s declarer found two extra chances without taking a finesse. The substantial extra chance did not materialize, but at the end South was able to claim victory.

West

East

♠Q8 ♥ 10 9 4 ♦Q4 ♣J 9 5 4 3 2

♠KJ76 ♥5 ♦ 10 9 7 6 2 ♣8 7 6 South

When North heard his partner show extras and six hearts, he found out about the key-cards and the diamond king and knew that his partner ought to have at least one other honor for his jump-response. His leap to the heart grand slam was a little sporting, but he figured the contract had to have play and might be cold. The defenders led a trump — always sensible against a grand slam reached via Key-Card Blackwood, since declarer is unlikely to be off a finessible trump honor. Declarer won in hand, cashed the spade ace, then played three top clubs, discarding spades from hand. He crossed to the heart jack to ruff a spade high, then went back to the heart queen to ruff another spade.

♠A95 ♥AK7632 ♦KJ5 ♣ 10 South

♥ 3♥ 5♣* 6♦** 1

West

North

East

Pass

1

♠

Pass

Pass

4 NT

Pass

Pass

5 NT

Pass

Pass

♥

All Pass 7 *Three of the five aces, counting the trump king as an ace **Diamond king

Had spades split, he would have had his 13th trick, but as it was, he simply cashed his last trump, pitching a diamond from dummy. In the three-card ending, he led a Opening Lead: 10 diamond to his ace, and (knowing that East’s last two cards included the spade king) led a diamond back to his king, playing for his only remaining chance that West had started life with a doubleton diamond queen. When the queen appeared, the slam had come home.

♥

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠KJ76 ♥5 ♦ 10 9 7 6 2 ♣8 7 6 South

West

♣

Pass ?

1 Dbl.

North

East

♥

Pass

1 Pass

Pass

ANSWER: On this sequence East has passed his partner’s takeout double, suggesting a heart stack. You should redouble for rescue, hoping that spades, diamonds or no-trump will play better for your side. When they announce they’ve got you, it is best to believe them!

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, May 23, 2010 by admin on June 6th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

You recently wrote that no revoke penalty would be assessed if your side did not win a subsequent trick. However, you also state that in rubber bridge, if you did not bid game, adding the extra penalty trick(s) would not entitle you to the game bonus. Is the situation therefore different for duplicate bridge or in Chicago scoring? — Shifting Sands, New Smyrna Beach, Fla. ANSWER: Apologies! I did not write clearly enough, and you read more into my words than I intended. Let me restate the law and its impact. The revoke law never does anything except change the number of tricks TAKEN. It never changes the tricks CONTRACTED FOR. The contract always remains the same. Hence revoke tricks simply produce over- or under-tricks (or change a making contract into one going down or vice versa) no matter what form of bridge you play. Dear Mr. Wolff: Would you open the bidding with

♥

♦

♣

♠ A-J-9,

A-Q-7, 10-7-3-2, J-7-4? I thought that despite my minimum point-count and flat hand that the two aces were enough to demand an opening bid. My partner did not agree, although the traveling score-slip at our duplicate suggested that nobody else passed either! — Golden Silence, Detroit, Mich. ANSWER: Flat 12-counts do not have to be opened — particularly if you would be bidding a bad suit, as here, which may get partner off to the wrong lead. I do not feel strongly on this one, but for sure if I had two four-card suits, I would open the bidding here. Dear Mr. Wolff: Suppose you are 5-5 or 5-6 in the majors and hear your RHO, a solid citizen, open one spade. Should one trap-pass, hoping to hear your partner balance with a takeout double? Or should you ignore the five-card spade suit and overcall in hearts? — Lurk Theory, Austin, Texas

ANSWER: Much depends on suit quality. No one would overcall with five bad hearts and five good spades; most people WOULD bid with the majors reversed. It is clearer when you have length in your RHO’s bid minor, when the opening does not guarantee length and you may never get a second chance if you don’t bid at once.

Dear Mr. Wolff: In a recent column you posed the problem

♠

♥

♦

♣

with 8-6, J-2, A-J-8-5, A-J-9-42, where your partner overcalled two hearts over one spade. I see reason no not to advance with a natural and forcing threeclub call. Am I right? — Up and Over, Cedar Rapids, Iowa ANSWER: I’m worried that raising clubs may get us past three no-trump rather too often. And my view of two-level overcalls is that a doubleton and a ruffing value is decent enough support. I try not to come in on bad suits and expect my partner to do the same! Dear Mr. Wolff: Do you have any comments about leading from a three-card suit such as Q-10-2? When if ever would it be right to lead the queen to try to unblock the suit? — Unorthodox, Olympia, Wash. ANSWER: The answer depends on the strength of the rest of your hand (and thus how many entries your partner may have), and also what sort of stop declarer has promised. I’d lead low unless I could see that my partner was sufficiently weak so that I’d need to lead the high card to help protect his entries. Leading the honors costs a trick more often than one would realize.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, May 24, 2010 by admin on June 7th, 2010 “In baiting a mouse-trap with cheese, always leave room for the mouse.”

Dealer: North North

Vul: All

— Saki If you were to look only at the North-South cards, you would like your chances in six clubs. If you can ruff out the spades without losing a trump trick, you have excellent chances of 12 tricks. All well and good, but you have bid your cards only to the pedestrian contract of three no-trump, so you had better not go down, given your side’s combined 30 high-card points! At some tables South might win the diamond lead in dummy and cash the two top clubs, finding the bad news, then try his luck with either hearts or spades. He could try to come to hand with the heart queen (a 50 percent chance) or he could play three rounds of spades, hoping for an even break, roughly a one-third shot. Today neither of these lines would work; the defenders would win and clear the diamonds, and declarer would go down.

♠AK643 ♥K753 ♦A5 ♣K Q

West

East

♠Q852 ♥AJ84 ♦ J 10 9 3 ♣4

♠ J 10 ♥ 10 6 ♦87642 ♣J 6 5 3 South

♠97 ♥Q92 ♦KQ ♣ A 10 9 8 7 2 South

West

North

♠ 3♥ 1

1 NT

Pass

3 NT

All Pass

East Pass Pass

At teams-scoring or rubber bridge, overtricks do not really count for much; the objective is to make your contract. Opening Lead: Jack The best line to do that is to win the diamond ace and play the club king, then the club queen, overtaking with your ace. That may turn your six club winners into five, but it does ensure that you have the entries to set up the club suit without the loss of a tempo. You concede a trick to the club jack, then win the diamond return, and cash out your nine winners.

♦

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠J62 ♥J74 ♦Q43 ♣K 9 6 4 South

West

North

East

♥ 4♥ 1

Pass All Pass

♥

3

Pass

ANSWER: Just because you do not know what you should lead is no reason to abnegate responsibility by leading a trump (which rates to lose a trick when partner has an honor). When in doubt, lead from your long suit. A club could cost a trick, but it is also quite likely to set up a trick or allow you to cash club winners before they go away.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 by admin on June 8th, 2010 “It is the talk, and not the intrigue, that’s the crime.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: None — George Granville Today’s deal comes from Patrick Jourdain’s “Problem Corner,” a collection of puzzles that have appeared on Britain’s Channel Four Teletext, or in Bridge Magazine, where Jourdain has been offering a monthly problem for the last decade. In today’s deal how should you play three no-trump on a low heart lead won by dummy’s jack?

West

East

♠J75 ♥Q9654 ♦ 10 3 ♣K 9 5

♠ Q 10 6 3 ♥872 ♦AJ9 ♣ A 10 6 South

♠A94 ♥AK3 ♦82 ♣J 8 7 4 2

With five tricks in the majors, you will need to set up diamonds to have any chance of getting close to nine tricks. The natural play seems to be to lead up to the diamond honors twice, hoping that the ace is well placed for you; but there are breakers ahead. You will need diamonds to be 3-2, but even then, communications are problematic. Imagine that you win the second heart in hand and lead a diamond to the king, come back to the spade ace, and lead a second diamond. When East wins his ace and returns a spade, you can no longer establish and enjoy the diamond suit.

♠K82 ♥ J 10 ♦KQ7654 ♣Q 3

South

West

North

East

♣

Pass

1 3 NT

♦

Pass

1 1 NT

Pass

Opening Lead:

All Pass

♥5

Nor can you play a high diamond from dummy at trick two: East may duck, leaving dummy short of entries in just the same way. Instead, lead a low diamond from the table at trick two. You can win any major-suit return in hand and lead a second diamond to set up the suit. Because you left the majors intact, you can ensure reaching the diamonds later by using the spade king. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠K82 ♥ J 10 ♦KQ7654 ♣Q 3 South

♦ 2♦ 1

?

West

North

Pass

1

Pass

♥ 3♣

East Pass Pass

ANSWER: In this auction the call of three hearts, giving preference to partner’s first-bid suit, is consistent with either a decent doubleton heart or three hearts. The point is that you sometimes will have initially raised hearts with three, rather than rebid a moderate six-carder. So partner should not expect the earth from you in the way of heart support. And you can still get to three no-trump if appropriate.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 by admin on June 9th, 2010 “Whence are we, and why are we? Of what scene

Dealer: South North

Vul: All

The actors or spectators?” — Percy Bysshe Shelley Today’s deal highlights one of my favorite players in the women’s game, Catherine D’Ovidio of France. The point of the deal is that even at the top levels of the game, declarers may be prepared to invest a trick by making a deceptive play, assuming that no defender will believe they are capable of such deviousness. Witness this deal from the 1997 Venice Cup quarterfinals.

West

East

♠KJ2 ♥ 10 9 ♦KJ96 ♣Q 7 6 4

♠A954 ♥7 ♦ A Q 10 7 4 ♣9 5 3 South

♠873 ♥KQJ632 ♦8 ♣ K 10 2

D’Ovidio was playing a disciplined weak-two style, which persuaded Veronique Bessis to make a constructive rather than a pre-emptive try for game. Now South was never going to reject that invitation. She made 10 tricks, but the way she did so was interesting. On West’s low spade lead, D’Ovidio played low from dummy. As the cards lay, this was a play that might well have required some embarrassing explanations to her teammates.

♠ Q 10 6 ♥A854 ♦532 ♣A J 8

South

♥ 3♣ 4♥ 2

West

North

East

Pass

2 NT

Pass

Pass

3

♥

Pass

All Pass

D’Ovidio had reasoned correctly that this play would put Opening Lead: East under a great deal of pressure if she had ace-kingnine, and that East was never going to be able to read the position and put in the nine if she was looking at her actual holding.

♠2

D’Ovidio had calculated accurately, East duly winning the spade ace at trick one. That meant 10 tricks for North-South in due course, when declarer guessed clubs. Incidentally, if you want to play in, or watch, a world championship in the United States, an opportunity will present itself in Philadelphia this October. The events are open to everyone. For more information check out http://www.usbf.org. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ Q 10 6 ♥A854 ♦532 ♣A J 8 South

♥

1 ?

West

♠

1

North

East

1

♣

Pass

Pass

Pass

ANSWER: You rate to be facing a minimum balanced hand (one that cannot raise hearts or repeat clubs) and so you have no source of tricks. It feels right if just a little pessimistic to rebid one no-trump rather than trying for game with a call of two no-trump. Partner may not expect you to hold quite so much, but there is more to the game than just counting points.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, May 27, 2010 by admin on June 10th, 2010 “A mind not to be changed by place or time, The mind is its own place, and in itself

Dealer: North North

♠Q32 ♥A3 ♦K65 ♣A 6 5 4 2

Vul: N/S

Can make a heav’n of hell, a hell of heav’n.” — John Milton In a perfect world, you and I would bid the North-South cards to four no-trump. But the world is not perfect, and when this deal came up in the rubber bridge game at the Dyspeptics Club, South had a straightforward bid of four spades over East’s pre-emptive call of four hearts. The play of the cards was also slightly less than perfect. Before we criticize declarer too highly, consider how you would play four spades when West hits upon the lead of the club king. I too might have made the mistake that South did. Acting on autopilot, he called for dummy’s ace. As a friend of mine would say in such situations, “Up went the ace; down went the contract!”

West

East

♠96 ♥J4 ♦Q873 ♣K Q J 9 7

♠74 ♥ K2 Q 10 9 8 7 ♦ J 10 9 2 ♣— South

♠ A K J 10 8 5 ♥65 ♦A4 ♣ 10 8 3 South

West

North

♣

1

East ruffed away the club ace and played a top heart, All Pass 4 leaving declarer with three apparently inescapable sidesuit losers. Declarer did his best by winning the heart ace, ruffing out the diamonds, then drawing two rounds of King trump ending in dummy and leading a low heart. But East Opening Lead: could see that if he won the trick, he would have to concede a ruff and sluff. He ducked the heart, and West won his jack to cash two club tricks.

East

♥

4

♠

♣

South ought to have known that he had 10 sure tricks unless East ruffed the club ace. South should have ducked dummy’s club ace — four times if need be — and ruffed the fourth club in hand. Then he could discard his losing heart on the club ace after drawing trumps. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q32 ♥A3 ♦K65 ♣A 6 5 4 2 South ?

West

North

East

Pass

1

♠

ANSWER: If ever a hand could be found to demonstrate the WRONG holding for an overcall, this is it. Your clubs and hand are too weak, the overcall takes up no space, your partner is a passed hand, etc. I can’t guarantee that if you do overcall you will get into trouble. I can say that you deserve to!

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, May 28, 2010 by admin on June 11th, 2010 “This life is worth living, we can say, since it is what we make it….”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: E/W

♠ K 10 7 4 3 ♥82 ♦6532 ♣Q 7

— William James Today’s deal came up in a par contest. West might be tempted to act at his first turn, but with a balanced hand and a soft defensive trick in the suit opened on his right, pass is probably the correct action. At South’s second turn, he can hardly do less than jump to three hearts. Having responded with a weak hand, North should pass the jump-rebid, which is strongly invitational but not forcing.

West

East

♠QJ52 ♥Q53 ♦ A K 10 ♣9 8 4

♠98 ♥ 10 4 ♦QJ74 ♣ K J 10 6 2 South

♠A6 ♥AKJ976 ♦98 ♣A 5 3

I will speculate that most East-West pairs would let through this contract of three hearts, but let’s consider how an accurate defense should go. West leads the diamond king, obviously promising the ace, and East should drop the diamond queen at the first trick, suggesting the queen-jack and a desire to obtain the lead. So far so good, but when West plays the diamond 10, it is tempting to let that card hold. The right way for East to look at the diamond spots is that partner did not have to underlead his ace. He must want you to win the trick, and the 10 rates to be his only “small” diamond.

South

♥ 3♥ 1

West

North

Pass

1

♠

East Pass Pass

All Pass

Opening Lead:

♦ King

At trick three East finds the shift to a trump. Declarer must try to ruff a club in dummy to make his contract so he takes the heart ace and leads a club to the queen and king. A second heart lead by East now prevents the ruff and beats the contract. Whatever declarer does, he must lose two diamonds, two clubs, and a trump. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ K 10 7 4 3 ♥82 ♦6532 ♣Q 7 South

West

North

East

♣

Pass

1 ?

ANSWER: There are plenty of people who will tell you with complete confidence that you require six points to respond to an opening bid. But a hand like this demands a response of one spade for many reasons. Clubs could be a silly contract, you might make a spade game, you help to keep the opponents out, and you assist partner in finding the right lead if necessary.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, May 29, 2010 by admin on June 12th, 2010 Dealer: North North

“It was deja vu all over again.”

Vul: E/W — Yogi Berra The following deal proved too hard for a multiple World Champion in a 1999 Vanderbilt match. The contract in both rooms was four spades by South, and the lead in each instance was the diamond queen. It seems that, in a worst-case scenario, declarer might have a loser in each suit, but the first declarer did not see any danger.

♠KJ6 ♥J5 ♦K73 ♣A 9 6 5 4

West

East

♠Q54 ♥A9764 ♦QJ8 ♣J 2

♠7 ♥ K Q 10 3 2 ♦9642 ♣Q 8 3 South

♠ A 10 9 8 3 2 ♥8 ♦ A 10 5 ♣ K 10 7

He won the diamond lead in hand, preserving entries to dummy’s club suit, and played ace then king of trumps, finding he had a loser there. Hoping to eliminate hearts, then somehow effect an endplay, declarer led a low heart from dummy. But East nipped in with the 10 to fire a diamond through. The end result was one off. South

West

North

Declarer was beguiled by his array of nines and 10s. Try 1 imagining that, apart from the aces and kings, all of Pass 2 North’s and South’s cards are insignificant, as John 1 Solodar did in the other room. He appreciated that all he All Pass 4 needed to do was to set up a club trick for a diamond discard, so he too won the diamond lead in hand. But he cashed just the spade ace before leading a club to the Opening Lead: Queen ace, another to the king, and a third club. East won and fired back a diamond, which Solodar took with dummy’s king. He then cashed the spade king and played an established club, discarding his diamond loser from hand. A heart and a trump were all that was now available to the defense: contract made.

♣ ♠

♠ ♠

East Pass Pass

♦

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q54 ♥A9764 ♦QJ8 ♣J 2 South

West

North 1 NT

2

♦

Pass

2

3 NT

Pass

?

♥ 4♣

East Pass Pass Pass

ANSWER: Your partner has not taken leave of his senses. When you jumped to three no-trump, you could have had as much as a 14-count along with your five hearts. Your partner has a maximum plus a moderate fit for hearts and a source of tricks in clubs. Just in case you were in the slam zone, he is cooperating with you. Since you have no slam interest, sign off in four hearts.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, May 30, 2010 by admin on June 13th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

Please recommend a good text for a beginner in duplicate bridge. I’m finding the competitive elements of bidding especially challenging. — First Rung, Collierville, Tenn. ANSWER: Edgar Kaplan wrote a fine book about learning duplicate: “Winning Contract Bridge Complete.” Dorothy Hayden’s “Bid Better Play Better” is also excellent. And anything by Reese, Lawrence, Kelsey and Kantar (the latter is good fun to read, too) will surely help. Dear Mr. Wolff: I was in fourth chair with

♦

♣

♠ A-3-2, ♥ K-10-

3, A-Q-8-4, J-9-4. My LHO had opened one club, which could have been a doubleton, and this was passed around to me. I could see that defending one club might be our best spot, but I thought it was too cowardly to pass. When I doubled, the opponents ran to spades and made eight tricks. Was I wrong to bid? — Overbalanced, Eau Claire, Wis. ANSWER: At pairs, most people would not pass out one club without length. Even if you can beat the contract a trick, you might still have a higher-scoring partscore. My impulse would be to reopen with a call of one no-trump, not a double, since I play that bid to be a balanced hand in the 11-15 range. The absence of a club stop would not worry me unduly.

ANSWER: How interesting! Some people use a jumpovercall of pre-empts to show a two-suiter, which is sensible enough. Others use the bid of four of a minor over a pre-empt to show a two-suited hand with the unbid major and that minor, which they call Nonleaping Michaels. To my mind that is a pretty silly idea. Equally, in card-play, MUD from three small is not my favorite, and quite unplayable when combined with third-and-fifth leads.

Dear Mr. Wolff: In a recent column you referred to a “loose club.” I have searched the Internet and asked my bridge-playing friends, but have been unable to learn what this is. If you would let me know, I will pass it on to the others in my bridge club. — On the Loose, Gloucester, Va. ANSWER: I was somewhat loose about my usage of a loose club. Let me tighten it up. Any one-club opening bid that might be based on a doubleton club in a balanced hand qualifies for me as a loose club. Some would even open one club with 4-4-4-1 pattern. One could also use the term “short club” for such bids. Let me emphasize that Standard American requires at least THREE clubs for a one-club opening. Dear Mr. Wolff: My partner opened one spade, allowing me an easy response of one no-trump with

♥

♦

♣

♠

You’ve discussed your favorite conventions from time to time. Is there one you would be happy to see eliminated?

K, J-7-3, A-Q-7-6-5, 10-9-8-2, which we play as forcing. I could see no obvious call over his bid of two clubs, which might have been based on a three-card suit. Is there a right bid here? I can see passing, raising clubs, bidding diamonds or even no-trump as possibilities.

— Cleaning House, Palm Springs, Calif.

— Pick-One, Madison, Wis.

Dear Mr. Wolff:

ANSWER: A pass is a little pessimistic. Just because the club bid might be short does not mean that it is. I’d make a gentle try for game, the choice being to raise to three clubs or two no-trump. One could come down on either side of the fence, but I vote for a bid of three clubs.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, May 31, 2010 by admin on June 14th, 2010 “What is reasonable is real; that which is real is reasonable.”

Dealer: South North

♠875 ♥ A 10 4 3 ♦K94 ♣K J 2

Vul: All

— Friedrich Hegel When this deal came up, South was the sort of player who prided himself on calling a spade a spade and who would have regarded the failure to win a trick when he had a high card available to take it as showing a lack of machismo. Accordingly, when declaring three no-trump, he captured the spade queen with the king, took a heart finesse, and went down at once when East took his heart king and the defenders rattled off four spade tricks. South’s comment after the deal was that he had been very unlucky when two major-suit finesses had lost. That was all well and good, but declarer had failed to appreciate that he was still laydown for his contract if he had exercised just a little care and attention.

West

East

♠ A 10 6 4 3 ♥875 ♦J3 ♣ 10 8 4

♠Q9 ♥K92 ♦ Q 10 6 5 ♣9 7 5 3 South

♠KJ2 ♥QJ6 ♦A872 ♣A Q 6 South 1 NT

West Pass

North 3 NT

East All Pass

Instead of taking the first spade trick, South must let the spade queen hold. East may clear the spades, but later, when the heart finesse loses, East has no spades left to Opening Lead: 4 play. If East has a third spade to lead after taking the heart king, the suit will have split 4-3, and South will lose just one heart and three spades.

♠

Students of the game will note that if the heart king and queen are switched, declarer has another textbook play available. He must win the first spade and play West for the heart queen. If the heart finesse loses to West, no return can hurt South. LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ J 10 9 4 2 ♥65 ♦ J 10 7 2 ♣Q 4 South

West

Pass

2 2 NT

Pass All Pass

♣

North

East 1 NT

Dbl.

2 3 NT

Pass

♦

ANSWER: You should definitely lead a club, not a spade. A low club might work if partner has club length and only one top club honor. This lead might generate an extra club trick if declarer misguesses. Equally, however, the play might block the club suit by leaving us on play at the end of trick two, instead of our partner. You should probably lead the club queen and tell partner you did “think about it” if the low club would have worked.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, June 1, 2010 by admin on June 15th, 2010 “The glorious Lamp of Heaven, the Sun,

Dealer: North North

Vul: All

The higher he’s a-getting, The sooner will his race be run, And nearer he’s to setting.” — Robert Herrick Everyone knows that if you are on lead against a no-trump contract and hold A-K-fifth with no entry, leading a small card makes a lot of sense. The same logic (of ducking or playing low) applies when third to play to the opening trick, but sometimes the situation is not so straightforward. Consider what happens when partner leads the heart seven against three no-trump and declarer plays the queen from dummy. It feels automatic for East to win the trick — but if he does, he can say goodbye to any chance of setting the game. From the auction and opening lead, declarer is surely marked with at least four hearts to the 10-9. If East wins the heart king, he will be able to take only three winners in that suit, and his partner will surely be unable to contribute two further tricks on defense.

♠KJ4 ♥Q2 ♦ K Q 10 9 4 2 ♣A Q

West

East

♠ 10 9 8 6 ♥73 ♦A75 ♣ 10 9 8 4

♠Q52 ♥AKJ86 ♦63 ♣7 6 3 South

♠A73 ♥ 10 9 5 4 ♦J8 ♣K J 5 2 South

West

North

Pass

1 3 NT

♦

1 NT

Opening Lead:

East

♥

1 All Pass

♥7

However, if East plays low at trick one, all he will need is for partner to hold the diamond ace and a second heart. When West wins his diamond ace, he will be able to play another heart, and the defense will be in position to take four more tricks. If West began life with a singleton heart, it is highly unlikely that East could ever have beaten the contract, whatever he did. Note also that if declarer had played low at trick one, then East would have had to play low as well, thus preserving the entry to his suit. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q52 ♥AKJ86 ♦63 ♣7 6 3 South

West

North

♦ 3♥ 1

♥

2 ?

Pass

East

♠

1

Pass

ANSWER: Even if you play two-over-one as forcing in a noncompetitive auction, this sequence is clearly nonforcing. Partner would have strained to bid game and take you off the hook at his second turn, so you now have no reason to bid any more, facing what you know to be a minimum. Pass, and hope you can make it.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, June 2, 2010 by admin on June 16th, 2010 “There can be no progress (real, that is, moral) except in the individual and by the individual himself.”

Dealer: South North

♠K64 ♥Q752 ♦ J 10 6 ♣A 6 2

Vul: E/W

— Charles Baudelaire In today’s deal North’s raise to two hearts was very heavy, but playing the forcing no-trump, he felt he was short of a limit raise and had at least shown values this way. With less, he would have bid one no-trump and then given preference to hearts. West felt honor-bound to balance, but North redoubled to show extras, persuading South to bid the heart game — “to teach his opponents a sharp lesson.” West dithered between the black suits for a lead, but luck was not with him when he chose the spade queen. Declarer could see nine obvious tricks, but digging up the wherewithal for a 10th took some doing. One possibility would be to try to steal the diamond king, but in fact there is a sure-trick line, and South eventually observed that it would come from dummy’s diamond spots. Realizing that he had to preserve dummy’s three entries until they were needed, he won the lead in hand, drew trumps with the ace and king, and then advanced the diamond king.

West

East

♠QJ98 ♥4 ♦AQ72 ♣ J 10 8 7

♠ 10 7 5 ♥J3 ♦98543 ♣K Q 5 South

♠A32 ♥ A K 10 9 8 6 ♦K ♣9 4 3 South

West

North

East

1

♥

Pass

2

♥

Pass

Pass

Dbl.

Rdbl.

3

♥

4

♦

All Pass

Opening Lead:

♠ Queen

West won with the ace and switched belatedly to a club. South won in dummy, then played the diamond jack, discarding a club. In with the diamond queen, the defense could cash one club, but South’s spade loser then vanished on the diamond 10. On an initial club lead, this line would not have worked. West wins the first diamond and cashes the club winners. The defenders collect a diamond or a spade in the ending. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠K64 ♥Q752 ♦ J 10 6 ♣A 6 2 South

West

North

Pass

2 3 NT

♣

2 NT ?

East

♠

2 Pass

ANSWER: You have already shown a balanced positive but still have some extras. Your choice would be to drive to slam (with either a bid of six no-trump, or five no-trump to get partner to pick a slam). Alternatively, you could advance with four no-trump and let partner pass with a dead minimum. That would be my choice, given your sterile hand-pattern.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, June 3, 2010 by admin on June 17th, 2010 “Not all that tempts your wand’ring eyes And heedless hearts is lawful prize;

Dealer: South North

Vul: E/W

Nor all that glisters, gold.” — Thomas Gray When today’s hand arose at the Dyspeptics Club’s rubber bridge table, South’s exploits had already put North in a bad mood. So as soon as South got his hands on another three no-trump contract, North was already mentally sharpening his ax.

West

East

♠ J 10 9 4 ♥Q863 ♦J9 ♣ 10 5 3

♠Q76 ♥K97 ♦A874 ♣8 7 2 South

♠AK8 ♥ 10 5 ♦ Q 10 6 5 ♣K J 6 4

West led the spade jack and declarer saw that the best chance of a ninth trick lay in the diamond suit. South ducked the lead, won the spade continuation, then led a diamond to the king. East rose with the ace and returned a spade. South won, entered dummy in clubs, and played a second diamond to the 10 and West’s jack. Now the contract had to fail when diamonds proved to be 4-2.

♠532 ♥AJ42 ♦K32 ♣A Q 9

South 1 NT* *12-14

West Pass

North 3 NT

East All Pass

♠

As North bitterly commented, South only needed two Opening Lead: Jack tricks from the diamond suit — not three. So it was indeed right to duck the first spade lead, catering to a 5-2 break. If East held the diamond ace, he would have no spade to return when on lead with that card, and a heart switch would set up the ninth trick for declarer in that suit. Equally, it was correct to play a diamond to the king and ace. But when East returned a spade, South knew that spades had split 4-3. The right play now is to lead out the diamond queen. Here, the jack falls doubleton, so the hand is over. But had it not done so, South could enter dummy in clubs next and play the third diamond toward the 10 to set up the game-going diamond trick. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠AK8 ♥ 10 5 ♦ Q 10 6 5 ♣K J 6 4 South

West

North

East

♥

1 Dbl. ?

♥

2

Dbl.

Pass

ANSWER: Your partner’s double is not for penalties. It is a responsive double, primarily for takeout, but focusing on the minors rather than spades. This is because your partner would have bid spades if he had them. Accordingly, simply bid three clubs and await developments, if any.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, June 4, 2010 by admin on June 18th, 2010 “The policeman buys shoes slow and careful; the teamster buys gloves slow and careful; they take care of their feet and hands; they live on their feet and hands.”

Dealer: South North

♠AK ♥Q53 ♦AK864 ♣7 6 3

Vul: All

— Carl Sandburg South is in six no-trump and West leads the heart jack. Can declarer guarantee his contract? Apparently yes; but if South wins the lead and runs the diamond jack, he will go down when East has all five outstanding diamonds and the club finesse is wrong. The only danger in the hand appears to be a terrible split in diamonds. If West has the length, there should still be no problem, so it is only if East has all five diamonds that declarer must take care. Having spotted that, the trap is to relax. It looks easy to win the opening lead with the heart queen and play a diamond to the jack. The problem is that when this holds, declarer must cross to the board with a spade to lead a second diamond. However, now East hops up with his queen and immediately dislodges the second spade entry, leaving the diamonds blocked and forcing declarer to fall back on the losing club finesse.

West

East

♠J843 ♥ J 10 9 7 6 ♦— ♣ Q 10 8 4

♠ 10 7 6 5 ♥82 ♦Q9753 ♣9 5 South

♠Q92 ♥AK4 ♦ J 10 2 ♣A K J 2 South

West

North

East

♣

Pass

1 6 NT

♦

Pass

1 2 NT

Pass

All Pass

♥

Opening Lead: Jack Once declarer has spotted this defense, he can devise a counter. He should win the opening in hand, cross to a spade, and play a low diamond to his jack. Then he can cross back to dummy with a spade and lead another low diamond. East can rise with the queen and play a heart, but declarer can take this in hand, unblock the diamonds, and now nothing can prevent him from making four diamond tricks and his contract. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠AK ♥Q53 ♦AK864 ♣7 6 3 South

West

North

East

♦

Pass

1

1 ?

♥

ANSWER: In this sequence I urge all players — even the gadget-hungry — to play a bid of one no-trump as natural and strong. As a passed hand, you may, if you like, play the bid as weak and two-suited, but as an unpassed hand, you need a way to show strength. Since you already have double and two no-trump for the twosuiters, you do not need a third call.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, June 5, 2010 by admin on June 19th, 2010 “If we do not find anything pleasant, at least we shall find something new.”

Dealer: South North

♠K63 ♥AK5 ♦852 ♣K Q 7 3

Vul: E/W

— Voltaire I have been remiss in failing to mention the death last year of one of the most influential bridge players in the world. Al Roth revolutionized the world of American bidding in the 1950s. He invented the negative double, as well as countless other cornerstones of modern bidding, and was a fascinating writer and problem-setter. Here is one of his best problems. You are in four spades (reached after an auction reeking of the 1950s!). West leads a top diamond, which you duck. You win the next diamond as East pitches the heart eight. You lead out the spade ace, cross to the spade king, then play a third trump. To your surprise it is East who discards, pitching the heart six. Play on! You draw the third round of trumps and deduce from the discards that East started life with six hearts and four clubs. Your only chance for a 10th trick is to get a ruff in hand. How do you manage it?

West

East

♠ J 10 9 2 ♥4 ♦KQJ943 ♣9 6

♠54 ♥ Q J 10 8 6 2 ♦6 ♣ J 10 4 2 South

♠AQ87 ♥973 ♦ A 10 7 ♣A 8 5 South

♠ 4♠ 1

West

♦

3

North

East

♦

Pass

4

All Pass

♦

The solution is to cash the heart ace, take the club king Opening Lead: King and ace, and lead toward the club queen. West pitches a diamond, so you win the queen and lead the fourth club, pitching your losing diamond. East wins his club jack (West discarding another diamond) and has only hearts to lead. What can West do? If he ruffs, you have the last two tricks, so he must discard. You win the heart king, ruff dummy’s diamond, and concede trick 13 to both opponents. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠AQ87 ♥973 ♦ A 10 7 ♣A 8 5 South

West

♣ 2♥ 1

Pass ?

North

East

Pass

1

Pass

Pass

♥

ANSWER: You should balance with a takeout double. Yes, you have a flat hand, but when the opponents are almost guaranteed to have eight or more hearts between them, your side is equally likely to have at least an eight-card fit. Nobody ever got rich at bridge by letting the opponents have the hand cheaply when both sides have a fit.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, June 6, 2010 by admin on June 20th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

My LHO opened one heart, my partner overcalled two clubs, my RHO responded two hearts, and I bid two spades, which was passed out even though game was makable our way. I thought my call by an unpassed hand was forcing even in competition. Was I wrong?

ANSWER: You may not currently use Odd-Even signals. Each player (not each pair) may use them for their first discard. After that, most pairs prefer to use count signals rather than further attitude signals. I did not know that ambiguous signals were ever permitted. As far as I know, Encrypted Signals, when a signal can be interpreted only by the defending side and not by declarer, are still outlawed.

— Stranded, Augusta, Ga. ANSWER: I think you are extrapolating from an auction that is played as forcing — though not by everyone — where you bid two spades in response to two clubs without a bid on your right. In your example you need to be able to make a nonforcing call, or you may be shut out. With a good hand and spades, to make a forcing call you could start with a takeout double and then bid spades. Dear Mr. Wolff: In a duplicate pair game I picked up

♥

♦

♣

♠ K-

Q-9, A-Q-3-2, J-2, Q-7-4 and opened one club. I then discovered I had only 12 cards. When I found my 13th (at the previous table), it was a king! Can I change my call now? If not, what are the consequences? — Short-Handed, Boise, Idaho ANSWER: You may not change your call and should try to avoid giving away to your partner that your hand no longer fits your original action. Otherwise, you get burdened with even more problems. For what it is worth, I’d suggest treating your hand as 18-19 by rebidding two no-trump at your next turn, or jump-raising partner as appropriate. Dear Mr. Wolff: Frequently I see Odd-Even or Roman Defensive Carding qualified as “first discard only.” Do the ACBL restrictions mean that it can be used only once by a pair for each hand? What is the position about ambiguous carding? Is it permitted? — Signal Problems, Palm Springs, Calif.

Dear Mr. Wolff: When you are facing a strong no-trump with an eight-count, what determines whether your hand is worth an invitation? — Bonus Points, White Plains, N.Y. ANSWER: First, the scoring: at rubber or teams if vulnerable, you may be a little more inclined to stretch. Possession of a decent five-carder, or both majors, or good intermediates, may all sway you to take a more aggressive position — not to mention the caliber of partner and the opponents. At pairs, though, plus scores are always worth protecting. Dear Mr. Wolff: At unfavorable vulnerability I held

♠ A-Q-9,

♥ J-9, ♦ Q-J-8-7-2, ♣ A-8-4 and opened

one diamond. My LHO made a three-club overcall and my partner made a negative double. I passed, since gambling out three no-trump seemed too rich for me. This did not work well. Partner had an opening bid with 6-6 in the majors, and we were cold for a small slam. Who was at fault? — Peter Cottontail, Durham, N.C.

ANSWER: The simple answer is that one should never make a negative double if a forcing suit-bid would describe the hand better. Your partner should have bid spades, then hearts if necessary, to get you to choose a contract. When she hears you raise spades, she might as well just bid slam. Your bidding is hard to criticize, though you might have bid three diamonds instead of passing out three clubs doubled.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, June 7, 2010 by admin on June 21st, 2010 “Curiosity is one of the permanent characteristics of a vigorous mind.”

and

certain

Dealer: South North

♠A642 ♥AK8 ♦A6 ♣K Q 7 5

Vul: E/W

— Samuel Johnson In today’s deal, North was looking for greater things, but when he discovered his side was missing a key card, he settled for the small slam. Note South’s jump to three diamonds to agree clubs. With a good hand consisting of spades and diamonds, South would have made a simple call of two diamonds, since that would have been forcing.

West

East

♠— ♥9763 ♦ J 10 9 7 4 3 ♣9 4 3

♠ K 10 9 7 ♥ 10 5 2 ♦KQ852 ♣6 South

Now consider the hand as a play problem. If you declared six spades on the lead of the diamond jack, how would you play the hand? It looks natural to advance the spade queen, hoping to find the trumps 2-2 with the king well placed. At pairs that might even be a defensible approach. At rubber bridge or teams scoring, where the objective is to make the contract and overtricks are far less important, following that line would be a major error.

♠QJ853 ♥QJ4 ♦— ♣ A J 10 8 2 South

♠ 3♦* 4♠ 5♦ 1

South should be aware that the chance of a defensive ruff has evaporated after the opening lead. The only danger is a 4-0 trump split. If West has the length, nothing can be done; his trump spots are just too good. If East has the length, the correct approach will be to cash the ace and lead a low spade to the jack. When East ducks, declarer will take the trick in hand and can get back to dummy with a heart to lead a spade toward his queen.

West

North

Pass

2

Pass

♣ 3♠

Pass

4 NT

Pass

♠

6 *Club fit, short diamonds

Opening Lead:

East Pass Pass Pass All Pass

♦ Jack

If declarer makes the right play, then whatever East does, declarer will lose no more than one trump trick. LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ 10 5 3 ♥J42 ♦K532 ♣Q 8 4 South

West

Pass

♣ 2♣ 3♥ 1

Pass All Pass

North

East

Pass

1

Pass Pass

♠ 2♥ 4♥

ANSWER: It looks tempting to lead trumps to try to stop spade ruffs in dummy, but there are two flaws with this approach. The first is that the spades and clubs look to be lying so well that this is unlikely to work. The second is that leading a trump from this holding will frequently give up a trick. Instead, attack with a small diamond.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, June 8, 2010 by admin on June 22nd, 2010 “The ruling passion, be it what it will, The ruling passion conquers reason still.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: E/W

— Alexander Pope Today’s deal is another from the fertile imagination of Patrick Jourdain in his book “Problem Corner” (published by Master Point Press). A mundane line in four spades would be to win the lead of the club queen and eliminate the trumps and clubs. If trumps do not split, you hope to hold your losers to one trick in each red suit by finding the heart ace onside – surely not too much to ask. However, you can see before you touch a card that the only real danger is that the trumps are 3-0 and the heart ace is wrong. Don’t just hope for the best in situations of this sort — plan how to overcome the problem! The solution is counterintuitive because it involves losing a trick in a suit where you do not have to surrender one so you can increase your chances for a later endplay. You should let the club queen win the first trick!

♠K9752 ♥975 ♦K73 ♣K 4

West

East

♠QJ8 ♥AJ2 ♦962 ♣Q J 9 3

♠— ♥ Q 10 8 6 3 ♦ Q J 10 5 ♣ 10 8 5 2 South

♠ A 10 6 4 3 ♥K4 ♦A84 ♣A 7 6 South

♠ 4♠ 1

West

North

East

Pass

3

♠

Pass

All Pass

♣

Queen Your next move will be to win the next club lead (no Opening Lead: defense is any better), then draw two rounds of trumps, leaving West with the master trump. Now you take the two top diamonds ending in hand and follow with the club ace, throwing a diamond from dummy. You ruff the third diamond in dummy and finally exit with a trump. West, forced to win the trick, is endplayed. Incidentally, if East ruffs the second round of clubs at trick two, you will justifiably be able to complain about your bad luck! BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠K9752 ♥975 ♦K73 ♣K 4 South

West

North

East

1

Dbl.

Pass

Pass

4

♥

Pass

♥

♠

2 ?

ANSWER: Your partner has made a slam-try for spades, showing short hearts, and your decent hand has become spectacular, with no wasted values facing his shortage. Use Blackwood and drive to slam unless two key-cards are missing.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, June 9, 2010 by admin on June 23rd, 2010 “We stumble and we do not understand. You only saw your future bigly planned.”

Dealer: South North

♠ K J 10 6 4 2 ♥KJ98 ♦95 ♣A

Vul: All

— Charles Sorley In today’s bidding sequence, North showed the majors and game-forcing values. If South wanted to play in spades, he would have raised that suit to the appropriate level, so his bid of four diamonds was an advance cue-bid, showing a diamond control and good heart support in a nonminimum hand. He cannot have the club ace or he would have cue-bid that first. Now North can take control by asking for key cards, then bidding the heart slam.

West

East

♠Q75 ♥2 ♦K732 ♣K Q J 5 2

♠3 ♥7643 ♦ J 10 8 4 ♣8 7 6 3 South

♠A98 ♥ A Q 10 5 ♦AQ6 ♣ 10 9 4

(Incidentally, though it may be obvious, the four-diamond bid cannot be natural once South has opened one notrump; diamonds are no longer a possible trump suit.) In the play West leads a top club to dummy’s ace, and declarer draws two rounds of trump with the king and ace. If trumps had split, declarer would have drawn them all, then hope to guess spades for the overtrick. But once the 4-1 trump break comes to light, declarer needs to pause before taking out all the trumps. Otherwise, if he loses a spade trick, the club suit will be ready to run against him.

South

West

North

1 NT

Pass

2

♠ 4♦ 5♣* 2

♥ 3♥

Pass Pass

4 NT

Pass

6

♥

East Pass Pass Pass All Pass

*Zero or three aces

Instead, declarer cashes the spade ace and leads a spade King to the jack. While declarer is sure to lose this trick, the Opening Lead: maneuver guarantees the contract against any lie of the cards. Whether this loses to the queen or East ruffs in, declarer will be able to win the diamond return with the ace, ruff a club, and draw trumps by overtaking the jack if necessary, then run the spades.

♣

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q75 ♥2 ♦K732 ♣K Q J 5 2 South

West

♣ 2♠ 1

1 NT ?

North

East

1

♥

Pass

Pass

Pass

ANSWER: Your side may or may not have more than half the deck, but you surely have no decent trump fit, and the cards appear to be splitting badly. It would be supreme optimism to double now (you do not actually have a sure winner in your hand). Pass and hope to beat it.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, June 10, 2010 by admin on June 24th, 2010 “Fate, Time, Occasion, Chance and Change? To these All things are subject but eternal Love.”

Dealer: South North

♠876 ♥7 ♦ K Q 10 9 5 ♣K J 9 8

Vul: All

— Percy Shelley At the Dyspeptics Club, South has admitted, under duress, that he carries a rabbit’s foot for luck. He says that this has no influence on what cards he holds; it is just that he gets more out of them. When confronted with this theory North snorted loudly and commented that South’s ability to throw tricks away almost rivaled his ability to be dealt more high cards than he deserved. Today’s deal is an example.

West

East

♠J542 ♥ J 10 9 6 2 ♦86 ♣6 3

♠ Q 10 9 3 ♥Q853 ♦A ♣ Q 10 5 2 South

♠AK ♥AK4 ♦J7432 ♣A 7 4

In six diamonds South won the opening heart lead, drew trumps, and stalled around for a while before taking the club finesse, unsuccessfully. Because South was trying to use this deal to demonstrate that he was actually an unlucky player, North stopped him. “If you had bothered to take advantage of all your chances, you would have made the slam instead of going down,” he said. Do you see why?

South

♦ 3♥ 6♦ 1

West

North

Pass

3

♦* 4♣

Pass

East Pass Pass

All Pass

*Limit raise

After the heart lead, declarer takes his other top heart to pitch a spade from dummy, ruffs a heart, cashes the two Opening Lead: Jack top spades, and leads a diamond to the king. East can win his singleton ace but must then give declarer a ruff-sluff or play a club back into the tenace.

♥

Even if it is West who has the singleton diamond ace, he will be forced to lead a club, and thus increase declarer’s chances of playing the club suit for no loser. And if a defender does have ace-doubleton of diamonds, declarer can fall back on the club finesse as a last resort. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ Q 10 9 3 ♥Q853 ♦A ♣ Q 10 5 2 South

♥

1 ?

West

♠

1

North

East

1

♦

Pass

Pass

Pass

ANSWER: In this position a double from you would be card-showing, not penalties, because it is made under the trump suit. So there is no real likelihood of your partner passing for penalties. That being so, settle for simplicity and bid one no-trump, which rates to be the best part-score for your side.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, June 11, 2010 by admin on June 25th, 2010 Dealer: North North

“I am not now in fortune’s power: He that is down can fall no lower.”

♠J53 ♥AK842 ♦AK ♣ Q 10 7

Vul: E/W

— Samuel Butler In today’s auction South can use the call of three clubs at his second turn as a relay, looking for three-card spade support from his partner. When he hits the jackpot, he knows that a grand slam rates to be out of reach, so he settles for simplicity by bidding what he thinks he can make.

West

East

♠2 ♥ Q J 10 9 7 ♦Q852 ♣K 9 4

♠ 10 9 8 7 ♥3 ♦ 10 7 4 3 ♣6 5 3 2 South

♠AKQ64 ♥65 ♦J96 ♣A J 8

As declarer in six spades, your first thought would be that you have decent play for 13 tricks. You can, you hope, ruff a diamond in dummy and take the club finesse for the overtrick. But the lead of the heart queen sets up some concerns about a defensive ruff in that suit. You should leave the spade jack in dummy till you have ruffed your diamond loser — just in case. Accordingly, you win the opening heart lead, cash the two top diamonds, come to hand with the spade ace (noting that both hands follow), then ruff a diamond low in dummy. When you lead the spade jack, you observe West’s discard, a play that increases the risk of a bad break in hearts against you. Taking no chances, you lead the club queen from dummy to encourage a cover; but when East plays low, you go up with the ace, draw trumps, and concede a club.

South

♠ 3♣* 6♠ 1

West

North

East

1

♥

Pass

Pass

2NT

Pass

Pass

3

♠

Pass

All Pass

*New Minor, asking for spade support

Opening Lead:

♥ Queen

Note that if you had finessed in clubs, West would have taken the club king and given his partner a heart ruff; so your caution was justified. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠2 ♥ Q J 10 9 7 ♦Q852 ♣K 9 4 South

West

♦

1

♥ 3♣ 2

?

Pass Pass

North

♣ 2♠ 3♦ 2

East Pass Pass Pass

ANSWER: You have already shown your hearts and your club support. Should you bid three notrump when your partner asks you for other features? I feel that your club support is good enough for you to repeat the suit. A 5-2 heart fit might be right, but if so, partner can get there by raising you at his next turn.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, June 12, 2010 by admin on June 26th, 2010 “We never know what is hidden in each other’s hearts; and if we had glass windows there, we’d need keep the shutters up.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: E/W

♠Q9 ♥753 ♦KQ42 ♣9 8 6 5

— Charles Dickens In today’s auction North had available an artificial response of two no-trump to South’s takeout double of two hearts to show a bad hand. Hence, the three-diamond call showed values and persuaded South to drive to slam. Six spades is a splendid contract if the opponents have not come into the bidding; but on the auction shown, it was a good bet that the king and jack of hearts were reposing offside, in West’s hand. So declarer had to devise a line that would put that player under pressure, forcing him to lead hearts into the tenace or to give up a trick in a different way. It took some doing, but he had been painted a very clear picture by the opponents. South won the club lead with the ace, then unblocked the diamond ace and crossed to the spade nine to take dummy’s diamond winners, pitching his club losers and crossing his fingers as he did so. When West was forced to follow to the top diamonds, South could see daylight. He ruffed a club high in hand, went back to the spade queen, and ruffed another club high. Now declarer drew two more rounds of trumps, reaching a three-card ending where West was reduced to his three highest hearts.

West

East

♠5 ♥KJ8642 ♦ 10 9 6 ♣ Q J 10

♠8742 ♥9 ♦J8753 ♣K 7 2 South

♠ A K J 10 6 3 ♥ A Q 10 ♦A ♣A 4 3 South

Dbl.

♠

6

West

North

East

2

♥

Pass

Pass

Pass

3

♦*

Pass

All Pass

*Value-showing

Opening Lead:

♣ Queen

At this point, South triumphantly exited with the heart queen. West won the trick and was forced to lead from his heart jack into declarer’s tenace: contract made! BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q9 ♥753 ♦KQ42 ♣9 8 6 5 South

West

♣

1 ?

North

♦

1

East

♠

1

ANSWER: Most people these days play that a jump to three diamonds here is pre-emptive, the typical range being 3-7 points. Your hand may not be blessed with extra shape, but your good trumps suggest you want to get to the threelevel, and it is always better to put the maximum pressure on opponents by competing as high as you dare as fast as you can. So bid three diamonds now.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, June 13, 2010 by admin on June 27th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

Dear Mr. Wolff:

Is there a source for clear definitions of such terms as negative double, balancing seat, protective seat, etc.?

In fourth chair I held

— Glossary Gus, Albuquerque, N.M. ANSWER: The best is “The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge.” For definitions of bridge terms online, go to Wikipedia, or The Bridge World’s Bridge Glossary. Dear Mr. Wolff: I was in second seat, holding

♦

♣

♠ Q, ♥ 10-

3-2, A-J-8-7-2, K-Q-7-4. My RHO opened a weak two hearts. I passed, my LHO bid four hearts, and my partner doubled for takeout. Would you bid or pass? If you did act, what call would you make? — In the Hot Seat, Dayton, Ohio ANSWER: It seems clear to bid since there is a decent chance your side can make slam, and there may be big double-fits for both sides. Your best call is four no-trump. This suggests a two-suiter with the minors, since you would bid spades if you had them. Dear Mr. Wolff: What does “cooperative double” mean? I saw the term in print, but I’m not sure if it is the same as “optional double.” — Double Play, Spartanburg, S.C. ANSWER: In simple terms a cooperative double tends to be made under the opponents’ trumps. It is oriented toward takeout, but lets partner pass with trump tricks. The typical sequence sees responder to an opening bid hearing a subsequent overcall on his left, passed back to him. Doubles by responder at his second turn were for penalties in the old days, but currently would be aimed more toward takeout, suggesting ownership of the hand and asking partner to do something intelligent.

♦ ♣

♠ Q-9-7-3-2, ♥ K-Q-

3-2, 4, K-6-4, and my partner overcalled one spade over one heart. There was a negative double to my right, so I jumped to four spades and heard five clubs on my left, passed back to me. Am I supposed to bid again? If so, what call should I make? — Nowhere Man, Doylestown, Pa. ANSWER: Without any sure tricks you do not have any reason to bid again. If partner had real extras, he might have found another call, but as it is, your side might not be able to defeat a slam, so pass. Dear Mr. Wolff: What is my best opening bid with

♦

♠ —, ♥

A-Q-9-7-3-2, Q-10-7-4-3-2, CLUBS 4? Would the vulnerability matter? — Seeing Red, Bristol, Va. ANSWER: I’d be inclined to open it with a weak two hearts vulnerable, planning to jump to four diamonds at my next turn facing an inquiry of two no-trump, or to compete to three diamonds if the opponents let me. Nonvulnerable, I might try four hearts (but I’m not sure I would recommend this to others!). Incidentally, with the red-suits switched, I would probably pass and hope to get my hand across later.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, June 14, 2010 by admin on June 28th, 2010 “Hope, whose weak Being ruined is,

Dealer: North North

♠A ♥ A 10 5 3 ♦AK63 ♣ 10 8 4 3

Vul: All

Alike if it succeed, and if it miss; Whom Good or Ill does equally confound, And both the Horns of Fates Dilemma wound.” — Abraham Cowley When the holdings in two suits look more or less equal, a closer inspection can reveal that one of them offers a slight extra chance. Take a look at this six-heart deal, which occurred in a national knockout event. West’s simple three-spade raise did nothing to hinder North-South. It merely suggested to both players that the other was unlikely to have too much in spades, while it took away none of their bidding space. No doubt West’s subsequent five spades was in to find out if North-South could work out how many aces they had. As it was, North’s pass showed an odd number (there are all sorts of methods one can play here, the only important thing being to know what your partner does) and the fair slam was reached.

West

East

♠QJ742 ♥98 ♦ J 10 8 2 ♣Q 9

♠ K 10 9 8 5 3 ♥2 ♦Q7 ♣J 7 5 2 South

♠6 ♥KQJ764 ♦953 ♣A K 6 South

West

North

♦ 4♠ 1

♥

3

4 NT

♠ 5♠ 3

Pass*

East

♠

2

Pass Pass

♥

All Pass 6 *One ace or three

When West led the spade queen, declarer won and drew trumps in two rounds. The bidding had indicated that there was very little chance of one defender being long in both Opening Lead: Queen majors, so declarer had to make an immediate decision. He could make his slam if either minor suit broke evenly, but he had to guess which one to play on. In diamonds a 3-3 break offered one chance, but in clubs there was a significant extra chance: If the suit was not 3-3, East might have a doubleton honor, or, as here, West might have a doubleton Q-9 or J-9. Today the right choice made the difference between success and failure.

♠

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ Q 10 8 4 ♥ 10 6 4 ♦542 ♣9 8 5 South

West

♦ 2♦ 1

Pass All Pass

North

East

Dbl.

1

Pass

♥ 2♥

ANSWER: It seems reasonable to attack spades, your best source of tricks, and a low spade lead looks normal enough. I know geniuses who would lead the spade queen because that is very unlikely to cost a trick and might leave them on lead to continue spades or to shift to clubs through dummy. But I leave such plays to others!

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, June 15, 2010 by admin on June 29th, 2010 “A little learning is a dang’rous thing; Drink deep or taste not the Pierian spring.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: None

— Alexander Pope Bridge can be an exasperating game for the less experienced. Just when they finally think they have mastered something, they have to unlearn it. Today, in a team contest, both Norths exercised good judgment to reach the no-trump game rather than insisting on spades. Although it is a slight overbid, three no-trump is surely much more likely to make than four spades. West led the heart queen, in their methods asking partner to encourage if holding an honor. (The king would have requested an unblock of an honor or a count-signal.) Declarer had obviously heard about the Bath coup, for he ducked, thus preventing West from continuing the suit without giving him an extra trick. However, it was not difficult for West to find a diamond switch. Declarer ducked two rounds of this suit before winning the ace and running his spades, but East had the club ace and the long diamond to send the contract down one.

♠AKQ73 ♥83 ♦ 10 6 3 ♣Q 8 3

West

East

♠J5 ♥ K Q 10 5 ♦QJ7 ♣ 10 6 5 2

♠962 ♥9742 ♦K852 ♣A 7 South

♠ 10 8 4 ♥AJ6 ♦A94 ♣K J 9 4 South

West

North

East

♣

Pass

♠

Pass

Pass

1 3 NT

Opening Lead:

♥ Queen

1 1 NT

All Pass

The point of a Bath coup is not only to prevent the defenders from continuing with the suit led, but also to force them to switch to another suit to declarer’s advantage. Here the last thing declarer wanted was a diamond switch. In the other room South received the same lead, but had no hesitation in winning the first heart, hoping for the suit to split 4-4 or for West to hold the club ace. He could no longer be prevented from making nine tricks: five spades, two clubs and two aces. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ 10 8 4 ♥AJ6 ♦A94 ♣K J 9 4 South

♣

1 Pass ?

West

♦

1 Pass

North

East

Dbl.

3 Pass

Dbl.

♦

ANSWER: The options here are to bid three notrump or to gamble on a pass, hoping your aces will stand up, and that on trump leads declarer will not have that many tricks. With a fifth club I’d be less inclined to defend and be more optimistic about my chances of quick tricks at no-trump. Here I’d guess to pass. We do, after all, have the balance of high cards and some trump control.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 by admin on June 30th, 2010 “Where there is much desire to learn, there of necessity will be much arguing, much writing, many opinions; for opinion in good men is but knowledge in the making.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: None

♠A872 ♥ 10 8 ♦KQ74 ♣K Q 5

— John Milton Today’s deal features a point of interest in the bidding as well as in the play. When the weak-two from West was doubled, East suspected that his opponents could make a considerable number of tricks in spades. In an attempt to tangle their wires, he tried a baby psyche, hoping to keep his opponents out of spades. (There is nothing inappropriate about such actions — so long as partner is not expecting them any more than your opponents.)

West

East

♠ 10 6 5 ♥AQJ643 ♦5 ♣ J 10 8

♠4 ♥952 ♦J9863 ♣9 6 4 3 South

♠KQJ93 ♥K7 ♦ A 10 2 ♣A 7 2

A good idea, perhaps, but South was not fooled. He opted for the simplest way to get to a spade slam, managing to right-side the contract into the bargain.

West North West was looking at an ace, so knew that a diamond lead South was unlikely to succeed. Since South had inferentially Dbl. 2 promised a heart control, West shrewdly led a top club, All Pass 6 giving declarer nothing. South took the club king and drew trumps in three rounds with his king, queen and jack, at which point he knew nine of West’s cards. When that Jack player followed twice more to the top clubs, the contract Opening Lead: had suddenly become almost a claim. West had three cards in each black suit and six hearts and thus no more than one diamond.

♥

East

♠

2

♠

♣

Declarer took dummy’s diamond king and, when no jack appeared, led a diamond back to his 10, cashed the diamond ace, then returned to dummy with the spade ace to pitch one of his heart losers on the diamond queen. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠A872 ♥ 10 8 ♦KQ74 ♣K Q 5 South Dbl. ?

West

North

East

♥

Pass

Pass

Pass

Pass

2 Rdbl.

ANSWER: Although most partnerships will not discuss sequences of this sort until too late, the pass of a redouble by the hand sitting over the trumps can only sensibly be played for blood. Your partner was going to pass out two hearts doubled and will instead enjoy this denouement even more! Do not let West trick you out of collecting your penalty.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, June 17, 2010 by admin on July 1st, 2010 “Seek not out the things that are too hard for thee, neither search the things that are above thy strength.”

Dealer: South North

♠532 ♥ 10 2 ♦AJ842 ♣A J 9

Vul: None

— Ecclesiasticus 3:21 These days the proliferation of bridge events, even at the smaller tournaments, means that everyone can find a competition where they have a chance to win. For example, today’s deal is from a 99er pairs (for those with fewer than 100 masterpoints) that was held at the 2006 Chicago Summer Nationals. To succeed, declarer had to employ a strategy that would have been beyond many players in a much higher-level event. Against four spades (reached after an aggressive limit raise from North) West led the heart ace, then the king, on which the queen dropped from East, and continued with the heart jack. South ruffed in dummy, East overruffed, and when declarer later made the normal but unsuccessful play in clubs, down went the game.

West

East

♠6 ♥AKJ953 ♦K965 ♣ 10 2

♠ J 10 9 ♥Q6 ♦ Q 10 3 ♣Q 6 5 4 3 South

♠AKQ874 ♥874 ♦7 ♣K 8 7 South

♠ 4♠ 1

When the heart queen appeared from East at trick two, the danger signals were clearly evident. If dummy ruffed the third heart, an overruff looked certain.

West

♥

2

North

East

♥

Pass

3

All Pass

♥

Declarer was unlucky to find the club finesse failing. Opening Lead: King However, he could have saved himself the decision if, instead of ruffing the third round of hearts, he had discarded a club from dummy, effectively exchanging one ruff for another. No continuation at trick four can harm South. He wins the return, draws two rounds of trumps, then follows with the ace and king of clubs and a club ruff. He takes the diamond ace, ruffs a diamond to hand, and draws the last trump, securing the contract. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠532 ♥ 10 2 ♦AJ842 ♣A J 9 South ?

West

North

1 NT

2

♥

East

♠

2

ANSWER: If your partner can compete voluntarily to two hearts, then your 10-count, with nothing wasted in spades, must be worth a raise to three hearts. You have aces and a useful doubleton to offer your partner. Don’t be surprised if he makes game should he bid on.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, June 18, 2010 by admin on July 2nd, 2010 Dealer: South North

“There is no escape by the river,

Vul: All

There is no flight left by the fen; We are compassed about by the shiver Of the night of their marching men.” — Richard Hovey Consider the spade suit in today’s deal. How can declarer avoid losing two tricks in that suit, unless the king and queen are doubleton? When South ends as declarer in six hearts, West leads a low spade, and declarer’s hopes are raised. If the lead is away from the 10, declarer will be in excellent shape. South tries a small card from dummy, hoping to force an honor. However, when East contributes the 10, South’s best chance appears to have gone. Can you see how he might recover?

West

East

♠Q54 ♥ 10 8 2 ♦ 10 7 6 4 ♣K 7 4

♠ K 10 3 ♥65 ♦953 ♣ Q 10 9 8 6 South

♠A87 ♥AKQJ3 ♦AQJ8 ♣2 South

♣ 3♥ 4♦* 6♥ 2

For South to avoid two spade losers, four rounds of diamonds need to stand up so that two spades can be discarded from dummy and a spade ruffed in the North hand.

♠J962 ♥974 ♦K2 ♣A J 5 3

West

North

East

Pass

2 NT

Pass

Pass

4

♣* 5♦*

Pass

Pass Pass

All Pass

*Cue-bids

The problem is that if declarer wins the spade lead and plays on diamonds before drawing two rounds of trump, Opening Lead: 4 then East will be able to ruff in. If South draws two rounds of trump before playing four rounds of diamonds, then gives up a spade, West can hop up with his queen and lead a third trump to kill the ruff.

♠

However, the counter is relatively straightforward — simply duck the opening spade lead. East will continue spades, but now you win your ace and, without needing to relinquish the lead again, cash two trumps, then cross your fingers and play four rounds of diamonds to pitch dummy’s spades. Your luck is in today. You can now take your spade ruff in dummy, and your hand is high. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠J962 ♥974 ♦K2 ♣A J 5 3 South

West

North

East

♦

♦ 2♥ 1

Pass

♥

1

2

ANSWER: While there is not complete unanimity about the meaning of your partner’s two-diamond call, simplest and best is to play it as natural. Since the opening bid only promised three, and the way the auction has developed makes this a live possibility still, you should assume partner has good diamonds and an opening bid. A simple raise to three diamonds is not an overbid — quite the opposite.

?

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, June 19, 2010 by admin on July 3rd, 2010 “The greatest of faults, I should say, is to be conscious of none.”

Dealer: South North

♠AQ5 ♥K87 ♦AK ♣9 8 6 4 2

Vul: All

— Thomas Carlyle At the 2004 Olympiad almost every South reached four spades after opening a flimsy three-spade pre-empt here. At every table West led the heart queen. When declarer ducked, West continued with a second heart, which South ruffed. Now declarer led the spade jack, intending to rise with dummy’s ace if West followed. The plan would have been to take both top diamonds, ruff dummy’s last heart, and play a spade. Whoever won the spade king would have to broach clubs, or give declarer a ruff and discard. When West showed out on the first trump, South ducked the spade, and with the club honors divided, there was no further problem.

West

East

♠— ♥ Q J 10 3 2 ♦Q7542 ♣K 5 3

♠K82 ♥A954 ♦ J 10 8 6 ♣Q 7 South

♠ J 10 9 7 6 4 3 ♥6 ♦93 ♣ A J 10 South

♠

3

West

North

Pass

4

♠

However, as declarer later admitted, a better line would have been to cash both top diamonds and ruff a heart before playing the spade jack. When West shows out, declarer plays low from dummy and East wins his king. If Opening Lead: Queen he returns a spade, South wins in dummy and plays a club to the jack, endplaying West if he has both club honors. If instead East switches to a low club, South ducks and West is endplayed. If East switches to a club honor, South wins, draws trumps, and knocks out the other top club.

East All Pass

♥

Of course, had West switched to a club at trick two, declarer would have had no answer. At some tables South covered the heart queen with dummy’s king and now the killing club switch was easier to find from the East hand. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠AQ5 ♥K87 ♦AK ♣9 8 6 4 2 South

West

North

♦

♣

2 ?

♥

2

East

♥

1

1

Pass

Pass

ANSWER: There is no need to rush into bidding three no-trump. You can always get there on the next round, but you may find out more about your partner’s hand by temporizing with a call of two spades. After all, if you are facing a singleton heart, three no-trump may be no fun at all!

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, June 20, 2010 by admin on July 4th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

At a recent duplicate the director asked my partner never again to open one no-trump with a singleton king. I was not aware of the reason, but was shocked to learn that bidding no-trump with a singleton king was actually against the rules of bridge. Is that really true? — Busy Lizzy, Jackson, Tenn. ANSWER: Your director was wrong; you can bid what you like. What the laws frown on is significant distortions that your partner might expect and the opponents not. A singleton king with a hand in the right range would never (in my opinion) be a significant distortion. Regularly bidding one no-trump with a bare honor would probably require you to note it on your card and maybe explain it when you announce range. But as long as the rest of your bidding does not cater to such irregularities either way, your director should have a hard time finding anything to complain about. Dear Mr. Wolff: Recently you asked about this hand:

♥

♦

♣

♠ Q-

9-7, K-Q-J-3-2, Q-J-2, A-K. You suggested that older players would tend to double first and rebid hearts to show a strong hand, while many younger players would overcall, confident that the auction would allow them to make later bids that show extra values. Please discuss this in more detail. What do you think of opening the hand one no-trump? — Mad Max, Surrey, British Columbia ANSWER: Either route is fine by me. If I overcall, I’d plan to double for takeout in any sequence where the opponents have limited their hands or found a fit. I thus get to show most of my extras, although if the opponents bid strongly, I may not come in again. My concern about bidding my long suit is to make sure I get it in early. I do not like bidding no-trump here — we may well regret missing an eight-card fit. Dear Mr. Wolff: If you open one of a suit and hear a double on your left and a redouble from partner, followed by a pass on your right, what do direct bids and jumps by you mean? Why you would rebid without waiting for the opponents to rescue themselves? — Quick-Draw, Duluth, Minn.

ANSWER: All direct actions promise low defense, but the more you bid, the more shape you have. I’d expect a new suit by opener to be at least 6-4 shape, a jump rebid to be at least a seven-card suit, a jump in a new suit to be 6-5.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Would I be allowed to participate in the upcoming World Championships in Philadelphia, either in one of the main games or a side game? I’d like to scope out the events, either as a player or spectator. — Unseeded, Newark, N.J. ANSWER: Bravo! Everyone who is able to should come either to play or to watch. There will be one-session events and longer championships to play in. It will be, if not a once-in-a-lifetime event, at least an unrepeatable opportunity to meet the best in the world and measure yourself against them. See details at the USBF’s website. Dear Mr. Wolff: My partner opened 1 NT (15-17), and I held

♠ A-9-2, ♥ K-10-2, ♦ A-2, ♣ K-9-7-4-3. I thought I was worth a quantitative jump to four no-trump but could see no reason not to transfer to my club suit first as a help-suit and then bid four no-trump. Or was this sequence Blackwood? — Hyperactive, Albany, Ga. ANSWER: The sequence you define is not a help-suit. A help-suit slam-try occurs when you have agreed a suit and then bid another suit where you have length and need help. But you are spot-on that your sequence of transfer and four no-trump was natural and quantitative — as would be the case in a major. Having agreed that, you also need to define how you would set your minor as trumps and then use Key-Card — maybe transferring to the minor, then bidding the minor at the four-level?

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, June 21, 2010 by admin on July 5th, 2010 “Who can tell the mischief which the very virtuous do?”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: E/W

♠K7632 ♥76 ♦ A K Q 10 7 ♣4

— William Makepeace Thackeray All this week’s deals come from the European Open Championships held at this time last year in San Remo. Every two years the European Championships switch from being the qualifying tournament for the World Championships to an open event in which players from all over the world can compete. There are teams and pairs, and no restriction on playing with someone from the same country. Here Agustin Madala and Norberto Bocchi showed a neat defense against a very normal contract of four spades. Madala led a diamond to declarer’s jack, and two rounds of trumps were cashed. Next came the diamonds, West ruffing the third round, at which point it was obvious to everyone at the table that the defenders had to try to cash their winners in hearts and clubs before the rats got at them. Madala observed that his partner had followed up the line in diamonds and spades, thus denying the two top hearts, when he would have given suit preference by playing high-low. So he needed to resort to trickery.

West

East

♠ 10 8 4 ♥Q9 ♦62 ♣A J 9 5 3 2

♠QJ ♥ A 10 5 3 ♦9843 ♣K Q 6 South

♠A95 ♥KJ842 ♦J5 ♣ 10 8 7 South

West

North

East

♦

1

♥ 2♠ 1

♠* 3♣

Dbl.

1

♠

4

1 NT All Pass

*Takeout without spades

Opening Lead:

♦6

Accordingly, Madala continued by leading a low club away from his ace, putting his partner in with the club king to lead a low heart. Not unexpectedly on such a defense, South assumed East had the two top clubs, so West’s scanty values had to include the heart ace. South now guessed wrong in hearts and went down. LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q974 ♥92 ♦53 ♣J 9 8 5 4 South

West

♦ 2♦ 1

Pass Pass

3 NT

North

East

1

♥

Dbl.

Pass

2 NT

Dbl.

All Pass

ANSWER: This double does not ask for an unusual lead such as a diamond. With the suit bid twice on your left already, and with your having both black suits well under control, it simply says you will beat the hand by leading partner’s long suit. So lead the heart nine.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 by admin on July 6th, 2010 Dealer: South North

“O nightingale! Thou surely art

♠ 10 6 5 ♥ A K J 10 6 ♦75 ♣J 8 4

Vul: All

A creature of a ‘fiery heart.’” — William Wordsworth All the deals this week come from the European Open in San Remo, held in June last year. The tournament is open to everyone and consists of open, single-sex, and mixed pairs and teams. In today’s deal, from the Mixed Pairs Final, Migry Campanile and Peter Fredin missed out on the big prize, but Migry came through with a couple of elegant plays in the following deal. Two spades was going to be a perfectly playable spot, but how do you rate South’s chances in three diamonds? Not so bad on a heart lead, since declarer has eight tricks painlessly enough, and even one down was going to be a respectable score for North-South. The point is that 110 for West in spades or for East in clubs was a relatively common result.

West

East

♠AQJ3 ♥Q7432 ♦Q4 ♣ K 10

♠987 ♥85 ♦J6 ♣A Q 9 7 5 2 South

♠K42 ♥9 ♦ A2 K 10 9 8 3 ♣6 3 South

♦ 2♦ 3♦ 1

West

♥ 2♠ 1

North

East

1 NT

2

Pass

Pass

♣

All Pass However, Fredin led the club king and Campanile overtook, resisting the temptation to keep playing on clubs. Instead, she shifted to a top spade. (She had Opening Lead: King promised three or more spades in the auction by passing two spades, so the spade nine was unambiguous.) Fredin won cheaply and returned the club 10. Declarer ducked to encourage a misdefense, but Campanile overtook yet again and played a second spade, letting Fredin cash two spades. Now he could play the 13th spade, ruffed by Campanile with the diamond jack, and that promoted the diamond queen to an additional trump trick for two down.

♣

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ 10 6 5 ♥ A K J 10 6 ♦75 ♣J 8 4 South

West

♦ 3♦ 1

♥

2 ?

North

East

Dbl.

1

Dbl.

Pass

♠

ANSWER: This sequence is emphatically not for penalties. You cannot convert a takeout double into a penalty double so easily. The sequence suggests three hearts and real extra values — maybe a minimum of 16 points. Since you are top of your range with great hearts, accept the implicit game invitation by bidding four hearts.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 by admin on July 7th, 2010 “No man’s knowledge experience.”

here

can

go

beyond

his

Dealer: West

North

Vul: All

♠963 ♥AK2 ♦J5 ♣K J 7 6 3

— John Locke The first tournament in the European Open last year, which was held in the beautiful resort of San Remo on the Mediterranean coast, was the Mixed Teams. Today’s deal comes from the qualifying event. In the match involving the defending champions, Jeremy Dhondy’s team, Lilo Poplilov declared five diamonds doubled on an informative auction in which West had opened to show both majors, but had nonetheless doubled his opponents’ game to lead a club, a card that was assumed to be a singleton Lilo drew the appropriate inference and could see the likely denouement. When he played trumps, a defender would win, and if it was East, he would give his partner the ruff. But what if West had the trump ace? Now the issue was whether the defenders would have communications for the ruff.

West

East

♠ Q 10 8 7 5 ♥ Q J 10 6 ♦A43 ♣ 10

♠AKJ2 ♥9874 ♦ 10 ♣9 8 4 2 South

♠4 ♥53 ♦KQ98762 ♣A Q 5 South

♦

5

West

North

East

2

♦*

Pass

4

Dbl.

All Pass

♥

To cut those communications, Lilo played three rounds of *Both majors, 6-10 points hearts, hoping that West would not see the necessity of 10 unblocking two of his top hearts under the ace and king. Opening Lead: Had he done so, that would have let his partner win the third round of hearts. When he failed to unblock, Lilo led a third top heart and pitched his spade. West had to win the trick — bang went the defenders’ communications in spades!

♣

Lilo emerged with 11 tricks, but curiously this was only good for a small pickup for the Dhondy team. The same contract had been let through, undoubled, in the other room, in precisely the same fashion. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠963 ♥AK2 ♦J5 ♣K J 7 6 3 South

♣

1 ?

West

North

East

♦

Pass

Pass

1

ANSWER: If your partnership plays negative doubles, then you are absolutely obligated to reopen here with a takeout double, rather than passing or (horrors) rebidding two clubs. The odds are heavily in your favor here; if the opponents can only muster up a call of one diamond between them, then your partner surely has some values. If so, the only hand he would pass on is one with diamond length.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, June 24, 2010 by admin on July 8th, 2010 “The reward of a thing well done, is to have done it.”

Dealer: North North

♠QJ6 ♥ 10 6 4 ♦ 10 6 2 ♣A K J 6

Vul: E/W — Ralph Waldo Emerson Today’s deal from the Mixed Teams shows a useful stratagem, which was missed by the defender who had the chance to shine. The match was between two sponsored teams. One table featured a match-up between a pair from Germany and a U.S.-Poland combination. In the other room South had played the hopeless fourspade contract, down two on diamond ruffs. But here Adam Zmudzinski doubled one diamond rather than overcalling in spades — an interesting minority choice, though not a bad call. When his partner, Janice SeamonMolson, cuebid, then introduced her clubs, Zmudzinski headed for three no-trump and received the lead of the diamond nine. East put up the diamond queen. Zmudzinski ducked, but won the next diamond and went after spades. With the spade honors split, declarer could no longer be prevented from taking nine tricks (since the defenders could not establish either red suit in time) for a big pickup. Can you see how the defenders could have done better?

West

East

♠K43 ♥Q7532 ♦93 ♣9 5 4

♠A9 ♥J8 ♦KQ854 ♣ Q 10 7 2 South

♠ 10 8 7 5 2 ♥AK9 ♦AJ7 ♣8 3 South

Dbl.

♠

2 3 NT

West

♥

North

East

Pass

1

♥ 3♣

1

2

Pass

♦

Pass Pass

All Pass

♦

They had two better strategies: the first route was to shift Opening Lead: 9 to hearts at trick two. South must duck (or the defenders get hearts going) and West wins and switches to clubs, setting up a fifth trick for the defense. But a far easier defense was for East to duck the first diamond, playing an encouraging spot-card. Now when West wins the first spade and continues the attack on diamonds, declarer is helpless. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠QJ6 ♥ 10 6 4 ♦ 10 6 2 ♣A K J 6 South

West

North

♦ 2♦ 1

♣

2 ?

Pass

East

♥

1

Pass

ANSWER: There is no need to do anything other than make a simple raise to three diamonds. With such square distribution you will not have missed anything if partner passes, and without a heart stop, you can hardly look for no-trump unless your partner can get there on his own.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, June 25, 2010 by admin on July 9th, 2010 “I did not choose thee, dearest. It was love That made the choice, not I. Mine eyes were blind.”

Dealer: South North

♠K9 ♥J3 ♦KQ8743 ♣Q J 9

Vul: None

— Wilfrid Blunt Today’s deal comes from the Open Teams tournament at the European Open Championships from San Remo last year. As so often happens, the first board was a defining moment – here, in a match between a French and a Dutch squad. After an auction in which North had shown diamonds artificially at his first turn, South reached the decent diamond slam, having managed to get the contract declared from the better side. Michel Bessis of France led the heart king, and East, his son Thomas Bessis, surmised that South was unlikely to have bid slam with two heart losers, especially after North had denied a heart control. Accordingly, Thomas overtook the heart king with the ace and switched to the club eight.

West

East

♠ 10 5 2 ♥KQ9754 ♦95 ♣ K 10

♠Q87 ♥ A 10 8 2 ♦6 ♣8 7 4 3 2 South

♠AJ643 ♥6 ♦ A J 10 2 ♣A 6 5 South

♠ 3♦ 4♦ 1

West

North

Pass

2

♥* 3♠ 4♠ 5♦**

Pass

East Pass Pass

At this stage South had to guess whether spades were Pass Pass behaving — i.e. whether either defender held a doubleton Pass Pass or tripleton spade queen. If so, South had to win the club 4 NT ace and establish the spades to make his contract. If All Pass 6 spades were not behaving, declarer had to take the club *Diamonds finesse. Without the fine play by East, declarer would have **One ace, counting the trump king as an ace had the luxury of testing the spades first, and if that failed, King he could have fallen back on the club finesse. He got it Opening Lead: wrong — and regardless of whether he played with the odds or not, one must credit East’s defense for giving South the chance to err.

♦

♥

In the other room declarer brought home the slam from the North seat on a high spot-card club lead, so that was a huge swing for the Bessis team. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q87 ♥ A 10 8 2 ♦6 ♣8 7 4 3 2 South

West

North

East

Pass

1

♦

Pass

Pass

?

ANSWER: I’m not convinced that a double would always work here, but I hate to let the opponents play the hand at the one-level if I have a chance to act. If I were not a passed hand, I would not be brave enough to bid; as it is, I would double and hope that my partner can take a joke.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, June 26, 2010 by admin on July 10th, 2010 “The strongest is never strong enough to be always the master, unless he transforms his strength into right, and obedience into duty.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: All

♠86432 ♥Q96 ♦ 10 5 4 3 ♣6

— Jean Jacques Rousseau Today’s deal shows one of the world’s top declarers, Antonio Sementa of Italy, at the helm in a very delicate three no-trump. After a revealing auction, West led the spade nine to East’s 10 and South’s king. Declarer, knowing West had led from short spades, played the club king and ducked a club. East overtook his partner’s 10 to lead a low diamond through, West following with the nine under declarer’s ace. It was a second piece of interesting information for declarer, who next exited with his remaining spade. East could not cash all her spade tricks without setting up dummy’s winner, so after winning the jack and the ace (declarer throwing a club and West a heart), she exited with her last club, making it as difficult as possible for declarer to find out the exact distribution. Sementa, however, now knew that he needed West to have no more than two diamonds, or else the defenders could cash a diamond trick. And since West had precisely two spades and four clubs, he had to have five hearts.

West

East

♠95 ♥ J 10 4 3 2 ♦J9 ♣ J 10 4 2

♠ A Q J 10 ♥8 ♦Q8762 ♣Q 5 3 South

♠K7 ♥AK75 ♦AK ♣A K 9 8 7 South

♣ 3♣ 3♥ 2

3 NT *Artificial

West

North

Pass

2

♦ 3♦* 3♠

Pass Pass

East Pass Pass Pass Pass

All Pass

Opening Lead:

♠9

So declarer won the club ace, played off the heart ace, and continued with a low heart, planning to put in dummy’s nine. At the table, West split his heart honors, but it did not help him at all. Declarer won dummy’s queen, cashed his second diamond, and played a club to West, pitching dummy’s heart nine and forcing a lead into declarer’s heart tenace at trick 12: contract made! BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠86432 ♥Q96 ♦ 10 5 4 3 ♣6 South

West

North

♣ 2♠ 2

♦

2 ?

Pass

East Pass Pass

ANSWER: Though you have a weak hand, your five trumps make you worth a jump to four clubs. This is a splinter, showing a singleton club and spade support. You have no high cards to spare, but you owe your partner at least one highly encouraging bid. The point is that any hand with five trumps must be worth something.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, June 27, 2010 by admin on July 11th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

When a hand in a duplicate board is boxed so that everyone at the table sees an honor card in that hand, what is the appropriate remedy? — Flasher, Saint John, New Brunswick ANSWER: The first thing a director should try to do is get the board played. If the information passed to the other three players at the table is such that they cannot play it fairly, then an adjusted score may be appropriate — but play it first, ask questions later. And the director should try to warn the guilty party at the previous table about being careless. Dear Mr. Wolff:

♠

♥

♦

♣

I held A-Q-9-4-3, Q-3, A-J-8-7, A-Q, and my RHO bid two spades. If I doubled, my partner would assume this was for takeout. How do I show a penalty double? — Punitive Measures, Sacramento, Calif. ANSWER: For the reasons you state, you can’t double for penalties here. I suggest you choose between a slightly cautious natural two-no-trump bid and an optimistic jump to three no-trump, hoping not to buy a bust from your partner. One has to give up something to be able to make the calls with the highest frequency. Here, when they have six spades, you want your double to describe a hand with short spades because such hands come up so much more often … right? Dear Mr. Wolff: At a club duplicate, with nobody vulnerable,

♠ ♥

♦

♣

you hold 9, J-10-3, A-Q-3-2, AJ-10-8-4 and open one club. What do you plan to rebid after your partner responds in a major? — Dream Spinner, Pueblo, Colo.

ANSWER: I always try to avoid rebidding two clubs with only five and would not do so with any suit much weaker than this. With your hand you can raise one heart to two, and with a singleton spade, a one-no-trump rebid over a one-spade response will always be acceptable. Your failure to raise with three trumps means partner won’t insist on playing a five-carder willy-nilly.

Dear Mr. Wolff: My rubber bridge friends and I have a difference of opinion regarding scoring of unfinished rubbers or games. I claim that points are awarded when only one pair has a partial rubber or game. They claim if both have a game or partscore, they both receive the bonus points. Please settle this controversy. — Nick and Nora, Lakeland, Fla. ANSWER: On the last deal of a Chicago, for example, the bonus goes to the pair who made the partscore on the last deal. No bonus goes to the pair with the earlier partscore. In an unfinished rubber I believe the same treatment should apply. Dear Mr. Wolff: In third chair I held

♣

♠ Q-9, ♥ Q-3, ♦ K-J-

8-7-2, K-Q-7-4. When my partner opened three hearts at favorable vulnerability, I could not decide whether to bid four hearts to make, or to keep the opponents out. What do you say? — Rip Cord, Tucson, Ariz. ANSWER: With no aces, you can be fairly sure your side won’t make game, but can the opponents make four spades? Let’s say partner has seven hearts to the ace-jack and two cards in each suit. Do you like your chances of beating four spades? I do not! Accordingly, raise to four hearts to try to keep the opponents out. It will make it harder for your LHO to work out what is going on.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, June 28, 2010 by admin on July 12th, 2010 “Though the sky be too dark for dim eyes to discover The gold-cups and daisies fair blooming thereunder,…

Dealer: North North

♠Q ♥A ♦ K 10 7 6 5 ♣ A K 10 7 6 2

Vul: All

Yet their hands shall not tremble, their feet shall not falter.” — William Morris Today’s deal comes from a Women’s trials held in the UK a few years ago, and it shows the benefits of exploring all the possible options in the play before committing yourself to a decision. Some tables played five clubs, but three no-trump was the most popular contract here. At most tables, a spade was led and the suit cleared. At this point many declarers simply cashed the club and heart aces, crossed to their hand with the diamond ace, and took the club finesse, expecting East to be short in clubs because of her announced major-suit length. When the club jack lost to East’s queen, declarer was soon one down. When Liz Roberts was declarer, she was not in such a hurry. She could see that, although East was likely to be short in clubs, that was by no means a certainty. So she set about discovering what she could about the hand before making her crucial play.

West

East

♠ 10 9 6 3 ♥984 ♦J984 ♣5 4

♠AJ754 ♥ Q J 10 5 3 ♦Q ♣Q 9 South

♠K82 ♥K762 ♦A32 ♣J 8 3 South

West

North

♣ 3♦ 1

Dbl. 3 NT

♠

2 All Pass

East

♣*

2

Pass

*Both majors

Opening Lead:

♠10

She also cashed the club and heart aces, but before continuing clubs, she played the king and ace of diamonds. When East showed up with a singleton diamond, declarer decided that East rated to have 5-5 distribution (rather than 65) and played clubs from the top, landing her no-trump game. Of course, if East had turned up with a doubleton diamond, the club finesse would have been guaranteed to succeed. LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠K96 ♥ 10 7 5 4 3 ♦Q6 ♣J 7 2 South

West

North

East

1

♣

Pass

1

Pass

2 NT

Pass

Pass

4

♠

All Pass

♠ 3♠

ANSWER: Your best attack is to lead the diamond queen, rather than a fourth-highest heart. If you can find your partner with decent diamonds, maybe you can promote the spade nine to the setting trick one way or another. A low heart lead might work if the defense needs to go passive, but with the black suits splitting, that seems unlikely.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 by admin on July 13th, 2010 “An inconstant woman, though she has no chance to be very happy, can never be very unhappy.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: N/S

♠6 ♥A96 ♦8742 ♣A K Q 8 3

— John Gay Today’s deal came up in a local New York bridge club. North, a professional bridge player, was so entranced with the elegance of the position that he did not even mind that his partner had missed the best line of play and had gone down. And to be fair, many experts would have missed it as well. The play in five clubs is equally interesting on a top spade lead and the card actually chosen, the singleton heart. Declarer is faced with three top losers, and the only way he can make one of them vanish is to force West to lead something helpful. On the heart lead declarer must win dummy’s ace, draw two rounds of trumps, then play the spade ace, ruff a spade, cross back to hand with the heart king, then lead the third spade, pitching dummy’s heart as West wins the trick. That player must then concede the ruff-sluff or lead a diamond and give up a trick there.

West ♠ K5 3Q J 10 8 7

East

♠9 ♥ Q J 10 8 7 3 ♦ J 10 9 3 ♣J 6

♥4 ♦AQ5 ♣9 South

♠A42 ♥K52 ♦K6 ♣ 10 7 5 4 2 South

West

♠ 4♠ 1

♣

3 All Pass

North

East

Dbl.

2

♣

5

♥

Dbl.

On a top spade lead the play is even harder. Declarer must win and ruff a spade high. She cannot afford to draw trumps first; otherwise, she is in the wrong hand to Opening Lead: 4 achieve the elimination of the spades, so she must hope for 2-1 trumps. Only now does declarer draw trumps, take the two top hearts ending in hand, and lead the third spade to pitch the heart and achieve the same endplay.

♥

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠A42 ♥K52 ♦K6 ♣ 10 7 5 4 2 South

West

North

♦ 2♠ 1

1 NT ?

Pass

East

♥

1

Pass

ANSWER: Your partner has extra values and extra shape. I’m a little reluctant to commit this hand to three no-trump with only one heart stop. So, having denied four spades at my first turn, I’d settle for a simple raise to three spades, hoping partner will know better than I what to do next.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 by admin on July 14th, 2010 “Amid the pressure of great events, a general principle gives no help.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: E/W

— 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.

♠AK62 ♥J63 ♦ 10 9 6 ♣ J 10 7

West

East

♠Q843 ♥Q ♦J8752 ♣A 6 5

♠ J 10 9 5 ♥ A 10 8 5 ♦Q3 ♣9 8 3 South

♠7 ♥K9742 ♦AK4 ♣K Q 4 2 South

♥ 4♥ 1

West

North

East

Pass

2

♥

Pass

All Pass

Opening Lead:

♠3

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. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠AK62 ♥J63 ♦ 10 9 6 ♣ J 10 7 South

♠

1 ?

West

North

East

1

♣

Dbl.

1

Pass

Pass

♥ 2♣

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.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, July 1, 2010 by admin on July 15th, 2010 “Turn with me from the city’s clamorous street, Where throng and push passions and lusts and hate….”

Dealer: North North

♠J9 ♥ 10 8 3 ♦AK96 ♣A K 6 5

Vul: N/S

— 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.

West

East

♠ Q 10 8 7 5 4 ♥AQ2 ♦3 ♣ 10 7 4

♠K2 ♥754 ♦ 10 7 5 2 ♣Q J 9 3 South

Left to their own devices, North-South would surely have ended in a hopeless three no-trump. But after the weakjump 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.

♠A63 ♥KJ96 ♦QJ84 ♣8 2 South

♥ 4♦ 1

West

North

East

1

♦

Pass

2

Pass

Pass

Pass

4

♠

♥

All Pass

♠

Opening Lead: 7 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. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠A63 ♥KJ96 ♦QJ84 ♣8 2 South

West

♦

1 ?

North

East

♣

Pass

2

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.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, July 2, 2010 by admin on July 16th, 2010 “An active, ardent mind; A fancy pregnant with resource and scheme

Dealer: East

North

Vul: None

♠AQ632 ♥Q ♦ Q 10 5 ♣8 7 6 3

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.

West

East

♠K87 ♥ K J 10 6 4 3 ♦8763 ♣—

♠ J 10 9 4 ♥A75 ♦92 ♣ A 10 9 5 South

♠5 ♥982 ♦AKJ4 ♣K Q J 4 2 South

♣

West

♥

North

East Pass 4

1

3

Dbl.

4 NT*

Pass

5

♣

♥

All Pass

Declarer knew that the spade finesse rated to work, but he *Takeout for the minors 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 Opening Lead: Jack 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. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠AQ632 ♥Q ♦ Q 10 5 ♣8 7 6 3 South

West

Pass

1

?

♣

North

♦

1

East

♥

1

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.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, July 3, 2010 by admin on July 17th, 2010 “I passed no secret, darkened nook Without a shuddering, furtive look,

Dealer: South North

♠ 10 6 4 ♥AK4 ♦A9872 ♣ 10 5

Vul: E/W

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.

West

East

♠92 ♥— ♦ Q 10 5 3 ♣ A2 K Q 9 8 3

♠J873 ♥ 10 9 7 3 ♦64 ♣J 6 4 South

♠AKQ5 ♥QJ8652 ♦KJ ♣7 South

♥ 3♠ 1

4 NT

West

North

♣

♦ 4♥ 5♣*

3

3

Pass Pass

East Pass Pass Pass

South made his first good guess when a trump to the ace All Pass revealed the bad break. Now South had to decide whether 6 *0 or 3 of the five aces, counting the trump king East had long diamonds or had long spades, since if as an ace either suit was going to break, 12 tricks would be easy. Realizing that he might be able to overcome a bad spade Opening Lead: King 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.

♥

♣

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠J873 ♥ 10 9 7 3 ♦64 ♣J 6 4 South

West

North

♣ 3♣ 2

♦

2 ?

Pass

East Pass Pass

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 notrump.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, July 4, 2010 by admin on July 18th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

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.

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?

In a recent letter you showed a deal where

— Professor Challenger, West Palm Beach, Fla.

one player held

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.

Dear Mr. Wolff:

♠ 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 twoover-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.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, July 5, 2010 by admin on July 19th, 2010 “You pays your money and you takes your choice.”

Dealer: North North

Vul: E/W — 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 42 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.

♠Q9742 ♥— ♦9532 ♣A 6 4 2

West

East

♠AJ863 ♥J3 ♦ K Q 10 ♣J 7 5

♠ K 10 5 ♥K864 ♦A876 ♣9 3 South

♠— ♥ A2 Q 10 9 7 5 ♦J4 ♣ K Q 10 8 South

♥

4

West

North Pass

East Pass

All Pass

Opening Lead:

♦ King

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. LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠932 ♥Q74 ♦J952 ♣K 8 3 South

♦

1 All Pass

West

North

East

1

♣

Dbl.

Rdbl.

Pass

Pass

2 NT

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.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, July 6, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on July 20th, 2010 “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.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: All

— Willa Cather

♠KJ62 ♥A53 ♦AK ♣ K J 10 4

West

East

♠973 ♥ 10 6 2 ♦ Q 10 9 6 3 2 ♣3

♠5 ♥KQJ9874 ♦J4 ♣Q 7 5

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.

South

♠ A Q 10 8 4 ♥— ♦875 ♣A 9 8 6 2 South

West

North

East

♥

3

♠

♥

3

4

4 NT

5 NT

Pass

7

♠

Pass All Pass

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 Opening Lead: 2 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. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠KJ62 ♥A53 ♦AK ♣ K J 10 4 South

West

North

East

♦

1 Dbl. ?

Pass

♥

1

Pass

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 notrump in the balancing seat.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, July 7, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on July 21st, 2010 “You will, therefore, permit me to concede your entire argument, and yet contrive means to escape your dilemma.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: All

♠KQ63 ♥J87 ♦Q64 ♣5 4 3

— 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.

West

East

♠ 10 ♥ K 10 5 2 ♦J9852 ♣A 9 7

♠98 ♥9643 ♦ K 10 ♣ K Q J 10 6 South

♠AJ7542 ♥AQ ♦A73 ♣8 2

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.

South

♠ 3♦ 1

West Pass

North Pass

Pass

2

♠ 4♠

Pass

East Pass Pass All Pass

♠

West won the trick and, with no real clue, chose to return a Opening Lead: 10 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. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠KQ63 ♥J87 ♦Q64 ♣5 4 3 South

♠ 2♦ 1

?

West

North

East

1

♦

Pass

2

Pass

Pass

Pass

2

♥

Pass

♣

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.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, July 8, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on July 22nd, 2010 “Therefore, acknowledge your error and be attentive.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: E/W — 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.

♠J72 ♥ Q J 10 8 6 ♦ Q 10 5 ♣ 10 2

West

East

♠85 ♥75 ♦K9842 ♣Q 9 7 4

♠ Q 10 9 4 ♥A932 ♦73 ♣K 8 5 South

Today’s deal was no exception. South played three notrump 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?

♠AK63 ♥K4 ♦AJ6 ♣A J 6 3 South

West

North

East

2 NT

Pass

3

♦

Pass

♥

Pass

3 NT

All Pass

3

Opening Lead:

♦4

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. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠J72 ♥ Q J 10 8 6 ♦ Q 10 5 ♣ 10 2 South

♥

2 ?

West

North

East

2

♦

Dbl.

Pass

Pass

Pass

3

♦

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.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, July 9, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on July 23rd, 2010 Dealer: South North

“How slow Behind the course of thought, even sick with speed,

♠J73 ♥ K J 10 ♦ Q J 10 7 ♣ 10 7 5

Vul: E/W

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.

West

East

♠— ♥7643 ♦K542 ♣A K Q 8 3

♠K865 ♥Q982 ♦98 ♣J 6 2 South

♠ A Q 10 9 4 2 ♥A5 ♦A63 ♣9 4

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.

South

♠ 2♠ 4♠ 1

West

North

East

Dbl.

1 NT

2

Pass

2

♠

♥

Pass

All Pass

Opening Lead:

♣ King

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. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ A Q 10 9 4 2 ♥A5 ♦A63 ♣9 4 South

West

North

♦ 2♦ 1

♠

1 ?

Pass

East

♥

1

Pass

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.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, July 10, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on July 24th, 2010 “The full truth of this odd matter is what the world has long been looking for, and public curiosity is sure to welcome.”

Dealer: South North

♠A6 ♥K9752 ♦AQ ♣ Q J 10 3

Vul: None

— Robert Louis Stevenson Matchpoints and bridge often seem to have only passing resemblances to each other, but here North’s decision to play the slam in no-trump as opposed to hearts was based on the idea that South might be able to come to 12 tricks without bringing the hearts in. In fact, after a spade lead, declarer had decent chances. With spades 7-1, the best and obvious chance was to set up the hearts without allowing East in to run his spades. South was unwilling to put all his eggs in one basket, so he decided to try to find out a little about East’s side-suit pattern. He won the spade lead in dummy, cashed the A-Q of diamonds, then came to hand with a high club as East pitched a spade. Now the king and jack of diamonds, with hearts pitched from dummy, gave South a complete count of the hand. East had only three minor-suit cards and seven spades, thus three hearts. When the last three clubs were cashed, South pitching a heart from hand, what four cards was East to come down to? If he kept fewer than three hearts, the suit would run for declarer, so he could retain only one spade. Now declarer led dummy’s second spade, setting up the remaining spade in hand for the 12th trick.

West

East ♠ K4 Q J 10 9 8

♠3 ♥J6 ♦ 10 8 7 6 ♣9 8 7 6 4 2

♥ Q 10 4 ♦532 ♣— South

♠752 ♥A83 ♦KJ94 ♣A K 5 South

West

North

1 NT

Pass

Pass

Pass

2 Dbl.

3 Pass

Pass

4

♠

Pass

Pass

5 NT*

Pass

Pass

6 NT

All Pass

♥ 5♣ 6♥ 4

♦

East

♠

*Pick a slam

Opening Lead:

♠3

If East had turned up with length in diamonds and clubs, declarer would have gone after hearts, cashing the ace and leading up to dummy’s nine, a line that would succeed unless West had a four-card suit including all the top honors. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠752 ♥A83 ♦KJ94 ♣A K 5 South

West

North

East

♦

Pass

1 ?

ANSWER: These days many play inverted minors. This means that a response of two diamonds here would show at least a limit raise and be forcing as far as two no-trump or three diamonds. This allows for exploration at a more convenient level. (The corollary is that a jump to three diamonds here would be pre-emptive.) Lacking that tool, maybe your best bet is to invent a two-club response.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, July 11, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on July 25th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

How much talking is acceptable across the board between partners during the bidding? For example, your partner has opened in a suit, the bidding has come around to you, and you jump-shift. Are you allowed to say “I jump shifted”? — Blabbermouth, Detroit, Mich. ANSWER: No such communication is allowed. Nowadays in tournament bridge (and even in most rubber bridge games), jump bids should be preceded with the works “Skip bid, please wait.” This is not to alert partner to your jump, whether it is a weak or strong call. It is to ensure that the next player gets 10 seconds to bid. This way he does not give unauthorized information to his partner as to whether he has a problem or a straightforward call. Dear Mr. Wolff: I opened one heart with

♦ ♣

♠ Q-9-8-4-3, ♥ A-

K-J-9-7-3, 10, A. My partner responded one spade, I tried a jump to five spades, and my partner bid the grand slam … and the defenders cashed the diamond ace. What should I have done to explore for slam without getting too high? — Leap of Faith, Sioux Falls, S.D. ANSWER: I think maybe the right call is four clubs, a splinter bid showing short clubs and setting spades as trumps, planning to pass four spades. That way you do not get overboard facing a quite normal hand with four spades to one honor and no diamond ace, when even four spades is not entirely comfortable and five spades is no bargain. Dear Mr. Wolff: In most bridge columns South is the declarer. Is there a reason for this that I don’t understand? — Southern Comfort, Wilmington, N.C.

ANSWER: I could make some frivolous remark about South holding better cards than the other players, but the fact is that when South is declarer, his cards are virtually in the reader’s lap. When I see a deal with North as declarer, I feel I should turn the page upside down. Maybe that’s just me, but I suspect not.

Dear Mr. Wolff: How should I respond with

♣

♠ 3, ♥ 9, ♦ Q-

J-10-8-7-3, J-10-6-4-2, facing my partner’s two-no-trump opening? Do people still play minor-suit Stayman? — Stuck in the Minors, Lake Worth, Fla. ANSWER: I’d ignore the clubs and jump to five diamonds. I don’t see how clubs can play that much better than diamonds, but the reverse is certainly not true. If I offer partner the choice, he’ll get it wrong with 33. These days, using a three-spade response as minor-suit Stayman is a minority position. Many play it as a puppet to three no-trump to show a slam-try with one minor or both. Dear Mr. Wolff: I opened one club, partner responded one heart, and the next hand butted in with one spade. How much do I need to bid one notrump now? I thought it showed extras as a free bid, but nobody agrees with me. — Extra Credit, Union City, Tenn. ANSWER: My view is that the rebid shows a maximum 12-14 hand with a good spade stop. You could, I suppose, upgrade some dead minimums, but I’m not sure I would do that. It certainly can’t be a balanced 15-17 or 18-19. You’d have opened one no-trump or rebid two no-trump as appropriate. And if you weren’t balanced, you would not bid no-trump now.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, July 12, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on July 26th, 2010 “It is so easy to exchange meaning; it is so easy to see the difference.”

Dealer: North North

Vul: All

— Gertrude Stein Consider North-South’s club suit in today’s three-no-trump contract, without looking at East–West’s cards. At first glance it seems there is little room for maneuvering. Either the finesse works, or it does not. Well, there is more to it than that. When the deal cropped up in the Bermuda Bowl encounter between Poland and Brazil, Michael Kwiecien won the spade lead and could see that he would need to run the clubs to make his contract.

♠3 ♥A542 ♦K7 ♣A K J 8 7 5

West

East

♠AK8652 ♥93 ♦AJ65 ♣Q

♠ J 10 ♥ J 10 8 7 ♦ 10 9 2 ♣9 4 3 2 South

♠Q974 ♥KQ6 ♦Q843 ♣ 10 6

The natural play seems to be to run the club 10, then play the suit from the top if that card is covered by the queen, but Michael saw a little more deeply into the position than West North that. The point is that the only way three no-trump can South come home is if the club queen is onside. Since declarer 1 could not see through the backs of the cards, he was Pass 1 2 never going to negotiate a 4-1 split onside by finessing the 3 NT All Pass nine on the second round. The one distribution he could easily cope with was a singleton queen onside — that would not jeopardize any other favorable lie of the cards. Opening Lead: 6 So after carefully leading a low club to the queen and king at trick two, he could now unblock the club 10 and was then able to return to dummy by usiing the heart ace to collect 10 tricks. That was worth a game swing when the Brazilian declarer missed the play in the other room.

♣ ♥

♠

East Pass Pass

♠

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠K932 ♥J65 ♦Q9543 ♣6 South

West

East

1*♦*

North Dbl.

1*

♠*

Pass

Pass

2*♣*

Pass

3*♣*

All Pass

1*♥*

ANSWER: Declarer is surely going to need to ruff hearts in dummy, and perhaps also to discard spade losers on dummy’s diamond winners. Which should come first? My guess would be to lead trumps, but I can understand the spade lead too.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, July 13, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on July 27th, 2010 Dealer: North North

“Time drops in decay,

Vul: E/W

Like a candle burnt out, And the mountains and woods Have their day, have their day.” — W.B. Yeats South’s hand is too strong for an opening pre-emptive bid of four spades in first or second position. However, in third seat, after his partner had passed, South made that his choice, putting maximum pressure on West. West led the heart king, taken by the singleton ace, and declarer could count nine tricks. One of the minor-suit queens would need to stand up for the 10th. East would have to hold the club king, or West the diamond king. It becomes an all-or-nothing situation if declarer tests diamonds before clubs. But if the club king is well placed, then the position of the diamond king becomes irrelevant because a losing diamond will depart on the club ace.

♠976 ♥8642 ♦Q42 ♣A 6 4

West

East

♠A ♥KQJ3 ♦J865 ♣J 9 8 3

♠52 ♥ 10 9 7 5 ♦ K 10 7 ♣ K 10 7 2 South ♠ K3 Q J 10 8 4

♥A ♦A93 ♣Q 5 South

♠

4

West

North Pass

East Pass

All Pass

Two entries to dummy outside the club suit are needed — one to play away from the club ace toward the queen, Opening Lead: King and, if successful, a second to access the ace for a diamond discard. Those entries had to come from trumps, so at trick two, declarer led the spade eight, preparing to overtake with the nine to continue with a low club.

♥

West rose with the ace perforce and returned a heart. South carefully ruffed high so that two trump entries to dummy remained intact. Now the spade three was led to dummy’s six, and the club four played. East rose with the king and returned a heart. Again declarer ruffed high, then cashed the club queen and overtook the spade four with the nine to cash the club ace for a diamond discard. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠A ♥KQJ3 ♦J865 ♣J 9 8 3 South

West

North

East

♣ 2♠ 1

Pass ?

♠

1

Pass

ANSWER: Although it is not without risk, your best way into this auction is to pass on the first round (as you did), then double for takeout at your second turn. Because this auction is live — West has not limited his hand — you show opening values and takeout of spades. You rate to have club length here, although this is not strictly guaranteed.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on July 28th, 2010 “Time, you old gipsy man, Will you not stay,

Dealer: West

North

Vul: All

♠AKJ8 ♥A85 ♦AK ♣K 5 4 3

Put up your caravan Just for one day?” — Ralph Hodgson Today’s deal features one of my favorite partners, Seymon Deutsch, with whom I was successful in the Venice Olympiad 22 years ago. Seymon’s leap to four spades was full-blooded (a euphemism for a slight overbid). North asked for keycards (the five aces, with the trump king counting as a fifth ace). Over the one-keycard response, North could use the first step to locate the trump queen. Without it, Deutsch would have reverted to the trump suit at the cheapest level; with it, he could cuebid a king if he had one, or jump in the trump suit if he had nothing to cuebid, as here.

West

East

♠5 ♥KQJ643 ♦ J 10 7 3 ♣7 6

♠ 10 9 3 ♥2 ♦86542 ♣ J 10 9 2 South

♠Q7642 ♥ 10 9 7 ♦Q9 ♣A Q 8 South

West

♥

2

♠ ♦ ♠

North

East

Dbl.

Pass

The awkward duplication in diamonds makes your slam a 4 Pass 4 NT delicate one. Deutsch won the opening heart-king lead, Pass 5 drew trumps, played off the top diamonds, and tested the 5 All Pass clubs. If they broke, he would have had a home for one of 6 the heart losers. When they did not break, Deutsch had one more chance. He knew the hearts were breaking 6-1, Opening Lead: King so East had none left. Instead of ruffing the club loser, which would then have forced him to lead a heart sooner or later and concede two tricks in that suit, he made the opponents work for him.

♥

Pass Pass

♥

He played dummy’s last club and pitched a heart from hand. East was on play with only minor suits left. Whichever he led, Deutsch could discard his last heart from hand and ruff in dummy. Contract made! BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q7642 ♥ 10 9 7 ♦Q9 ♣A Q 8 South

West

North

♦ 2♣ 1

♠

1 ?

Pass

East Pass Pass

ANSWER: This is an awkward hand, but the best way to keep the auction open is to give false preference to two diamonds. Raising clubs gets the values across, but it is very awkward to raise a second suit with only three-card support. No other invitational call is close to describing the hand, and rebidding spades is very ugly indeed.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, July 15, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on July 29th, 2010 “The trapper shall be trapped — the biter shall be bit, Unravelled is the web that he, poor fool, hath knit!”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: E/W

♠QJ4 ♥ A 10 9 ♦ 10 9 4 ♣9 7 3 2

— Pierre Corneille At the Dyspeptics Club three of the four players will confirm that West is the weakest, South the luckiest cardholder, and North the possessor of the most acerbic tongue. But, although none of the others would admit it, East is the best card-player. In today’s deal South was caught by his deceptive defense. Declaring three no-trump, South covered the opening lead of the spade 10 in dummy and ducked East’s king. Back came a spade, West pitching a heart and declarer winning in dummy to take a diamond finesse. Because of the shortages of dummy entries, South briefly considered leading a heart to dummy’s 10, but eventually crossed to the heart ace to repeat the diamond finesse, then cashed the two remaining heart winners. On the second of these, East discarded the club queen.

West

East

♠ 10 ♥J5432 ♦652 ♣ J 10 6 5

♠K9876 ♥86 ♦K873 ♣A Q South

♠A532 ♥KQ7 ♦AQJ ♣K 8 4 South

West

North

East

♠

1 Dbl.

♣

Pass

2 3 NT

Pass Unsure whether East had one diamond and two clubs left, 2 NT or two diamonds and one club, South cashed the diamond ace next. When East followed with the king, declarer Opening Lead: 10 decided that East had the club A-J left. So South exited from hand with ace and a second spade, hoping to score his club king at the end, but East claimed the rest for down one.

Pass All Pass

♠

As North pointed out, South could have made his life a lot easier by ducking the spade 10. Now, whether West leads a heart, diamond or club, South gains an extra entry to dummy for another finesse and takes two spades, three diamonds, three hearts and a club. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠QJ4 ♥ A 10 9 ♦ 10 9 4 ♣9 7 3 2 South

♦

2 ?

West

Pass

North

East

2

♣

Pass

3 NT

Pass

ANSWER: Experts do not agree whether this sequence shows a very strong balanced hand or a long suit with guards outside, prepared to play three no-trump facing not very much. The simplest way to advance here is to bid four notrump, hoping partner will clarify his hand-type if he has extras.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, July 16, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on July 30th, 2010 “How shall your houseless heads, and unfed sides, Your looped and windowed raggedness, defend you

Dealer: West

North

Vul: None

♠KQ752 ♥4 ♦987 ♣K J 8 3

From seasons such as these?” — William Shakespeare Today’s three-no-trump deal features nice defense by the Hackett twins of England, from the Forbo-Krommenie International Teams, held in Holland.

West

East

♠ A 10 ♥ A 10 8 7 5 3 ♦ J 10 ♣ A 10 4

♠J864 ♥92 ♦Q543 ♣9 5 2 South

Jason Hackett led a low heart to Justin’s nine and declarer’s king. Declarer played a spade to dummy’s king, then a low club to her queen, which Jason ducked. A further spade forced Jason’s ace, and he now made the thoughtful return of the club 10, knowing the distribution of the suit from Justin’s initial count-signal. On winning with dummy’s king, declarer cashed the spade queen and next, trying to keep all options open, ducked a diamond. Jason won, cashed the club ace, and with dummy now dead, exited with his last diamond. South could now only achieve eight tricks.

♠93 ♥KQJ6 ♦AK62 ♣Q 7 6 South

West

3 NT

1 All Pass

♥

North

East

♠

Pass

1

♥

At the other table the first two tricks went the same way. Opening Lead: 7 However, after the spade king held, declarer returned to hand at trick three with the diamond ace to play another spade. West won, perforce, then returned the heart 10. (The diamond jack might have been a better play, but declarer can come home by ducking this and later finessing in diamonds against East.) South won the second heart, played a club to the king, and cashed the spade queen. Then came a club to the queen. West had to duck to prevent declarer from scoring three club tricks, so declarer cashed his diamond king and exited with a club. Forced to win, West was endplayed and had to present declarer with his ninth trick in hearts. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠93 ♥KQJ6 ♦AK62 ♣Q 7 6 South

West

1 NT

2

?

♣

North

East

Dbl.

Pass

ANSWER: After you have opened one no-trump, the simplest and most practical way to play your partner’s double of an overcall of two clubs is as Stayman. You can then retain transfers and all the other methods you play in an uncontested auction. Accordingly, bid two hearts now.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, July 17, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on July 31st, 2010 “Brains, your Majesty! It had none, or it would never have fallen into your trap.”

Dealer: South North

♠A986 ♥A8 ♦72 ♣K 9 7 3 2

Vul: E/W

— Aesop The advantages of using Key-Card Blackwood are that it keeps you out of slam when you need to locate the trump queen. But if the auction has told you where that card should be, a 50 percent guess may become a near certainty. However, in today’s spade slam it is not enough just to know that West is very likely to hold the trump queen; you also have to plan how to come to 12 tricks if diamonds do not yield five tricks. On the initial heart lead you will find you need to win in hand to tackle trumps to best advantage. The right way to go after the spades is to pass the jack immediately. This will hold the trick, so now you lead a club toward the king. West will take the ace and return a heart, letting you ruff a club with the trump 10.

West

East

♠Q754 ♥QJ97 ♦— ♣ A Q 10 5 4

♠3 ♥ 10 6 5 3 ♦ 10 9 8 6 4 3 ♣J 8 South

♠ K J 10 2 ♥K42 ♦AKQJ5 ♣6 South

♦ 1♠ 5♣ 6♠ 1

Now it is plain sailing: you lead out the spade king, take the marked finesse in spades, and draw the remaining trump, pitching your heart and diamond losers on the last trump and the club king. The last four tricks consist of your diamond winners. Contract made.

West

North

East

Dbl.

Rdbl.

1

Pass

4

♠ 5♥

Pass

♥

Pass Pass

All Pass

♥

Queen There are several traps you can fall into after you have Opening Lead: won the opening lead in the right hand. The most important play is to ruff the club with a high trump. If you ruff it low, you block the trump suit. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠A986 ♥A8 ♦72 ♣K 9 7 3 2 South

♣ 1♠ 1

?

West

North

Pass

1

Pass

♥ 2♦

East Pass Pass

ANSWER: Two diamonds is the fourth suit, asking you to describe your hand further and setting up a game force. Since you have pretty much shown your black-suit shape already (with 4-3-3-3 shape you would have rebid one notrump over one heart), you would do best here to bid two hearts. This suggests either two- or three-card support for partner and is the least lie.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, July 18, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 1st, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

We use Jacoby transfers in response to an opening one no-trump. When responder holds five or six diamonds or clubs, with or without an honor, what should the response be? — Minor League, Portland, Ore. ANSWER: Rather than worrying about transfers to a minor with a five-card suit only, play in no-trump at the appropriate level with 0-13 high-card points. With six in the minor, use two spades as a transfer to clubs, and either two no-trump or three clubs as a transfer to diamonds. Additionally, use Stayman then bid a minor at the three-level as game-forcing with five or more cards in the minor and a four-card major, interested in slam or some contract other than three no-trump. Dear Mr. Wolff:

♠

♥

♦

♣

With A-3, A-9, Q-7-4-2, A-J-65-4, would you open one no-trump, despite the 5-4 pattern, or would you open one club and reverse into two diamonds over a major-suit response? — Fudging, Troy, N.Y. ANSWER: This is a tough one. This is truly too good a hand to treat as a balanced minimum by opening one club and rebidding one no-trump. Equally, to open one club and reverse into two diamonds shows at least a queen more. So that leaves treating the hand as a strong notrump, right on high cards but flawed in many other ways. Oh well — nothing is perfect. Dear Mr. Wolff: What is does it signify if a hand passes, then bids at the two-level in a live auction? For example, you pass over one heart, but when your LHO bids one no-trump and your RHO bids two clubs, you bid two diamonds. — Risky Business, Lakeland, Fla.

ANSWER: This auction shows a good hand, unable to act because of length in RHO’s initially opened suit, probably very short in the second suit by your RHO. You might be 5-5 in hearts and diamonds here.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Recently you featured an auction where a call of five no-trump was described as picka-slam. Please explain how that interacts with the use of the call as the grand slam force. — Double Meaning, Mason City, Iowa ANSWER: Until the advent of the more sophisticated versions of Blackwood, there was always a problem in finding the trump honors other than the ace. That was why the grand slam force became popular. These days, unless you have a void to complicate matters, the grand slam force has been superseded. But using the call to offer a choice of slams is a sophisticated way of passing the blame to partner — and one can never have enough of them! Dear Mr. Wolff: For the first time ever in my life, when it came to the end of a deal, I had one card left and there were THREE on the board. An opponent said that there must have been a revoke, but surely there must have been a misdeal? I thought the hand should have been thrown in and redealt. — Judicial Review, Great Falls, Mont. ANSWER: At rubber bridge any hand where the cards are misdealt at the start should be thrown in. Any hand where you started out with 13 and played two at once must continue while you remain one card short. It seems more likely that the former is true, not the latter!

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, July 19, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 2nd, 2010 “War has been, and still is, the school of collectivism, the warrant of tyranny.”

Dealer: South North

♠Q54 ♥ K 10 6 3 ♦Q853 ♣7 5

Vul: All

— Charles William Eliot One aspect of good declarer play is to make life as difficult as possible for the defenders. And one way to do this is to try to put the defenders on the spot before you have revealed too much about your hand. Against today’s three no-trump, West led the club four to East’s eight and declarer’s jack, leaving the position in that suit unclear to both defenders. Declarer then cashed four rounds of diamonds, followed by three rounds of hearts. When that suit did not break, he led a spade from the table. It was not difficult for East to realize that if he ducked this, that would be declarer’s ninth trick, so East won the spade ace, cashed the heart jack, and returned a club, allowing West to take his club tricks and defeat the hand.

West

East

♠J98 ♥52 ♦974 ♣A Q 6 4 2

♠ A 10 6 ♥J984 ♦ 10 2 ♣ 10 9 8 3 South

♠K732 ♥AQ7 ♦AKJ6 ♣K J South

West

North

East

2 NT

Pass

3

♣

Pass

Declarer in the other room made it more difficult by leaving Pass 3 NT 3 diamonds alone. Of course, he did not want to go down when the contract was laydown, so he started by playing three rounds of hearts, but when they did not break, he led 4 a spade immediately. It was now more difficult for East to Opening Lead: rise with his ace since he did not know where declarer’s tricks were coming from. Whether he should have got it right or not, the fact remains that he played low on the spade, and declarer took the trick and ran for home with nine winners.

♠

All Pass

♣

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠QJ4 ♥ A 10 9 ♦ 10 8 4 2 ♣9 7 3 South

West

North

♣

1 1 NT

♥

2

All Pass

East

♥

1

ANSWER: In this auction, partner has not promised club length, so a club lead is no safer or more dangerous than any other suit. When, as here, you have a sequence, my first thought would be to lead it. Accordingly, I would try the spade queen at trick one.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 3rd, 2010 Dealer: South North

“Unfold thy face, unmask thy ray, Shine forth, bright Sun, double the day.”

♠A86532 ♥AQ9 ♦72 ♣K 6

Vul: None

— Christopher Harvey If you play two-level and four-level transfers (the latter known as Texas transfers), then a transfer followed by a raise to game can be played as a mild slam-try. That was what North-South were doing here, and South simply drove to the spade slam when he was offered the invitation.

West

East

♠4 ♥8532 ♦ K Q 10 9 3 ♣Q 9 4

♠ Q J 10 ♥ 10 7 ♦J854 ♣ 10 8 7 2 South

♠K97 ♥KJ64 ♦A6 ♣A J 5 3

Slam is secure on any lead except a diamond, and 13 tricks will materialize if trumps break, as dummy’s losing diamond will disappear on South’s fourth heart. However, West was dealt an easy diamond lead, and two rounds of trumps revealed the inevitable trump loser. That left the problem of how to eliminate the diamond loser before East gained the lead with the master trump and returned the diamond that would sink the slam. One possibility involves finessing the club jack — a straight 50-50 shot. A better plan is to cash hearts. As long as East holds three or more, dummy’s losing diamond is dispatched before East has the opportunity to ruff in.

South

West

North

1 NT

Pass

2

♠ 6♠ 2

♥ 4♠

Pass

East Pass Pass

All Pass

Opening Lead:

♦ King

An even better chance exists, which involves combining plays in clubs and hearts. Cash the two top clubs, and if the queen has not dropped, ruff a club. If the queen now drops, then dummy’s diamond is jettisoned on the club jack. And if the queen fails to fall, the heart play is probably still available. This line of play succeeds not only on the layout of this hand, but also on about four out of five possible defensive distributions. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠A86532 ♥AQ9 ♦72 ♣K 6 South

West

North

East

1

Dbl.

Rdbl.

Pass

Pass

2

♦

Dbl.

Pass

♠

?

ANSWER: Yours not to reason why! Your partner has suggested defending and you are looking at a semibalanced hand with a weak spade suit. Thus there is no reason to consider doing anything other than following partner’s suggestion, and defending.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 4th, 2010 “Soldiers are sworn to action; they must win Some flaming, fatal climax with their lives.”

Dealer: South North

♠Q ♥KJ842 ♦Q97 ♣K J 7 3

Vul: N/S

— Siegfried Sassoon Do not be afraid to pre-empt to the limit with hands like South’s. You do better to get into the auction immediately with hands like this; it actually works out to be safer to steal the opponents’ bidding space immediately than to let them exchange information and then bid.

West

East

♠A3 ♥ Q 10 9 6 3 ♦A2 ♣ A 10 4 2

♠J4 ♥A5 ♦8543 ♣Q 9 8 6 5 South ♠ K5 210 9 8 7 6

Not that four spades is an easy contract. Cover up the East-West hands and plan the play after West leads the diamond ace, followed by another diamond. How do you rate your chances? Without the threat of the diamond ruff, you would be in reasonable shape, but now it looks as though you will go down if East has either major-suit ace. This is because he will be able to obtain the lead cheaply and give his partner a diamond ruff. However, you do have a cost-free extra chance if East has the heart ace and not the club ace. Give yourself a moment to think about what that might be.

♥7 ♦ K J 10 6 ♣— South

West

North

♠

4

East All Pass

♦

Win the second diamond in dummy and play the club king. Opening Lead: Ace If East plays the ace, you ruff and are no worse off than before. However, if East plays low, you can discard your heart and East can no longer gain the lead to deliver the ruff since you have no hearts left. This maneuver is called the Scissors Coup, the “unkindest cut of all,” at least from your opponents’ perspective. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q ♥KJ842 ♦Q97 ♣K J 7 3 South

West

North

East

♣

1 1

♥

Pass

1 NT

Pass

?

♠ 2♦ 1

Pass Pass

ANSWER: Although there are many situations where it makes sense to play a change of suit as forcing, this is not one of them. Your partner had cue-bids or jumps available with a strong hand; this sequence sounds as if he has extra shape but no extra high-cards. It feels right to pass now while you are still at a sensible level, since diamonds is surely your best fit.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, July 22, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 5th, 2010 “True wit is Nature to advantage dressed, What oft was thought, but ne’er so well expressed.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: All

— Alexander Pope Today’s deal comes in the form of a problem. South is in six spades, West leads the trump 10, and East will follow suit to the first trump. Clearly this contract will never go down if the club finesse succeeds. But how can declarer make this contract regardless of the position of the club king?

West

East

♠ 10 9 ♥J973 ♦AJ95 ♣ K 10 8

♠J ♥ Q 10 8 5 4 2 ♦ 10 7 3 ♣9 6 3 South

♠AQ8743 ♥AK6 ♦Q6 ♣A J

The answer is that on careful play the contract will always come home, provided West has the diamond ace in addition to the club king. South wins the trump in hand and plays the diamond six out of his hand at once. If West rises with the ace, the club jack will later be discarded on dummy’s diamond king. So West ducks his ace, and the diamond king wins the trick. Declarer returns to hand in trumps and now throws two low diamonds away on the top hearts. He ruffs the third heart in dummy and exits in diamonds to endplay West. If East holds the diamond ace, the club finesse will be needed.

♠K652 ♥— ♦K842 ♣Q 7 5 4 2

South

♠ 6♠ 1

West

North

East

Pass

3

♠

Pass

All Pass

Opening Lead:

♠10

Note that it would do declarer no good to play a diamond toward the queen at an early stage of the hand. Either West has the diamond ace — in which case he can exit with a diamond safely — or East has the diamond ace. In the latter case East will be able to obtain the lead later on in the hand and exit with a club to force declarer to take the finesse. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ 10 9 ♥J973 ♦AJ95 ♣ K 10 8 South

West

♦ 1♠ 1

♥

1 ?

North

East

Dbl.

Pass

Pass

2

♠

ANSWER: When your partner failed to compete to two hearts over two diamonds, he suggested a minimum hand. Although there seem to be a lot of high cards in the deck, the opponents obviously have a decent spade fit, and hearts do not rate to be splitting for your side. Pass, and take your medicine.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, July 23, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 6th, 2010 “A wise player ought to accept his throws and score them, not bewail his luck.”

Dealer: North North

♠QJ4 ♥KQ9 ♦A54 ♣A K Q J

Vul: All

— Sophocles In today’s deal the methods played by North-South accidentally nullified the effect of the transfer system they were playing over two no-trump. Because South was marked with at least a five-card heart suit and probably a lack of entry cards, it was clear for North to convert back to four hearts rather than passing three no-trump, and indeed the suit game looked comfortable enough.

West

East

♠ A 10 8 3 2 ♥7 ♦ J 10 7 3 ♣8 6 5

♠K765 ♥A532 ♦K62 ♣7 4 South

♠9 ♥ J 10 8 6 4 ♦Q98 ♣ 10 9 3 2

However, the defenders were on the ball, and the combination of an accurate defense and the bad trump break was enough to doom the contract. After winning the diamond king, East knew that the contract could not be set unless West had the spade ace, and the auction had marked West with that card. If South had two spades, the contract could be set no matter which spade East led. But if South had only one spade, East saw that he had to lead the spade king first and then continue leading spades. South had to trump the second spade, and was down to four hearts. When East won the heart ace, he could lead a third spade and force South to ruff again, setting up his long trump for the setting trick.

South

♥* 3♦ 2

3 NT

West

North

East

2

♣

Pass

Pass

2 NT

Pass

Pass

3

Pass

♥ 4♥

Pass All Pass

*0-3 points

Opening Lead:

♦ Jack

Note that if East’s first lead is a low spade, dummy’s queen and jack of spades are equal against East’s king. South will get to ruff away East’s honor. He cannot be forced to ruff a second time, and so can draw trumps with impunity. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ A 10 8 3 2 ♥7 ♦ J 10 7 3 ♣8 6 5 South

West

North

♣ 2♥ 1

♠

1 ?

♦

2

East

♦

1

Pass

ANSWER: For the time being you have no problem; your partner has shown a good hand with long clubs and four hearts. You can give preference to three clubs and leave it up to your partner whether he wants to bid on. Do not bid no-trump — you have no idea where your tricks will come from, despite your diamond guard.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, July 24, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 7th, 2010 Dealer: South North

“Her reasoning is full of tricks

Vul: None

And butterfly suggestions. I know no point to which she sticks; She begs the simplest questions.” — Alfred Cochrane In the San Remo European Open Teams, Romania’s Veronel Lungu (West) and Viorel Micescu (East) produced a stunning defense against what appeared to be an unbeatable contract. West led the spade two against three no-trump, and declarer played low from dummy, taking East’s jack with the queen. When he played a diamond to the king, East won with the ace and played another spade, which declarer ducked to West’s king. Now West made the farsighted play of switching to a club — he could see that the spade suit by itself did not offer enough prospects for the defense. When declarer played low from dummy, East put in the queen, and when that held, he switched back to spades.

♠ 10 8 3 ♥A4 ♦KQJ72 ♣K J 6

West

East

♠K542 ♥9832 ♦ 10 6 ♣A 8 4

♠J76 ♥J6 ♦A9854 ♣Q 9 3 South

♠AQ9 ♥ K Q 10 7 5 ♦3 ♣ 10 7 5 2 South

♥ 3♣ 1

3 NT

West

North

Pass

2

♦ 3♠

Pass

East Pass Pass

All Pass

Opening Lead:

♠2

The defenders were now assured of four tricks, but it also it appeared that declarer was fated to make his contract, thanks to the fall of the heart jack. However, when declarer, having taken the spade ace, crossed to dummy with the heart ace, the heart jack made an unexpected appearance. Convinced by East’s falsecard that he could no longer hope for five heart tricks, declarer decided that he needed to establish the ninth trick in clubs. As West had failed to clear the spade suit, it seemed logical to place the ace with East, so declarer played the club king. However, it was West who took the trick, and his last spade defeated the unbeatable game. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠ 10 8 3 ♥A4 ♦KQJ72 ♣K J 6 South

♦

1 Pass ?

West

North

Dbl.

1 Dbl.

Pass

♥

East

♣

2 Pass

ANSWER: Your partner’s double shows cards; it is not for penalties. You have a choice of ways forward, given that you must not pass with only three trumps. You can rebid your chunky diamonds or support hearts, the former looking preferable. Even if you had denied three hearts, those diamonds look as if they are supposed to be trumps.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, July 25, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 8th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

I thought I understood inverted minors until I bid it and later heard a variety of explanations for it. I thought it showed unlimited strength, natural support, and no four-card major. What is the most useful way to play inverted minors with Standard American? — Puzzled, Sequim, Wash. ANSWER: Your explanation is basically correct. It is easier to play the inverted minors as invitational or better. (Either hand can limit the action and stop in two notrump or three of the agreed minor if he limits his hand at his next turn.) But you can, if you want, play the inverted raise as game-forcing, in which case you need to find an artificial call to show a limit raise, perhaps a jump in the unbid minor.

ANSWER: The cuebid here is typically forcing (when below three no-trump), asking for a stopper in the opponents’ suit. If your partner has huge diamond support and short spades, he could jump to three spades — a splinter bid — or he could bid two spades, then bid on over three no-trump.

Dear Mr. Wolff: I’ve been reading your column for years, keeping an eye out for mistakes or for something I could comment on. (I wrote to you once about what I thought was a mistake, but it wasn’t.) At last I have found one in today’s column. There are not two diamond kings in the deck. Gotcha!!! — Sleuth, North Little Rock, Ark.

Holding K-7, Q-J-9-4 A-9-7-3, Q-7-3, you open one diamond in third seat. Your LHO bids one spade, which gets passed back to you. What action should you take?

ANSWER: I wish I could be humble enough to say mea culpa — but I am not, I can’t and I won’t! When the column is first written, it is run through an automatic check that insures that all deals have 52 different cards, 13 per hand. Then it is edited, with corrections at every stage. Next the paper gets it, and at that point the occasional computer glitch or human error creeps in. We have no control.

— Mousetrap, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Dear Mr. Wolff:

ANSWER: This is a vicious problem. Partner’s hand will be good only if he has a penalty double of spades, and you are looking at enough in spades to make this unlikely — and partner is a passed hand to boot. So I’d pass. If partner does have good spades, who is to say that we also have good defense against a club contract?

With A-3, 9-7-3, K-Q-7-3-2, 108-3, what is the right response to a onediamond opening? And what would you do if you had a one-heart overcall on your right?

Dear Mr. Wolff:

♠

♥

♦

♣

Dear Mr. Wolff: Recently you showed a deal where your partner opened one club, the next hand overcalled one spade, and you bid two diamonds. When your partner bid two spades, was he asking for a control in spades or showing one? What are your obligations? — Cue Tips, Miami, Fla.

♠

♥

♦

♣

— Tipping Point, Atlanta, Ga. ANSWER: In all cases you would like to upgrade this hand to a limit raise of diamonds. The simplest way facing an opening bid is a jump raise in diamonds, or an inverted minor-suit raise if you play that method. If the opponents come in, you can cuebid in hearts to show a limit raise, assuming that a jump raise would be more shape and fewer high cards.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, July 26, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 9th, 2010 “Thou whom chance may hither lead

Dealer: North North

♠ A 10 9 ♥Q75 ♦ A K 10 8 4 ♣9 7

Vul: All

Be thou clad in russet weed, Be thou decked in silken stole, Grave these counsels on thy soul.” — Robert Burns To mark the Summer Nationals now taking place in New Orleans, all the deals this week come from last summer’s championships.

West

East

♠QJ4 ♥ 10 8 6 3 2 ♦92 ♣Q 8 4

♠532 ♥AKJ9 ♦Q765 ♣6 3 South

♠K876 ♥4 ♦J3 ♣ A K J 10 5 2

After East’s reasonable but ill-timed overcall, North-South were warned against playing three no-trump. Indeed, declarer, Eric Leong, had already assured himself a reasonable result simply by playing five clubs. East-West were using third-and-fifth leads. On the lead of the heart two, East won the jack and played a top heart. Leong ruffed, then guessed very well to play trumps from the top. West won the club queen — dummy pitching the heart queen and East the heart ace — and exited with a heart. Leong ruffed, advanced the diamond jack to dummy’s king, cashed the diamond ace (noting the fall of the nine), then ran the diamond 10, pitching a spade, and claimed 11 tricks when it held.

South

West

North

♦

♣ 3♠ 5♣ 2

East

♥

1

1

3

Pass

Pass

Pass

4

♣

Pass

♥

All Pass

Opening Lead:

♥2

In retrospect, East should have found the spade switch at trick two. While this might have picked up a vulnerable queen in partner’s hand, declarer was surely marked with only four spades — so dummy’s threatening diamond spots required a spade shift at trick two to dislodge that entry from dummy. If East shifts to a spade, then either declarer will give up dummy’s spade entry at once, or West will dislodge it later. Finally, might West have considered a devious shift to the spade jack at trick six? If declarer gets that right and works out how to play diamonds from there, good luck to him! LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q9 ♥ 10 9 5 ♦J753 ♣ 10 7 5 2 South

West

North Dbl.

East

ANSWER: I’m not convinced that a club lead is right with such a weak suit. The auction suggests partner has four decent hearts, so maybe it is right to lead the heart 10, hoping to get on lead again in spades for a second heart play, if necessary.

♦ 2♥

♠

1 Pass All Pass

1 Pass

3 NT

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 10th, 2010 “One must not try to know the unknowable, though one was quite powerless to ignore it.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: All

♠QJ ♥AJ7 ♦ J 10 9 7 6 4 3 ♣K

— Henry Adams All this week’s deals come from last year’s Summer Nationals, marking the ongoing tournament in New Orleans this year. Playing in a 4-3 trump fit always seems to lead to a lot of hard work. This deal from the first semifinal session of last summer’s von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs was no exception.

West

East

♠ 10 9 2 ♥ 10 6 4 3 ♦A85 ♣J 6 5

♠AK8543 ♥98 ♦K2 ♣Q 9 4 South

♠76 ♥KQ52 ♦Q ♣ A 10 8 7 3 2

Three diamonds looks to be an easy partscore for NorthSouth, but the contract of three hearts did produce an attractive alternative, though it was difficult to play. South was treated to a defense of two rounds of spades, then a deceptive but inaccurate shift to a low diamond. (Playing the diamond king and another diamond might have worked out better). West won the diamond ace and returned a diamond, which South ruffed. Spades appeared to be 6-3 and East had at least two diamonds, so it seemed too much to expect a trump break. Accordingly, South cashed the heart king and went to the heart jack to run the diamonds.

South

♣ 2♥ 2

West

North

East

Pass

Pass

1

Pass

2

♦ 3♥

♠

2

Opening Lead:

♠

Pass All Pass

♠10

As soon as West ruffed in, he could do no better than return a spade. South could ruff in hand and enter dummy with the club king to draw the last trump and claim. If West had discarded all his clubs on the next three diamonds, South would still have taken two of the last three tricks for his contract. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠76 ♥KQ52 ♦Q ♣ A 10 8 7 3 2 South

♣

2 ?

West

♠

2

North

East

1

♦

Pass

Pass

Pass

ANSWER: It seems excessive to bid three hearts here, driving to game on what may be only a partscore deal. Simply rebid three clubs and be prepared to play a club or diamond partscore if that is what partner wants to do. There was certainly a case of sorts for responding one heart initially with this hand, but I much prefer bidding my length first.

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 11th, 2010 “Thus the best human intelligence is still decidedly barbarous; it fights in heavy armour and keeps a fool at court.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: All

♠ K Q J 10 4 ♥Q53 ♦ J 10 7 5 ♣A

— George Santayana To celebrate the Summer Nationals currently taking place in New Orleans, all this week’s deals come from last year’s event. Both tables did the right thing in the auction on this deal from the Senior Swiss. However, a slight difference in declarer’s tactics at trick two earned the John Swanson team a game swing.

West

East

♠832 ♥9764 ♦KQ32 ♣9 4

♠96 ♥ A 10 2 ♦A4 ♣ K 10 8 6 5 3 South

♠A75 ♥KJ8 ♦986 ♣Q J 7 2

The North-South pairs at each table did well to land in three no-trump after North had opened one spade and East overcalled two clubs. At least that game had chances! When Rich Oshlag was East, his wife, Mary, led the club nine. Declarer won dummy’s club ace and advanced the heart queen. Rich ducked, won the next heart, and cashed the diamond ace and club king. He then led his other diamond, perhaps more in hope than expectation. But his hopes were answered, and when West produced the K-Q of diamonds, that was a swift down one.

South 2 NT

West

North

Pass

1 3 NT

♠

Pass

Opening Lead:

East

♣

2 All Pass

♣9

At the other table, declarer Sid Brownstein won the club ace and could see that if he developed his game-going tricks in hearts, he would force the defenders to go after diamonds, making it almost impossible to prevent the defenders from taking five tricks. So Brownstein, deciding to throw up a smokescreen, played a low diamond from dummy at once. Can you blame East for ducking? I can’t, and now the diamond blockage meant the defenders could cash only four of their five tricks. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠A75 ♥KJ8 ♦986 ♣Q J 7 2 South

West

♣

1 ?

North

♦

1

East

♠

1

ANSWER: The simplest way to get your values across is to bid one no-trump. Although you might contemplate raising diamonds, your stoppers in the black suits and your decent highcard values argue for trying for no-trump. Your partner might expect more offense and less defense if you raise diamonds directly.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, July 29, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 12th, 2010 “To mortify and even to injure an opponent, reproach him with the very defect or vice … you feel … in yourself.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: None

— Ivan Turgenev To mark the Summer Nationals currently taking place in New Orleans, here is a deal from last year’s championships. Steve and Betty Bloom are one of the most successful married partnerships playing bridge in the United States. Steve demonstrated his skill in this deal from early play in the Spingold Knockout Teams.

West

East

♠ 10 7 ♥Q863 ♦ 10 6 ♣Q 7 5 4 3

♠AKJ962 ♥942 ♦K85 ♣9 South

♠843 ♥ A 10 5 ♦AQ732 ♣ J 10

After Steve opened the South hand with a weak no-trump, North bid puppet Stayman, looking for a five-card major in her partner’s hand. East overcalled in spades, and now, with no spade stop, it was easy for the Blooms to avoid three no-trump. It might have been less clear why it was necessary to play four hearts on the 3-3 fit. As to blame, as Sherlock Holmes said, “I think we must ask for an amnesty in that direction.”

♠Q5 ♥KJ7 ♦J94 ♣A K 8 6 2

South

West

North

1NT*

Pass

2

Pass

Pass

♦ 4♥

♣ 3♣ 3♠

Pass

The defenders, top-class Polish internationals, started with a spade to East’s jack and a helpful (to Bloom) shift to the club nine, covered by the 10 and ducked.

3

Bloom played a heart to the jack and gave up a spade, ruffing the spade return in dummy, West pitching a club.

Opening Lead:

East

♠

2

Pass Pass

All Pass

*Weak

♠10

Bloom then played a diamond to the queen, and played the diamond jack covered by the king and ace, West’s 10 falling. He drew two rounds of trumps ending in hand and then passed the club jack, ducked all round and played a third diamond. West could take his heart trick when he wanted, but with only clubs left, had to concede the last three tricks to dummy. Contract made! BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠843 ♥ A 10 5 ♦AQ732 ♣ J 10 South

West

North Pass

Pass ?

♥

1

1 NT

East

♦ 2♥ 1

ANSWER: Your partner has shown 5-5 in the black suits, since he is a passed hand. (If he were an unpassed hand, this would show a strong no-trump.) Even though all your cards are in the opponents’ suits, a two-spade bid seems reasonable. However, if your partner is going to bid on regardless of his hand, maybe passing would be wiser.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, July 30, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 13th, 2010 “Antoine Magnan, a French zoologist, in 1934 made some very careful studies of bumblebee flight and came to the conclusion that bumblebees cannot fly at all!”

Dealer: South North

♠J94 ♥A5 ♦KJ7 ♣Q J 8 3 2

Vul: All

— General Motors sign All this week’s deals come from last year’s Summer Nationals. Phillip Cronier of France showed me this deal from his losing Spingold Knockout Teams match. How would you play four hearts on the lead of the spade seven (third-and-fifth best)? To enjoy this deal fully, cover up the East and West cards.

West

East

♠Q87632 ♥9 ♦ A 10 5 2 ♣ 10 7

♠ 10 ♥ Q 10 8 3 ♦Q964 ♣K 9 6 4 South

♠AK5 ♥KJ7642 ♦83 ♣A 5

I think it is right to put up the jack, but at the table, declarer played the spade nine from dummy at the first trick, which was covered by the 10. He won the spade ace and led a diamond to the jack, which lost to the queen. East now emerged with the heart three. Plan the play. Clearly the club finesse was onside, or else East would have shifted to a club. And either the spades were 6-1 or East had the spade queen, explaining why that suit wasn’t continued. Does that help? Declarer was unwilling to take the heart finesse, since if the heart jack was covered by the queen, the last entry to dummy would vanish. At the table, declarer decided to play for the diamond ace to be onside and to hope there would be nothing too hostile in trumps.

South

♥ 2♥ 4♥ 1

West

North

Pass

2

♣ 3♥

Pass

East Pass Pass

All Pass

Opening Lead:

♠7

He rose with the heart king, led a diamond up, and found both good news and bad. The diamond ace was indeed onside, but he now had two trump losers he could not avoid. Without the heart shift, declarer would have had no losing options. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠Q87632 ♥9 ♦ A 10 5 2 ♣ 10 7 South

West

North

♣

1 ?

East

♦

1

ANSWER: Even if you play weak jumps in competition, this hand feels much more like a bid of one spade than two spades. With significant defense and a poor suit of your own, the weak jump would be misleading. And if partner repeats his clubs, you surely have a sensible alternative trump suit.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, July 31, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 14th, 2010 “Up goes the lark, as if all were jolly! Over the duck-pond the willow shakes.

Dealer: South North

♠95 ♥A842 ♦K953 ♣K 7 4

Vul: All

Easy to think that grieving’s folly.” — George Meredith “Duck or no dinner” is a British expression meaning “all or nothing.” In a Spingold Knockout Teams match from last summer’s national championships, it was Steve Bloom who produced the duck, and it was his opponents who had no dinner. His play won the match for his team, and so his opponents got no dinner, because they had to prepare for their evening match. Bloom (South) reached three no-trump after West had bid hearts. The lead of the heart king put him in a perilous spot, but East’s jack was a welcome sight. Bloom ducked the heart king, then the heart queen, East discarding a low spade, suggesting an initial holding of five spades. West was now unable to continue hearts without costing himself a trick. He shifted to the club nine, ducked all around.

West

East

♠J2 ♥ K Q 10 7 6 5 ♦Q8 ♣9 8 5

♠ Q 10 8 7 4 ♥J ♦J64 ♣ Q J 10 2 South

♠AK63 ♥93 ♦ A 10 7 2 ♣A 6 3 South

West

North

East

1 NT

2

♥

3 NT

All Pass

At this point Bloom had a fair idea of the defenders’ handKing patterns. He decided to play for West to be 2-6-2-3, with a Opening Lead: diamond honor. Accordingly, he cashed his clubs and spades, went to the diamond ace, and had reached a five-card ending in which West was down to the bare diamond queen and four hearts.

♥

Bloom ducked a diamond to West, who was endplayed to lead a heart into dummy’s tenace and concede the rest. Declarer won the heart cheaply and cashed the heart ace, pitching his two spade losers, and had two diamond winners at the death. In retrospect East might have done better to pitch a club at trick two. Declarer might then have misguessed his opponents’ hand patterns. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds:

♠AK63 ♥93 ♦ A 10 7 2 ♣A 6 3 South

West

North

East

♦

2 ?

ANSWER: Your hand looks just too good to sell out by passing. Bid two no-trump natural, showing a good 15 to 18. You may have a minimum hand, but that does not mean that bidding will lead to a bad result.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, August 1, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 15th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

Dear Mr. Wolff:

What are attitude leads? How do they work, and are they used only against no-trump contracts?

You recently posed this bidding problem: A player with ♠ A-5-3, ♥ J-5, ♦ A-J-9-7-6-2, ♣ K-Q made a two-diamond overcall over one spade. When he received a raise to three diamonds, you advocated a cuebid of three spades. Does this promise a spade stop or deny one? What about the hearts? Don’t you need to worry about them too?

— Adam Ant, Fort Walton Beach, Fla. ANSWER: Attitude leads are generally used only at no-trump. Instead of leading fourth highest, the smaller the card you lead the better your suit. So you might lead third from four, lowest from five to an honor, but a higher spot-card from five small. Dear Mr. Wolff: In a club duplicate game, I held ♠ Q-10-9-85-3, ♥ J-2, ♦ A-Q-J-10, ♣ 4. My partner opened one heart, RHO overcalled two clubs, and I bid two spades. When my partner rebid three diamonds, was I right to raise diamonds (and would that be forcing?), or should I have repeated spades? I followed the latter course and played in three spades when five diamonds was a making spot. — Johnny One-Note, Montreal

— Openhearted, Springfield, Mich. ANSWER: Judging from the auction, the opponents MIGHT run hearts. But if you focus on getting to no-trump with the danger suit (spades) stopped and don’t worry about unbid suits, you will generally be right. In the auction shown, the cuebid suggests something in spades but no more than one stopper. As a general rule, if you have space, you can temporize (with a three-heart call) without a stop and cuebid with about half a stop. This gets you to notrump when it is right more frequently than just bidding no-trump with a single stop while probing without a stop. Dear Mr. Wolff:

ANSWER: I would have raised three diamonds to four — with 100 honors I think I must show support. This would let partner bid four spades with a doubleton honor — he has already almost denied three trumps when he did not raise spades at once, hasn’t he? Support with support is a valid concept even at one’s second turn, and yes, I think it would have to be forcing here.

You showed a deal in which the opening bidder held ♠ J-7-5, ♥ A-K-9-7-3-2, ♦ 7-3-2, ♣ 9. You recommended a jump to four clubs after opening two hearts and hearing a twospade response. While I agree with that, how should your partner’s response of two spades differ from a response of two notrump?

Dear Mr. Wolff:

— Subtle Difference, Rockford, Ill.

What does an adjusted score at duplicate mean, and how or why is it awarded?

ANSWER: The responses differ not in terms of high cards, but in terms of whether it is more important to tell partner about your hand (by bidding a suit) as opposed to asking partner about his. Normally the relayer is balanced or has heart support, though he may have a minor he does not want to emphasize. A player who bids a suit tends not to have primary support for partner.

— Maladjusted, Anchorage, Alaska ANSWER: When, in the bidding or play, an infraction occurs that may have led to a player or partnership being damaged, the director should be called to the table and asked to adjudicate. If he decides that without the infraction a different result would or might have taken place, he is empowered to change the result to protect the nonoffenders. This generally results in the nonoffenders getting the benefit of the doubt, but the issue is an exceedingly complex one and hard to summarize in this limited space.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, August 2, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 16th, 2010 “He is all fault who hath no fault at all.”

Dealer: North North

Vul: E/W — Alfred, Lord Tennyson In today’s deal South employed some finesse in the auction, but fell down in the play. After North’s light but entirely sound jump-raise to three hearts, South’s fancy turned immediately to thoughts of a grand slam. He asked for aces, then bid five spades over the response to get his partner to bid five no-trump. At this point the six-club call asked North to bid the grand slam with a third-round club control. Had South bid six clubs over five hearts, that would have focused on the secondround club control. As a general rule, after asking for aces, you should use five no-trump directly to ask for kings (either specific or the number of kings) and direct-suit bids to look for secondround control in the named suit. The indirect route followed in today’s auction asked for third-round control in the named suit. Seven hearts looked like an excellent spot. Declarer won the opening heart lead, drew trumps, then went after clubs. The 5-0 split now proved too much for him, leaving an inescapable spade loser at the end.

♠8 ♥AJ54 ♦K92 ♣ A Q 10 4 2

West

East

♠KJ32 ♥9872 ♦J8743 ♣—

♠Q7654 ♥3 ♦ 10 6 ♣J9875 South

♠ A 10 9 ♥ K Q 10 6 ♦AQ5 ♣K63

South

West

1♥ 4 NT 5♠ 6♣

Pass Pass Pass Pass

North 1♣ 3♥ 5♥ 5 NT 7♥

East Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass

Opening Lead: ♥ 2

Unlucky — but there was a simple, and painless, route to 13 tricks. Win the heart lead in dummy, immediately play the spade and ruff a spade. Cross back to South with a second trump, ruff a second spade, and come back to hand with a diamond to draw the last trump. You can safely claim the rest now, without needing the clubs to split. ANSWER: There is some temptation to lead the spade ace, but that would be necessary only if the defense needs to cash out at once (perhaps if dummy has a long suit). I suggest defending along passive lines, which argues for a trump lead. My second choice would be a small diamond rather than the 10. It is likely that someone holds a singleton or doubleton diamond honor.

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ A 10 9 3 ♥Q75 ♦ 10 9 6 2 ♣83 South

West

2♠ All Pass

3♣

North 1♠ 3♠

East 2♣ 4♣

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, August 3, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 17th, 2010 “Example is always more efficacious than precept.”

Dealer: North

North

Vul: All

♠ A Q 10 8 4

— Samuel Johnson In today’s six-heart deal West, who judged well not to save in seven diamonds, had no good reason to lead anything but his diamond ace. He gave much thought to continuing with a second diamond, but was afraid of conceding a critical ruff and sluff. Eventually West shifted to a club. Declarer won this in dummy, crossed to hand with a top heart, and ruffed the losing diamond for himself with the trump queen. East decided that his best chance to defeat the hand was to find West with the spade king, so he pitched one of his small spades on this trick. Now declarer drew trumps and established a long spade to set up a discard for his club loser. A club discard by East at trick four would have worked no better. After drawing trumps and cashing two top spades to find the bad news, South would have known West had started with one spade, nine diamonds and no hearts, and thus had two clubs left. His only chance to make the hand would have been to drop the missing club honor.

♥Q876 ♦K ♣ A K 10 West

East

♠5 ♥— ♦

♠J9732 ♥9542 ♦7 ♣QJ9

AQ10986542

♣832 South

♠K6 ♥ A K J 10 3 ♦J3 ♣7654

South

West

2♥

5♦

North 1♠ 6♥

East Pass All Pass

However, the winning defense is not hard to spot when Opening Lead: ♦ A you think about it. East must underruff dummy at trick four! Now East gets to discard after dummy on the run of the trumps, and simply keeps equal length with North in the black suits. So long as West holds on to his precious guard in clubs, his eight will score the setting trick. ANSWER: Your partner has made a takeout double, and although it is tempting to repeat the hearts, I would bid my clubs now, planning to reintroduce my hearts if the opponents compete to three diamonds. This way, you get both of your suits in at a sensible level. Your partner either has clubs or has at least tolerance for hearts.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ K6 ♥ A K J 10 3 ♦ J3 ♣7654 South

West

North

1♥ ?

2♦

Dbl.

East 1♦ Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, August 4, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 18th, 2010 Dealer: North North

“The music in my heart I bore,

Vul: None

Long after it was heard no more.”

♠873 ♥A98 ♦ 10 ♣ A 10 7 6 5

— William Wordsworth During the 2006 European Championships, Peter Schaltz of Denmark chalked up his 500th representative match for the Danish Open Team. He has a family tradition of bridge: both his parents were internationals, he first made the Danish team with his cousin, and his current partner is his wife, Dorthe. What is more, his son Martin already has gained a World Youth Teams Silver Medal.

4 West

East

♠AKQJ9 ♥54 ♦4 ♣KQJ93

♠ 10 6 5 4 ♥Q72 ♦J9632 ♣— South

This hand, from the 2001 European Championships, is Schaltz’s favorite. He ended in six hearts doubled after West had shown at least 5-5 in the black suits and East had supported spades. He was fortunate to receive a spade lead rather than a club — and yes, West might have worked out South had a spade void. Schaltz ruffed and saw that if trumps broke 3-2, West would have a singleton diamond. He could not negotiate two diamond ruffs in dummy and also deal with trumps. But Schaltz saw one legitimate chance — that West’s singleton diamond was the nine. Then just one ruff would set up the suit.

2

♠— ♥ K J 10 6 3 ♦AKQ87

5

♣82

South 1♥ 5♥ 6♥

West 2♥ 5♠ Dbl.

North 4♥ Pass All Pass

East 4♠ Pass

Opening Lead: ♠ K A heart was played to the ace, then came the diamond 10. East instinctively played low, and so did Schaltz. When the 10 held, Schaltz finessed his heart 10, ruffed a diamond, and returned to hand via a spade ruff. He pulled the last trump, and cashed his winners for plus 1,210. Remarkably, that was also the Danish score in the other room, where the contract was six spades doubled, steered home after the unfortunate lead of the club ace. ANSWER: Your hand is seriously unsuitable for a weak jump overcall. You have aces and defense, and you also have a trump suit where you might easily lose four tricks to a hostile distribution. Change your hand to nothing but six clubs to the K-Q, and at least you would have a reason to pre-empt. But this hand screams defense, not offense; even an overcall of two clubs would be inappropriate.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 873 ♥A98 ♦ 10 ♣ A 10 7 6 5 4 South ?

West Pass

North Pass

East 1♠

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, August 5, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 19th, 2010 “When they are there, I neglect God and his angels for the noise of a fly, for the rattling of a coach, for the whining of a door.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: All

♠ Q 10 ♥K543 ♦J7 ♣97642

— John Donne In today’s four-heart contract from Julian Pottage’s “Win the Big Match” (available from www.sterlingpub.com), you know West holds both minor-suit aces, so there is little point in leading a club up to the king. Can you instead organize a throw-in on West? It looks natural to win the heart in hand, cash the spades, then lead the heart six to dummy’s king. Now you may put West on play by running the diamond jack — but what good does that do? West wins with the diamond queen, cashes the ace, and exits with a third round, leaving you with two club losers. Instead, your exit has to take place in clubs.

West

East

♠864 ♥ 10 9 ♦AQ94 ♣ A Q 10 3

♠J9753 2

♥8 ♦ 10 6 3 2 ♣J5 South

♠AK ♥AQJ76

2

♦K85 ♣K8

Strip off the spades and trumps as before, but then lead a low club from dummy. If East plays low on the trick, you South West North must restrain yourself from rising with the king — West 1 NT* Pass Pass 2♠ might win with the ace and get off play with a low club to Dbl. All Pass East. Instead, insert the club eight. If the cards lie as you 4♥ *12-14 hope, West can win the club cheaply, but now what? A diamond or spade lead will eliminate a diamond loser. Opening Lead: ♥ 10 Cashing the club ace provides a temporary escape, but with the club jack falling from East, West is then really stuck. Whether he leads a low or high club, one ruff sets up the suit, giving you two diamond discards on the clubs since you can lead your heart two to dummy’s three.

ANSWER: Partner is likely to have extra shape, additional high cards or both, for his takeout double. You have a decent holding for a passed hand, but not really enough to invite to game with a call of three hearts. Since your most likely game is in hearts, not clubs, try to bid two hearts without giving away that you have a problem, and hope that partner can act again.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ Q 10 ♥K543 ♦ J7 ♣97642 South

West

Pass

Pass

North 1♣ Dbl.

East 2♥ 3♠

East 2♦ Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, August 6, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 20th, 2010 “Was it a vision or a waking dream? Fled is that music: — Do I wake or sleep?”

Dealer: South North

Vul: N/S

♠AK5 ♥ J 10 9 4 ♦ J 10 3 2 ♣ 10 9

— John Keats South had a comfortable opening call of two clubs, and over the three-level intervention, his partner’s pass showed values. (With a really weak hand, North would have doubled three clubs.) When the auction reverted to South, he decided to bid his hearts rather than double for takeout.

West

East

♠982 ♥— ♦Q986 ♣AQJ86

♠ 10 7 3 ♥7653 ♦754 ♣432

5

South

Now North’s jump to five hearts asked South to bid slam with a club control. With only a second-round control and a minimum (in context), South might well have taken the low road, but the slam bonus was an irresistible lure — he let his good trumps persuade him to act. West led a passive spade against six hearts, and South thought he could count 12 tricks. If trumps were going to behave, he had six trump tricks, two diamonds and four spades. Just in case it was not his lucky day, declarer needed to plan how to cope with a 4-0 trump break. The winning line took him a moment to find, but he spotted it eventually.

♠QJ64 ♥AKQ82 ♦AK ♣K7

South 2♣ 3♥ 6♥

West 3♣ Pass All Pass

North Pass 5♥

East Pass Pass

Opening Lead: ♠ 9

South won the spade in dummy, then led a low heart to his ace, discovering the bad trump split. He cashed both top diamonds and went to the spade king to ruff a diamond high, crossed back to the heart nine to ruff another diamond high, then went back to the heart 10 to draw the last trump, pitching a club from hand. He could run the spades now and concede trick 13 to the club ace — a perfect dummy reversal. ANSWER: Despite the opponents’ energetic bidding, you should be happy that you have some extras in high cards as well as decent shape to offer partner. Although the three-heart call may be your partner’s only game-try, you should accept the offer by raising to four hearts and let partner go back to four spades if he wants to.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ AK5 ♥ J 10 9 4 ♦ J 10 3 2 ♣ 10 9 South 2♠ ?

West 1♦ 3♦

North 1♠ 3♥

East 2♦ Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, August 7, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 21st, 2010 “If you follow your star, you can not fail to reach a glorious haven.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: All

♠ J 10 8 7 6 ♥652 ♦AK ♣K85

— Dante Alighieri When the club queen was led against four spades, declarer ducked in dummy, happy to try to keep East off play. Although the only threat to the contract was the heart finesse being offside, South could also see additional endplay chances if East was kept off lead. East could not tell that he had to overtake with the club ace and shift to a heart — and you can hardly blame him for that. The defenders continued with clubs at the second trick, and after covering the club jack with the king and ruffing the club ace away, declarer played a spade to the queen followed by the two top diamonds. Then he crossed to hand with a trump and ruffed his diamond loser in dummy. Before falling back on the heart finesse, declarer went for his last extra chance, namely that West had the club 10. He led the club eight, pitching a heart loser from hand hoping to endplay West on this trick. BID WITH THE ACES

West

East

♠9 ♥AJ8 ♦ 10 7 5 2 ♣ Q J 10 6

♠4 ♥ Q 10 9 7 ♦Q843 ♣A742

3

South

♠AKQ53 2

♥K43 ♦J96 ♣9

South 1♠ 4♠

West Pass All Pass

North 3♠

East Pass

South Holds: ♠ J 10 8 7 6 ♥652 ♦ AK ♣K85 South 2♠ ?

West 1♦ Pass

Opening Lead: ♣ Q

North Pass 2 NT

East Pass Pass

ANSWER: Your partner’s calls suggest about 1314 points. (With 9-12 partner would have bid one no-trump; with less he would probably have passed one spade.) You are on the cusp, but your decent spade intermediates suggest you have just enough to try for the no-trump game.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, August 8, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 22nd, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

Dear Mr. Wolff:

I opened one no-trump with a balanced 17count and raised my partner’s invitation to three no-trump. The problem was that I had three small hearts as did my partner. My LHO had five running hearts and we lost the first six tricks. Should I have had a stopper in all suits?

My partner and I play Exclusion Blackwood, with 1430 responses. My partner opened one diamond and I responded one heart. She jumped to three hearts, and I bid five diamonds. Should this be Exclusion? After my call, what does my partner bid with no key-cards? Using 1430 Roman Keycard Blackwood, a bid of five hearts should indicate one (or four) key-cards, shouldn’t it? We wound up in six hearts going down one as a result.

— Fatal Flaw, Great Falls, Mont. ANSWER: Please be reassured: you simply got unlucky. If you wait to open one or two no-trump with balanced hands that have stops in all suits, then you will fix yourself on all the hands with the right HCP that now cannot be described. The only time to worry about stoppers in balanced hands is when the opponents have bid a suit, or when your side has bid three suits and you discover you do not have a stopper in the fourth suit. Hence the use of fourth-suit forcing. Dear Mr. Wolff: I was holding ♠ A-9, ♥ J-9-3-2, ♦ 10-3-2, ♣ K-Q-7-4 when my partner opened one diamond. The next hand bid two spades. I doubled for takeout, and heard four spades on my left, passed back to me. I doubled, then had to decide what to lead. Any advice? — On the Spot, Troy, N.Y. ANSWER: The most likely way declarer will come to 10 tricks is on a crossruff. Therefore lead the trump ace and plan to continue spades unless the sight of dummy makes that obviously inappropriate. Dear Mr. Wolff: From time to time you describe a bid as “balancing.” Please define this term. How does it affect one’s bidding? — Gyroscope, Grenada, Miss. ANSWER: The term “balancing seat” refers to the pass-out or protective position. In other words your call has been preceded by two passes, and if you pass now the auction is over. It is normally used to refer to low-level positions in the early stages of the auction. Balancing actions can be made with less than those made in direct seat, particularly when you are short in the opponents’ suit. Reopening calls by the opener are also influenced by being short in the opponents’ suit.

— Rocking Robert, Bellevue, Wash. ANSWER: The simple answer for the exact reason you describe is that even if you play 1430 for regular key-card, you need to play Exclusion Blackwood with 3041 responses. It is precisely to cope with the zero response, which is so much more likely over exclusion than key-card. The auction you describe should probably be key-card, I suppose … but I’m not a huge fan of using this method in bid suits. Dear Mr. Wolff: You hold ♠ Q-9-6-4, ♥ 3-2, ♦ A-J-10-3-2, ♣ K-4. With a weak two-heart call on your right, you have to pass. But what if your partner balances with a call of three clubs? Clearly you need to bid, but what call is best? — Bright Spark, Galveston, Texas ANSWER: The choice is a call of three diamonds (which would not be forcing since you passed at your previous turn) or a cuebid of three hearts. The latter will get you to three no-trump facing a heart stop, or to a 4-4 spade fit if you have one. But it also runs the risk of setting up a game-forcing auction, and it is not clear that you are worth that. Bid three-diamonds, expecting partner to bid again with extra shape or high cards.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, August 9, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 23rd, 2010 “The quarrel is a very pretty quarrel as it stands; we should only spoil it by trying to explain it.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: N/S

♠K52 ♥753 ♦ K 10 6 2 ♣ K 10 4

— Richard Sheridan If you want to do well at pairs, there are two essential ingredients — skill and luck. This deal, from the Women’s Pairs at San Remo last summer, features current world champion Nevena Senior, formerly of Bulgaria, now part of the English ladies’ squad that took the world title in Beijing in 2008.

West

East

♠Q9764 ♥K9 ♦Q ♣J9765

♠ 10 8 ♥AQJ62 ♦J4 ♣AQ82 South

Against three diamonds West led the heart king and continued the suit when East encouraged. East won the trick, cashed a third heart, and switched to the spade 10. That ran to dummy’s king. Declarer now drew trumps, West discarding a club on the second round. From the cards played so far, Nevena Senior thought it likely that West had 5-2-1-5 distribution, so she cashed the spade ace and played a club to dummy’s 10. East could win, but was endplayed. East had no spade to lead, a heart would give a ruff-sluff, and a club would give up a trick to North’s king.

♠AJ3 ♥ 10 8 4 ♦A98753 ♣3

South Pass 2♦

West Pass Dbl.

North Pass 3♦

East 1♥ All Pass

Very nicely done, but can you see how the defenders Opening Lead: ♥ K might have done better? Had East not encouraged a heart continuation at trick one, West ought to have found a club shift. That would let the defenders take their four top winners, exit with a trump, then sit back and wait for their spade trick. One of the hardest things to do at the bridge table is give up on an apparently successful plan to change it for a better one. ANSWER: Clubs look like a more promising line of attack than spades. (Partner might have a reasonable club suit and have stayed silent, but not a spade suit.) However, I prefer a heart lead through dummy, the suit that declarer strongly rates to be short in. I’d lead the seven, though some partnerships prefer the six, second from a bad suit.

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 974 ♥7642 ♦ K53 ♣Q85 South

West

North

Pass Pass All Pass

1♥ 3♦

Pass Pass

East 1♦ 2♦ 3 NT

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 24th, 2010 “A knowledgeable fool is a greater fool than an ignorant fool.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: None

♠AKQ6 ♥876 ♦KQ762 ♣J

— Moliere At the 2006 Invitational Lederer Memorial Trophy in London — the 60th — which was covered on Bridge Base Online, nearly half the field had their mind on lofty targets. There were eight tables in play, and the contract at three of them was a mundane three no-trump, but five pairs drove to slam, two of them ending in six diamonds and the other three reaching six no-trump.

West

East

♠ 10 5 4 ♥K942 ♦93 ♣Q973

♠832 ♥ Q 10 ♦J854 ♣ 10 8 6 5 South

♠J97 ♥AJ53 ♦ A 10 ♣AK42

Before you read any further, cover up the East and West hands and decide how you would have played the notrump slam. Regardless of which slam is attempted, everything hinges on the diamond suit providing five tricks. There will always be a heart loser. One of dummy’s hearts can depart on the second club, but there is no parking place for the other. If the diamond 10 had been in the long diamond hand, then it would have been right to play diamonds from the top. It is just over even money that the jack will drop in either two rounds or three, whereas the straight finesse is a 50-50 shot.

South 1 NT 2♥ 4 NT*

West Pass Pass Pass

North 2♣ 3♦ 6 NT

East Pass Pass All Pass

*Quantitative

Opening Lead: ♠ 4

But the odds change dramatically when the 10 is doubleton, accompanied by a higher honor, as in South’s hand. A 3-3 break is only fractionally better than a one-third chance, whereas the finesse is 50 percent. Unsurprisingly, considering the quality of the eight teams that were invited to take part in the Lederer, almost every declarer did indeed finesse the diamond 10 and brought home the slam. ANSWER: In all sequences where a simple raise of your suit would be forcing, a jump in a new suit of this sort should conventionally be played as a splinter. That means your partner suggests a spade fit, slam interest, and short hearts, a development that improves your hand no end. Today, simplest is best. Bid Blackwood and head for the stars.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ AKQ6 ♥876 ♦ KQ762 ♣J South 1♦ 2♠ ?

West Pass Pass

North 2♣ 4♥

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 25th, 2010 “Do not do unto others as you would they should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: All

♠76 ♥J93 ♦QJ4 ♣J9874

— George Bernard Shaw When there is a blockage that prevents access to winning tricks, declarer will sometimes have to turn to the defenders for help. In three no-trump West had a straightforward lead of his fourth-best heart, and dummy’s nine held the trick. It seemed that declarer was in dummy for the last time. Even without the club blockage, South seemed to be a trick short. Either a successful diamond or spade finesse would supply one extra trick; but that would not be enough, given declarer’s inability to cash five club tricks. South saw one glimmer of light. If West held five hearts (likely on the lead), but no more than two spades, he could be endplayed into opening up the diamonds, which would at the same time allow access to dummy.

West

East

♠J4 ♥AQ862 ♦K65 ♣532

♠ K 10 9 2 ♥54 ♦ 10 9 7 3 2

♣ 10 6 South

♠AQ853 ♥ K 10 7 ♦A8 ♣AKQ

South 1♣* 2♠ 3 NT

West 1♥ Pass All Pass

North Dbl. 3♣

Therefore, at trick two, declarer finessed the spade queen. Then came the three top clubs and the spade ace, the jack dropping from West and providing a hopeful sign that *16 or more, any hand all was going to plan. South now got off play with the heart king and was relieved to find East following suit. After Opening Lead: ♥ 6 cashing four heart tricks (declarer ditching the club four and the diamond four from dummy, and two low spades from hand), West had no option but to open up the diamonds. Dummy’s Q-J of diamonds now provided a sure entry, and the fifth club was the game-going trick. Contract made — declarer finishing up with one heart, four clubs, and two tricks in each of the other suits.

ANSWER: Your partner’s double, facing a hand that has not acted, is simply for takeout. His likely hand-pattern is four spades and five or six diamonds, with extra values. You do not yet need to bid more than two diamonds, but should plan to compete to three diamonds if necessary.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 76 ♥J93 ♦ QJ4 ♣J9874 South Pass ?

West 1♣ 1♥

North 1♦ Dbl.

East Pass Pass

East Dbl. Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, August 12, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 26th, 2010 “I don’t think we enjoy other people’s suffering, Hennessy. It isn’t actually enjoyment, but we feel better for it.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: N/S

— Finley Peter Dunne (Mr. Dooley) On the following deal North-South were pleased with their penalty against West’s three hearts doubled — until they scored up. North kicked off with two rounds of spades. Declarer ruffed and played the diamond king to North’s ace, and North thoughtfully switched to a club. Declarer unwisely won dummy’s ace and played a heart. South won and played a second club, ruffed by declarer, who next played a high diamond. North ruffed, drew two rounds of trumps, and led the club king, forcing out declarer’s last trump. Declarer could cash one more diamond, but then had to concede the rest of the tricks to the defense for an 800 penalty.

♠KQ6 ♥AK62 ♦A ♣K7652

West

East

♠4 ♥ J 10 9 7 5

♠J82 ♥83 ♦873 ♣ A Q 10 9

4

♦KQJ54 ♣J

4 South

♠ A 10 9 7 5 3

♥Q ♦ 10 9 6 2 ♣83

However, in the other room South stretched to open a weak-two in spades and North bounced to six spades. West led from his diamond sequence rather than his West North singleton club. Declarer won dummy’s diamond ace, South Pass Pass 1♣ played a heart to his queen, and thoughtfully played the Dbl. 1♠ 3♥ diamond 10, covered and ruffed. He cashed dummy’s top hearts, intending to discard both his clubs, but East ruffed in on the second, and declarer had to overruff. Then came Opening Lead: ♠ K the diamond nine, covered and ruffed, and the fall of the diamond eight meant that South’s six was good. Declarer cashed the spade king; then, to avoid a diamond ruff, he advanced the club king. Since East held the ace, there was nothing the defenders could do anymore. Note that if West could have won the first club, he would have been able to give his partner a diamond ruff.

ANSWER: A simple solution would be to bid four spades, but you are just a little too good for that, particularly if two spades is forcing for one round. Best is to jump to four diamonds, suggesting your precise hand-pattern, with a little extra in reserve, even given your reverse on the previous round.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ KQ6 ♥AK62 ♦A ♣K7652 South 1♣ 2♥ ?

West Pass Pass

North 1♠ 2♠

East Pass All Pass

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, August 13, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 27th, 2010 “Live as long as you please, you will strike nothing off the time you will have to spend dead.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: E/W

♠KJ2 ♥93 ♦ A 10 8 7 ♣A642

— Michel de Montaigne All instruction books on card play are unanimous on the importance of thinking before you play to trick one, particularly from dummy. Would you have gotten today’s hand right? Look at just the North-South hands while forming your plan. Against your no-trump game, West leads the heart king. If you duck, as you should, West will switch to the spade 10. Suppose you win and play three rounds of diamonds. West wins the third round and presses on with a second spade. You win in dummy and duck a club. East takes this and plays a third spade. You win this, take the club ace, cash your good diamond, and lead dummy’s heart nine, ducking it to West. He will be endplayed, forced to lead into your heart tenace to give you nine tricks. Nicely played! Well, not so nicely, because West meanly allows your heart nine to hold the trick. This is your eighth trick only, and all dummy has left are clubs, so East must make the last two tricks.

West

East

♠ 10 7 ♥ K Q 10 8

♠98653 ♥5 ♦J5 ♣ K Q 10 8

64

♦Q96 ♣J9

7 South

♠AQ4 ♥AJ72 ♦K432 ♣53

South 1♦ 2 NT

West 1♥ Pass

North 2♥ 3 NT

East Pass All Pass

Technically, you could have avoided this by ducking a club Opening Lead: ♥ K before playing on diamonds — but why would you do that? No, the simplest thing of all would have been to unblock dummy’s heart nine at trick one under the king. After all, when you think about it, it is a card that is not likely to be useful to you. Now, in the ending, when you lead a heart to West, he can no longer duck the trick and is endplayed. ANSWER: Facing a takeout double of a weaktwo bid, you have the values for game, but no reason to assume that your hand is overburdened for defense against diamonds. Passing might work out, but the middle-of-theroad action is just to bid three no-trump.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ KJ2 ♥93 ♦ A 10 8 7 ♣A642 South ?

West 2♦

North Dbl.

East Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, August 14, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 28th, 2010 “Behold now this vast city (London); a city of refuge, the mansion-house of liberty, encompassed and surrounded with His protection.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: All

♠J943 ♥A962 ♦K8 ♣943

— John Milton How would you tackle today’s deal from a duplicate at London’s Young Chelsea Bridge Club? You are in four spades on the lead of the heart queen. North had a maximum for his initial raise, so he bid four hearts over South’s game-try of three hearts, a more accurate helpsuit try than three clubs, since possessing the club king is not that important here. South naturally corrected to four spades.

West

East

♠K65 ♥ Q J 10 ♦A64 ♣ K 10 6 2

♠8 ♥753 ♦QJ975

32

♣J7 South

♠ A Q 10 7 2 ♥K84 ♦ 10 ♣AQ85

The key to this deal (and so many others) is to combine all your chances. The urgent need is to dispose of your thirdround heart loser if possible. So win the heart king and play a diamond. West rises with the ace and plays another heart, which you win with the ace as East follows. The play in hearts suggests the suit is 3-3 (East would South West North probably have echoed with a doubleton), so cash the Pass 2♠ diamond king pitching a heart, ruff a heart with the spade 1♠ Pass 3♥ 4♥ 10, and now play the spade ace and another spade. West All Pass 4♠ does best to win and exit with his last spade, but you win in dummy, cash the long heart while discarding a club, and Opening Lead: ♥ Q lead a club to your eight. This endplays West, who must either give you a ruff and discard or lead a club into your tenace.

East Pass Pass Pass

Even if East were able to win the spade king and switch to a club, when you play the eight, it would endplay West. ANSWER: You may well ask what four diamonds shows. The answer is a good raise to four hearts with four trumps and a very good six-card diamond suit. With your two working cards, you are fractionally too good to bid only four hearts. A call of five hearts suggests a slam-try with no control in the black suits. Let partner bid on if he can control those suits.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ J943 ♥A962 ♦ K8 ♣943 South

West

1♥ ?

Pass

North 1♦ 4♦

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, August 15, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 29th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

Was I just unlucky here, or could I have done better? My RHO opened one heart and I had 13 points and 3-4-3-3 shape. He had bid my four-card suit, so I passed. My LHO bid, and my partner passed. They ended up in a part-score and made it. As it turned out, my partner had eight or nine points, and at the other tables our direction was bidding and making a part-score. — Outmaneuvered, Charleston, S.C.

ANSWER: This would simply require an alert. The announcement procedure is limited to the very specific positions highlighted in blue on the convention card (such as the no-trump range, transfers, etc.). Every other conventional action requires a simple alert, and the opponents can then ask if they want.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Are there any rules about the right way to deal the cards? I frequently see players dealing into piles of five, or dealing back and forth rather than in cyclical order.

ANSWER: You were blameless. I’m not sure if your LHO responded at every other table (I’d guess not) or if your partner might have stretched to balance, but you were surely not at fault. Bidding with the shape you describe is not a great idea. However, doubling a minor suit with this pattern is acceptable if you have some extras in high cards, though not enough to overcall one no-trump.

ANSWER: The laws mandate proper shuffling, then dealing into four piles. But frankly, I’ve never been convinced of the need for following the precise requirements of the laws here. Although I do what I’m supposed to, I doubt whether people who follow their own procedures are doing so to gain advantage. Live and let live, I say.

Dear Mr. Wolff:

Dear Mr. Wolff:

I was second to speak with ♠ A-9, ♥ Q-109-3-2, ♦ A-J, ♣ K-Q-7-4. After my RHO opened one club, I was not sure whether to venture one no-trump, one heart, double or even pass. What would you advise?

At favorable vulnerability, I got scolded by my partner for making a one-diamond overcall over a third-seat one-club opening bid. Holding ♠ 10-4, ♥ 9-8-3-2, ♦ A-K-Q-2, ♣ 10-7-4, I thought it was a cheap way to let partner know what to lead.

— Multiple Choice, Raleigh, N.C. ANSWER: Passing cannot be right, as you surmised. I’m also not keen on doubling, since I’d have to overstate my values at my next turn whatever partner did. That said, I may find it hard to catch up if I bid just one heart, but somehow my shape argues for that call rather than one-no-trump, which is right on values but wrong on shape. Dear Mr. Wolff: I recently learned a new response to a strong two-club opening, where two diamonds suggests some values with no clear call. A bid of two hearts is fewer than three HCP, while two spades shows spades, and two no-trump shows hearts. We describe these bids in the responserebids area of the convention card, but does this method of responding have to be announced, alerted or neither? — Fancy Pants, Portland, Ore.

— Neatness Counts, Sioux Falls, S.D.

— Shout-Out, Carmel, Calif. ANSWER: If it is any consolation, I agree with a nonvulnerable overcall here, although I would rather have an additional value somewhere (wouldn’t we always?). Another queen would make your call unexceptionable. Regardless of the result, your reasoning was intelligent.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, August 16, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 30th, 2010 “Let such teach others who themselves excel, And censure freely who have written well.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: E/W

♠J765 ♥ K J 10 4 ♦A64 ♣A5

— Alexander Pope In today’s deal South plays four spades after he opened a strong no-trump and Stayman located the 4-4 fit. Put yourself in East’s seat: your partner leads the heart three, and you must plan the defense. Since South has shown a balanced hand, he cannot have a singleton heart. Your partner would have led the top of a doubleton; thus he has clearly led a singleton heart — but don’t give him a heart ruff straightaway. If you do so, you can count on three tricks for your side, but you will have no likelihood of a fourth winner, unless partner’s meager assets include the club king. The key point to remember is that there is no hurry to give your partner the ruff, because you have the trump ace. Win the heart ace and switch to your singleton diamond. When you win the ace of trumps, you will be able to play the heart nine as a suit-preference signal for the higher of the two nontrump suits. West will give you a diamond ruff for one down.

West

East

♠84 ♥3 ♦ J 10 8 7 3 ♣ Q 10 9 4

♠ A 10 2 ♥A9872 ♦2 ♣J873

2

South

♠KQ93 ♥Q65 ♦KQ95 ♣K6

South 1 NT 2♠

West Pass Pass

North 2♣ 4♠

East Pass All Pass

Opening Lead: ♥ 3

The lesson from today’s deal is that although it is a priority to give partner a ruff as soon as you can, if your side has a control in the trump suit, you will sometimes be able to work out that other actions should take precedence over immediately giving or taking a ruff. ANSWER: It’s a close choice between a spade and a club, and either declarer or dummy could turn up with length in either black suit. That said, I prefer a club lead. Your holding in the suit is better, and you are more likely to catch partner with a decent unbid club suit than a decent unbid spade suit.

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ J72 ♥K93 ♦ 8752 ♣Q42 South Pass All Pass

West 1♥ 3♦

North Pass Pass

East 2♦ 3 NT

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on August 31st, 2010 “Great is the hand that holds dominion over Man by a scribbled name.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: All

♠J87 ♥AKJ4 ♦ A Q 10 9 ♣A4

— Dylan Thomas Those who reached the small slam in hearts, then tried two diamond finesses, were destined to enter a minus score on the travelling score sheet in this deal from a pairs duplicate at the Marbella Internacional Bridge Club. At the featured table North inferred his partner had very short spades and bid the slam, and it was up to former Irish international Des Deery to make his contract. On a top-spade lead, Deery crossed to dummy twice in hearts for two more spade ruffs, eliminating that suit and drawing trumps in the process. Declarer then played ace, king and queen of clubs, hoping the jack would drop. Had it done so, not just one but two of dummy’s diamonds would have departed, leaving declarer with the luxury of the diamond finesse for the overtrick. When the club jack did not appear, Deery now played his last club and was relieved to see West discard. He pitched a second diamond from dummy, and on winning with the club jack, East was endplayed into either leading a diamond around to dummy’s A-Q, or giving a ruff and discard by returning a spade.

West

East

♠ A K 10 5

♠Q963 ♥5 ♦KJ83 ♣J753

42

♥73 ♦64 ♣982 South

♠— ♥ Q 10 9 8 6 2

♦752 ♣ K Q 10 6

South

West

North

Pass 5♥

2♠ Pass

Dbl. 6♥

East Pass 4♠ All Pass

Opening Lead: ♠ K

You might care to consider how declarer would have played if West had produced the fourth club. He would have ruffed the club, then gotten off play with the diamond queen. If West held the king, it would surely be singleton, forcing him to concede a ruff and discard. And if East had it, he would be endplayed, as before. ANSWER: Partner is marked with decent values or the opponents would have tried for game. Double for takeout, and do not worry about your relative lack of high cards. Bid first, and worry about the consequences later. As a general rule, you do not want the opponents to play a contract at a low level once they find a fit, since you probably have a fit too.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ Q963 ♥5 ♦ KJ83 ♣J753 South Pass ?

West 1 NT 2♥

North Pass Pass

East 2♦ Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 by Bobby Wolff on September 1st, 2010 “He listens well who takes notes.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: N/S

♠KQ ♥J43 ♦Q65 ♣ Q J 10 9 7

— Dante Alighieri When declarer has limited his hand via an opening bid or a rebid in no-trump, one can often judge just how much help partner’s hand will contribute to the defense. Here, for example, after West led the spade jack against three no-trump, East knew that his partner had few highcard points. On winning the lead in dummy, declarer continued with the club queen, and East was rather surprised to find that his king held the trick. Now the South and West hands had become transparent. West was marked with the club ace, and having led the spade jack, West probably did not have any other honor cards. A spade continuation would be a waste of time, East reasoned, as declarer and dummy between them had three stoppers in the suit unless declarer had a doubleton ace — not impossible, but not likely. East would have played for that chance if it was the only way to defeat the contract, but he figured that a more realistic hope would be to take three heart tricks in addition to the two clubs tricks. But which heart should East return?

West

East

♠ J 10 9 7 2 ♥975 ♦32 ♣A62

♠543 ♥ A Q 10 8 ♦ 10 9 8 7 4

♣K South

♠A86 ♥K62 ♦AKJ ♣8543

South 1 NT 2♦

West Pass Pass

North 2♣ 3 NT

East Pass All Pass

Opening Lead: ♠ J If East returned a low heart, South would run this to dummy’s jack and still have a second stopper with the king. The card to play was the queen, leaving the jack surrounded. South played his king perforce, but when West got in with the club ace, a heart continuation through dummy’s jack produced the requisite three heart tricks. ANSWER: The most likely game to succeed is three no-trump, so despite your diaphanous diamond stop, you should up and bid it. Of course, if partner has a void in diamonds, you might be on somewhat shaky grounds. Equally, though, if he has a relatively balanced hand or a diamond honor, you might find no-trump far better than clubs (and the opponents do not always lead diamonds on auctions like this).

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ KQ ♥J43 ♦ Q65 ♣ Q J 10 9 7 South ?

West 3♦

North Dbl.

East Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, August 19, 2010 by admin on September 2nd, 2010 “There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: All

— Henry David Thoreau The players at the Dyspeptics Club can act in unison only when combining to insult one member of the foursome. Occasionally it seems less important to have a good reason to criticize someone else, and more important to present a united front. In today’s deal, however, the arguments presented against South’s line of play in four spades sounded reasonable. What do you think? Playing four spades, South took East’s heart king with his ace, then played to dummy’s club ace and ran the club queen, discarding a heart. That allowed South to ruff the heart return and try to drop the spade king. When that failed, he was down to his last chance — the finesse against the diamond queen — but he came up empty for down one. Were his table-mates right to complain about his declarer play?

♠ 10 9 8 3 ♥973 ♦ J 10 7 ♣AQJ

West

East

♠K2 ♥ Q 10 8 6

♠7 ♥KJ2 ♦642 ♣ 10 8 6 5

5

♦AQ5 ♣K97

32 South

♠AQJ654 ♥A4 ♦K983 ♣4

South 1♠ 4♠

West 2♥ All Pass

North 2♠

East 3♥

Yes, they were. The correct approach is to recognize that West has overcalled on a broken heart suit — the lead Opening Lead: ♥ 6 marks him with no better a suit than five to the Q-10. Since West has risked his life vulnerable, he must have the balance of high cards. Start by leading out the spade ace, trying to drop the spade king; you will be home without needing to take a chance if that line works. If that attempt fails, take the club finesse and discard your heart on the club ace before going after diamonds for the possible overtrick. ANSWER: The practical call here is to bid one no-trump, showing a balanced hand in the 7-10 range without a biddable four-card major. Bidding a major here does NOT promise five, but indicates that you would be happy to be raised with three — and that is far from the case here.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 10 9 8 3 ♥973 ♦ J 10 7 ♣AQJ South ?

West

North 1♣

East Dbl.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, August 20, 2010 by admin on September 3rd, 2010 “I’m tired of Love; I’m still more tired of Rhyme. But Money gives me pleasure all the time.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: None

♠2 ♥95 ♦ A Q 10 8 6

— Hilaire Belloc

32

The first BOLS brilliancy prize went to Ron Klinger, who seized his opportunity at the 1976 World Team Olympiad in Monte Carlo. Against four hearts Klinger as West led a spade, and hoping to cut down declarer’s ruffs, East switched to a trump. Declarer played the queen because he wanted to be in his hand if West ducked. Klinger made the first essential play for the defense when he played low. Had he won the heart king, declarer would have made his contract with no problems because he could simply have drawn trumps and taken the diamond finesse. At trick three, declarer ruffed a spade, removing West’s last card in the suit, and guessed to play a club to his queen rather than to the 10. West won the ace and returned a club to dummy’s king. Declarer now ruffed a club and played the heart ace and jack. At this point, Klinger found the only play to defeat the contract: he switched to the diamond king! This severed declarer’s communications. He could win in dummy and come to hand with the diamond jack to draw West’s last trump, but then he would have to lose a spade at the end. If, as happened in practice, declarer played three rounds of diamonds to discard his spade loser, West would make his heart eight.

♣K85 West

East

♠74 ♥K843 ♦K5 ♣A7432

♠ A K J 10 863

♥7 ♦74 ♣J96 South

♠Q95 ♥ A Q J 10 6 2

♦J9 ♣ Q 10

South 4♥

West Pass All Pass

North Pass

East 3♠

Opening Lead: ♠ 7

On any other return, declarer would have been able to win in hand, draw the last trump, and run diamonds to discard his spade loser. ANSWER: Ask yourself, is this a hand with which you wish to invite game, facing a balanced 1214? I’d say no; you could persuade me to the contrary with a couple of working intermediates. However, this hand is so bare that the absence of a fit would persuade me to go low with a call of one no-trump rather than an invitational two notrump.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 74 ♥K843 ♦ K5 ♣A7432 South

West

1♥ ?

Pass

North 1♦ 1♠

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, August 21, 2010 by admin on September 4th, 2010 “Sometimes these cogitations still amaze The troubled midnight and the noon’s repose.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: E/W

— T.S. Eliot Most people’s general strategy for winning and ducking tricks could be summarized as “Win the trick first and think about it later.” This approach is not always optimal, as today’s deal demonstrates. The auction was informative from West’s perspective. At his third turn, North sensibly jumped to three diamonds to invite game, suggesting a 6-4 pattern and a king more than a minimum. South now reassessed his scattered values and decided he had enough to bid the no-trump game. West led a low club to his partner’s king and, on the return of the club eight, captured declarer’s nine with his 10 and cashed the ace. Now West realized that he needed to shift to a major, but today was not his lucky day. Declarer had both kings, and neither a heart nor a spade shift would work.

♠ A 10 9 6 ♥A9 ♦AQJ973 ♣J

West

East

♠J4 ♥ Q 10 3 2 ♦42 ♣ A 10 6 5

♠Q853 ♥J76 ♦K65 ♣K84

2

South

♠K72 ♥K854 ♦ 10 8 ♣Q973

South Pass 1♥ 1 NT 3 NT

West Pass Pass Pass All Pass

North 1♦ 1♠ 3♦

East Pass Pass Pass

However, when East won the first trick with the king and returned the club eight, it should have marked him with a Opening Lead: ♣ 5 remaining doubleton or singleton. (With three left, East would have played back a low one.) Whether declarer played the club nine or a highly deceptive queen, West should have worked out to duck, since South was marked with at least an original four-card club suit. Looking at the dummy, West should reason that the hand cannot be defeated unless East has a fast entry and a third club to lead. It will be easy for East to play another club when on lead with his diamond king, thus defeating the contract. ANSWER: This unusual auction suggests your partner has a very strong three-suiter with fourcard heart support. You have three working cards, more than enough to go to slam. That being said, my best guess would be to bid six clubs rather than six hearts. It is conceivable that if hearts do not break, partner can discard a fourth-round heart loser on one of your spades.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ K72 ♥K854 ♦ 10 8 ♣Q973 South

West

1♥ 3♣ ?

Pass Pass

North 1♣ 2♠ 4♥

East Pass Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, August 22, 2010 by admin on September 5th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

Is there still room in the World Championship events taking place in Philadelphia this October? As a moderate duplicate player, will I have more fun as a spectator, a player, or an online kibitzer?

ANSWER: The tournament director should allow a defender who has not been alerted promptly to take back his call, unless that player’s partner has already acted, in which case it would be too late to change the call. Now an adjusted score may be the only remedy for the nonoffenders, assuming they have been damaged.

— Tiny Tim, Kansas City, Mo.

Dear Mr. Wolff:

ANSWER: Yes, you can still sign up to play, and although preregistration is encouraged (see here), you can also simply turn up and play in what rates to be the tournament of a lifetime. In almost all other world championships, you would need to qualify through national trials or zonal events, so make the most of your chances here.

Recently you ran a problem featuring this hand: ♠ K-10-9-2, ♥ Q-3-2, ♦ J-6-5, ♣ K-94. In the auction, this hand passed over RHO’s one club, heard one diamond on his left, and one no-trump from partner. You described this as strong, but how can this show 15 points if both opponents have bid and the featured hand has nine?

Dear Mr. Wolff:

— Doubting Thomas, Pleasanton, Calif.

A recent bidding problem featured this hand: ♠ J-9-3-2, ♥ A-K-Q-2, ♦ —, ♣ A-J-107-4. You opened one club and rebid one heart over your partner’s one-diamond response. Now your partner bid one notrump. You passed, settling for what you thought to be a reasonable contract, without risking getting too high. I would have invited to game by bidding two no-trump. Any thoughts?

ANSWER: I’m not sure if you are overly trusting of the opponents or cynical about your partner. In these sequences I always trust partner and mistrust the opponents; they frequently respond light when they don’t fit their partners’ one-club opening. If partner has what he says, one opponent is lying — I assume it’s LHO!

— Risk-Taker, Muncie, Ind. ANSWER: I was suggesting that I was about a spot-card short of an invitational bid. Even the club nine might have made me feel more optimistic about getting four or five club tricks facing a doubleton club. Dear Mr. Wolff: What are the rules when an opponent makes a call and his partner forgets to alert it on time? Does the next player (who passed before the alert) get to reconsider? — Mulligan, Lorain, Ohio

Dear Mr. Wolff: With this hand, ♠ Q-4, ♥ A-Q-9-3-2, ♦ A-2, ♣ A-Q-7-4, you asked what you would rebid after you had opened one heart and heard a one-no-trump response. You suggested either a direct rebid of two no-trump, or two clubs (followed by a correction to two notrump if partner took a preference to hearts). What are the pros and cons of the two actions? — Fielder’s Choice, Dallas, Texas ANSWER: The advantage of bidding clubs, then no-trump, is to get to clubs when it plays better than no-trump, and keeping the auction low if necessary. The advantage of bidding no-trump directly is that facing, let’s say, a 3-2-4-4 eight-count, you might stop at the two-level and miss out on a makable no-trump game or even five clubs.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, August 23, 2010 by admin on September 6th, 2010 “It doesn’t much signify whom one marries, for one is sure to find next morning that it was someone else.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: None

♠3 ♥K76 ♦A76 ♣ Q J 10 9 6

— Samuel Rogers All this week’s deals come from the Junior European Championships held in Romania last summer. During the two-week event, there was an under-25 championship, and in parallel with that, a one-week tournament for girls followed by a schools event. Europe was well represented, with even some of the smaller countries fielding teams in the minor events. For example, the Estonian girls’ team started the Championships off with a 14-16 loss to the Netherlands — not bad against much more experienced opposition. (Incidentally, the Dutch and Poles — together with the Swedes — have been dominating this event lately. It is certainly not coincidental that the first two countries have set up sporting organizations that ally with the Olympic Federations, and run their programs with benchmarks and training schemes.) Today’s deal helped to keep the match close, as Estonia’s Tuul Saav first pushed the Dutch North-South to the fivelevel, then found the only lead to defeat five hearts.

4 West

East

♠ K Q J 10

♠64 ♥A43 ♦J9432 ♣752

98

♥8 ♦ 10 5 ♣AK83 South

♠A752 ♥ Q J 10 9 5 2

♦KQ8 ♣—

South 4♥ All Pass

West 1♠ 4♠

North 2♣ 5♥

East Pass Dbl.

As West, Saav judged that her partner, Erika Parn, must Opening Lead: Your call! have something useful to explain her double, and in that case, there should be no rush to try to cash black tricks. Accordingly, Tuul led her singleton trump. Parn won the heart ace and returned a second heart. Declarer could now ruff only one spade in dummy, so was a trick short of her contract. Well done — on any other lead declarer can bring home 11 tricks. ANSWER: Just because an opening bid of one diamond could be short, does not mean that it is. Here your hand in no way suggests that partner has both majors and a three-card diamond suit; I’d simply lead a low diamond, specifically the two. In this situation, the four may cause more problems than it solves.

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ A6 ♥ Q 10 4 3 ♦ 432 ♣7542 South All Pass

West

North 1♦

East 1 NT

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 by admin on September 7th, 2010 “When I am grown to man’s estate

Dealer: North North

Vul: None

I shall be very proud and great, And tell the other girls and boys Not to meddle with my toys.” — Robert Louis Stevenson All the deals this week come from the Junior European tournament held last year in Romania. As mentioned yesterday, there was not only a junior event, but a schools tournament and a girls’ championship, from which today’s deal comes. The action was from the match between Turkey and Italy, and the heroine was Ozge Tekin. A spirited auction saw Tekin as declarer in six clubs doubled, facing the lead of the spade five. Italy’s Giorgia Botta won the ace and switched to the diamond king. Tekin won her ace, drew trumps, and realized that she needed to bring in the hearts for four tricks to make her slam. It is clear what the percentage line in that suit is: you cash the ace, lead low to the jack, and if the 10 doesn’t appear on the right, play off the king — unless the auction or play thus far has pointed you in another direction.

♠ 10 6 ♥KJ94 ♦742 ♣ 10 9 4 3

West

East

♠J75 ♥ Q 10 8 6

♠AKQ9 842

♥7 ♦ K Q 10 5 ♣6

3

♦J983 ♣2 South

♠3 ♥A52 ♦A6 ♣AKQJ8

75

South

West

Dbl. 5♣ Pass

Pass 5♠ Dbl.

North Pass 2♥ 6♣ All Pass

East 1♠ 4♠ Pass

Opening Lead: ♠ 5

Tekin duly cashed the heart ace, but paused to reconsider the information already available to her. Because East had bid four spades on her own and seemed to have diamonds also, Tekin judged her to be short in hearts. So instead of leading a heart to the jack, she finessed the nine, came back to hand with a trump, and finessed the heart jack, thus recording 12 tricks for a magnificent plus 1,090. ANSWER: With these values it is a close choice between bidding hearts and supporting partner. I marginally prefer raising clubs directly rather than introducing the hearts before supporting clubs. It may be critical to partner for slam purposes to know of real as opposed to secondary club support. Still, we may belong in three no-trump and won’t get there if you raise clubs.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 10 6 ♥KJ94 ♦ 742 ♣ 10 9 4 3 South 2♦ ?

West Pass Pass

North 2♣ 3♣

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 by admin on September 8th, 2010 “How beautiful, if sorrow had not made Sorrow more beautiful than Beauty’s self.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: E/W

♠9 ♥KQ632 ♦AJ32 ♣KJ3

— John Keats This deal from the match in the Junior Championships between Belgium and Austria swung 16 IMPs to the latter team. Against six diamonds, West’s club lead went to the 10 and queen. Declarer unblocked the heart ace, played the trump king, crossed to the club jack, and ruffed a heart. She followed with the trump 10, which she overtook with the ace. Now she had a problem: if the hearts were originally 5-2 and the clubs 4-3, she had to ruff the last small heart, cross to dummy with the club king, and draw the last trump, after which dummy would be high. If the hearts behaved but the club split was bad, all she had to do now was to draw the last trump and enjoy dummy. She finally guessed wrong and went down one. Bad luck? Maybe, but this line requires either a 3-2 trump split and a final guess, or all other suits behaving if the trumps break 4-1.

West

East

♠KQ873 ♥94 ♦86 ♣9765

♠A2 ♥ J 10 8 7 5

♦974 ♣ 10 8 2 South

♠ J 10 6 5 4 ♥A ♦ K Q 10 5 ♣AQ4

South 1♠ 3♦ 4♥ 5♦

West Pass Pass Pass Pass

North 2♥ 4♦ 4 NT 6♦

East Pass Pass Pass All Pass

In the other room, Adele Gogoman showed how to play Opening Lead: ♣ 6 the contract. She took the club lead in hand with the queen and played a spade to the nine. East took the trick and returned a club to the ace. Gogoman now ruffed a spade, crossed to the heart ace, ruffed a spade high, and was now able to draw the remaining trumps and reach dummy with the club king to cash the last two hearts. This line would only have failed against a 6-1 break in a black suit, or a 50 break in trumps. ANSWER: Double to show the red suits and extra values, allowing your partner to compete to the appropriate level. You might possibly be helping declarer place the cards if he ends up in spades, but you cannot make an omelet without breaking eggs.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠9 ♥KQ632 ♦ AJ32 ♣KJ3 South 1♥ ?

West Pass 1♠

North Pass Pass

East 1♣ 2♠

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, August 26, 2010 by admin on September 9th, 2010 “Those who’ll play with cats must expect to be scratched.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: None

♠K985 ♥853 ♦ A Q 10 4 ♣Q6

— Miguel de Cervantes When the Junior European Championships took place last summer in Romania, there was a week-long tournament for schools players. Today’s deal is my favorite from that event. Joris Van Lankveld was defending four spades against the Norwegians. A heart was led to the bare ace, and declarer played the spade queen to East’s ace. The defense forced declarer with a second heart. Declarer, risking everything on a successful club finesse, drew trumps (West throwing a heart) and ran the club queen. Van Lankveld bravely let this hold. When the next club finesse lost to West, declarer’s club suit became wastepaper. West now played winning hearts until the dummy ruffed in. Declarer could do no better than exit with the diamond queen. West won, cashed his last heart, and led a diamond to East’s jack. This was three down for 150 to the Netherlands. On scoring up, South proudly read out plus 150. “Push” was the reply. Somewhat disappointed, Van Lankveld asked, “So they held up the club king as well?” “No. We were in six spades,” came the answer.

West

East

♠42 ♥ K J 10 7 4

♠ A 10 3 ♥Q96 ♦J9873 ♣98

2

♦K65 ♣K7 South

♠QJ76 ♥A ♦2 ♣ A J 10 5 4 32

South

West

North

1♣ 4♠

2♥ All Pass

Dbl.

East Pass 3♥

Opening Lead: ♥ J Maybe a better line in four spades would have been to draw a second round of trumps ending in dummy and take a club finesse, planning to repeat it if necessary. West can win the second and lead a heart, but declarer simply discards a club from hand and has the rest. He can ruff the next heart in dummy and cross to hand with the spade jack to run the clubs. ANSWER: Since three no-trump is certainly your side’s most likely game, you should advance with a forcing call of two diamonds, hoping your partner can bid two no-trump and you can raise to game. If your partner bids three clubs, you should pass. If he bids two spades, you can correct to three clubs.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ K985 ♥853 ♦ A Q 10 4 ♣Q6 South 1♠ ?

West Pass Pass

North 1♣ 2♣

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, August 27, 2010 by admin on September 10th, 2010 “The deed is everything, the glory nothing.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: None

♠ K 10 8 7 ♥ 10 ♦J6 ♣KQJ98

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Over several years of competing in youth tournaments, Thomas Bessis has been a rich source of top-quality declarer play and defense. In the junior European Championships, Thomas produced his finest effort against England in the final match. It looks as though Chris Owens’ contract of four spades is destined to make, courtesy of the ruffing club finesse, but… Bessis’ partner, Frederic Volcker, led the diamond eight, second from three or more small cards, and Bessis won the king and cashed the ace. Atthey false-carded with the queen as Volcker dropped the two, confirming two or four cards — clearly four on the auction. Bessis now deviously switched to the club seven, and not surprisingly, declarer was taken in. Atthey ruffed low and gave up a heart, Bessis winning the ace and returning a diamond to declarer’s 10. Atthey ruffed a heart, ruffed a club, and ruffed a heart, being relieved to see that Bessis could not overruff. He now ruffed another club, but Volcker could overruff and that was two down.

5

West

East

♠J9 ♥KQ876 ♦9872 ♣ 10 3

♠52 ♥A4 ♦AK53 ♣A7642 South

♠AQ643 ♥J9532 ♦ Q 10 4 ♣—

South 1♠ 3♥

West Pass Pass

North 2 NT* 4♠

East Pass All Pass

*Invitational or better in spades

Opening Lead: ♦ 8

How did Bessis find the brilliant underlead? He deduced that his partner would surely have led a singleton club rather than one of four small diamonds, so was marked with either two clubs or a void. Once declarer was known to have three diamonds, plus heart length because of the auction, it had to be he and not Volcker who had the club void. Because the French North-South pair had played in four clubs down one in the other room, Bessis’ fine defense turned a big loss into a small gain. ANSWER: With a nine-count albeit a shapely one, facing a hand with no obvious fit, there seems no reason to get beyond the two-level. The simple preference to two diamonds is admittedly conservative, but seems sufficient. The idea is to let partner bid on if he has extras in shape or high cards and stay low if he does not.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ AQ643 ♥J9532 ♦ Q 10 4 ♣— South 1♠ ?

West Pass Pass

North 1♦ 2♣

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, August 28, 2010 by admin on September 11th, 2010 “Men are never so likely to settle a question rightly as when they discuss it freely.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: All

♠Q ♥AJ85 ♦A8632 ♣ Q 10 5

— Lord Macaulay The overall standard in the Junior European Championships last summer was remarkably high. Consider this deal from the match between Italy and Sweden. Both Souths were at the helm in the heart game. The Italian West led the diamond king. Cecilia Rimstedt won the ace and played the spade queen. East won the king and switched to a low heart. Rimstedt won the king, ruffed a spade, crossed to a club, ruffed a spade and crossed to another club to ruff the last spade. She had her contract now and emerged with an unlikely overtrick for plus 650. Eric Arvidsson also led the diamond king, and the Italian declarer also won the ace. However, he now followed a different line by returning a diamond. East, Simon Bech, pitched a club and a second one as Arvidsson continued with the diamond 10 for declarer to ruff (fine defense). Declarer was in trouble now. He tried to cash the ace and king of clubs, but Bech ruffed and played the spade king, which Arvidsson overtook to give Bech a second club ruff, taking the contract down one for minus 100 and 13 IMPs to Sweden.

West

East

♠ A 10 8 ♥6 ♦ K Q 10 9

♠KJ632 ♥9743 ♦5 ♣763

7

♣9842 South

♠9754 ♥ K Q 10 2 ♦J4 ♣AKJ

South

West

North

1 NT 2♥

Pass Pass

2♣ 4♥

East Pass Pass All Pass

Opening Lead: ♦ K

At double-dummy, the only winning line is to cash three rounds of clubs immediately, before East has a chance to pitch clubs on his partner’s winning diamonds. If you play either spades or diamonds at trick two, then, as the cards lie, East can pitch enough clubs to leave declarer no chance. ANSWER: There is no right answer to this question, since this is more about system than judgment. If you play as I do, that a one-diamond response either denies a four-card major, or shows at least invitational values, then you should respond one no-trump now. Either you do not have a fit in a major, or your partner will introduce his major at his next turn.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 9754 ♥ K Q 10 2 ♦ J4 ♣AKJ South 1♣ ?

West Pass

North 1♦

East Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, August 29, 2010 by admin on September 12th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

What should the responses of three hearts and three spades to one no-trump be used for? Should they show both majors, invitational and strong respectively? — Solon, Mason City, Iowa ANSWER: That is playable, but I believe transferring to spades, then bidding three hearts, takes care of the good hand. And using Stayman, then bidding two spades, can effectively describe an unbalanced invitational hand with five spades. Thus I marginally prefer using the direct jumps as game-forcing, showing both minors with 5-4 pattern. Responder bids his shortage to suggest three cards in the other major. Dear Mr. Wolff: Holding ♠ 9, ♥ A-J-10-3-2, ♦ K-Q-7-4, ♣ KJ-4, I opened one heart and rebid two diamonds over a one-spade response. My partner now jumped to three spades. Should this be forcing or invitational, and if the latter what would you do now? — Bounceback, Harrisburg, Pa. ANSWER: This sequence should be invitational, not forcing — your partner could use fourth-suit forcing to set up the game-force. Because you have a bit extra in high cards, it looks logical to bid three notrump now. Partner can always overrule you with a hand that looks more appropriate to the suit game. Dear Mr. Wolff: In a social duplicate match, South opened a strong no-trump, and West overcalled two clubs. If North was planning to make a Stayman call before the intervention, what is the best call to convey that? Two diamonds was suggested as a possibility (if agreed as a convention), although that would take away the normal two-diamond rebid from South, denying a four-card major. — Stymied, Midland, Mich.

ANSWER: After intervention of two clubs (unless the call shows both majors), best is to ignore it and use double for Stayman, with transfers remaining in place. This is ONLY for the two-club call — and it is because you still have exactly the same scheme of responses available as you did before. If they intervene with higher calls, I suggest takeout doubles and an artificial two-no-trump call. Two-level calls are natural and weak; three-level calls, strong.

Dear Mr. Wolff: An unopposed auction ran one heart – one spade – three spades – four diamonds – four hearts – four spades – all pass. In an expert game what inferences would the opening leader be able to draw about declarer’s (or dummy’s) holding a club control? — Infer a Penny, Durango, Colo. ANSWER: In a top-class game the fourdiamond call would tend to deny a club control, particularly if the partnership style was to cue-bid first- and second-round controls indiscriminately. The return cue-bid of four hearts would then guarantee a heart control and some control in clubs, or else that hand would have signed off, knowing there was no club control held. Dear Mr. Wolff: Recently you discussed ♠ A-K-J-6-5-4, ♥ 2, ♦ A-10-6-3-2, ♣ 7. To me this looks like another one of those two-suiters best opened two clubs (since it is a five-loser hand) to avoid being passed out in one spade when game is cold, with North holding as little as the spade queen or diamond king and nothing else. What do you think? — Eager Beaver, Orlando, Fla. ANSWER: The simple answer is that since one spade will almost never be passed out, I prefer one spade. If your diamonds included even the queen instead of the 10, the strong opening would be acceptable. With a two-suiter in this range, the one-level opening followed by a jump shift gets you to game and does not risk going overboard when partner assumes you have much more.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, August 30, 2010 by admin on September 13th, 2010 “It is undesirable to believe a proposition when there is no ground whatsoever for supposing it to be true.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: All

♠AK54 ♥— ♦AKQ4 ♣AK862

— Bertrand Russell After South opens four hearts, North can locate the missing trump honors, and at the given vulnerability is then entitled to play his partner for an eighth trump or a little extra in terms of trump honors. Now the issue is how to make the contract. Playing safe may not be as glamorous as a squeeze or a swindle, but there is a lot to be said for making your contract whenever it can be made. And that applies especially in a grand slam. Just because you believe trumps ought to split is no reason that they actually will. The correct approach for South is to win the opening diamond lead, take one spade honor, and lead a low spade, ruffing low. Then he will cash a high trump to discover the distressing news, and at that point he should take three more trump winners, pitching low cards from dummy. Declarer then leads a low club to dummy. He must then discard his remaining diamond on dummy’s high spade and can then lead out high diamonds, being able to overruff and draw trumps if East ruffs in.

West

East

♠J96 ♥— ♦ J 10 9 8 6

♠ Q 10 7 3 2

♥96543 2

3

♦5 ♣9

♣ Q J 10 5 South

♠8 ♥ A K Q J 10 87

♦72 ♣743

South

West

North

4♥ 5♠

Pass Pass

4 NT 7♥

East Pass Pass All Pass

If East throws away losers on the top diamonds, then so Opening Lead: ♦ J does declarer, and he will reach an ending with the lead in dummy and be left with the heart 10-8 poised over East’s 9-6. Whatever the defenders do, declarer has an answer. Once the bad trump break is revealed, all this line requires is that East not be void in clubs. ANSWER: Your partner has shown at least 10 cards in the black suits by his jump to two notrump. It feels right to try to set up a black-suit winner before anything can be discarded on dummy’s hearts, and you are fractionally more likely to do this by leading spades rather than clubs, given your minor spade honor. A heart lead is unnecessary and may jeopardize your trick in that suit.

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ J74 ♥QJ92 ♦ 986 ♣984 South

West

Pass Pass

1♥ 5♦

North Pass 2 NT All Pass

East 1♦ 3♦

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 by admin on September 14th, 2010 “Stake your counter as boldly every whit, Venture as warily, use the same skill,

Dealer: South North

Vul: All

Do your best, whether winning or losing it, If you choose to play!” — Robert Browning In today’s deal South decided to overbid slightly to get his two-suiter in at a convenient level, and North took him seriously, driving to what turned out to be an excellent slam, even with the clear warnings of possible bad splits. How would you play the slam, knowing that West has at least 10 cards in his two suits, which you assume to be spades and diamonds?

♠K86 ♥AQ6 ♦AJ753 ♣K8

West

East

♠QJ954 ♥53 ♦ K Q 10 9

♠ 10 7 3 2 ♥974 ♦6 ♣ Q J 10 5

4

♣6

4 South

♠A ♥ K J 10 8 2 ♦82 ♣A9732

At the table South made no mistake on a top diamond South West North lead. It would have been very easy to pitch the diamond 1♥ Dbl. 2♥ loser on the spades and rely on the clubs breaking. South 4♣ Pass 4 NT Pass 6♥ did far better. He took the diamond lead on the board, 5♥ drew two rounds of trumps with the ace and jack, cashed Opening Lead: ♦ K the spade ace, then played the club king and club ace and ruffed a club in dummy. Now came a spade ruff to hand, and South drew the last trump. At this point South led a diamond toward dummy’s jack. West won the trick and had to return either a spade or diamond. Whichever he played, South would win in dummy and discard his two losing clubs — contract made.

East 3♠ Pass All Pass

Had hearts been 4-1 and clubs 4-2, declarer would have drawn two rounds of trumps and ruffed a club in dummy. Then he would have crossed to his spade ace and drawn trumps. Now he could either set up a diamond trick, or play a fourth club to East. Because that player has only spades left, he must lead one round to dummy to let declarer pitch his diamond. ANSWER: A jump overcall of two no-trump shows the two lowest unbid suits, and although South has slightly better defense than partner might expect, it is still the sensible way to describe this hand at one go. If you bid hearts now, you may never get your clubs in at a convenient level. Vulnerable, there is a case for the simple overcall, given your rather feeble club spots.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠A ♥ K J 10 8 2 ♦ 82 ♣A9732 South ?

West

North

East 1♦

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, September 1, 2010 by admin on September 15th, 2010 “It seemed to be but chance, yet who shall say That ’twas not part of Nature’s own sweet way…”

Dealer: South North

Vul: None

— John Kendrick Bangs Sally Brock, a member of the current English World Teams Champions, provided me with a good problem from the qualifying rounds of the National Women’s Teams. Cover up the South and West hands. When West led the spade two against three no-trump, how would you (East) plan the defense? It seemed to Brock that because of her guarded diamond queen, there was no hurry to do anything committal. If partner held queen-fourth in spades, she would still do so after East won her diamond queen. Brock considered what might be best if West had jack-fourth of spades instead. One possibility would be to win the spade ace and return the six, but if South were to guess right, that would surely be the end of the defensive prospects.

♠ 10 5 3 ♥9865 ♦AKJ64 ♣3

West

East

♠J842 ♥J42 ♦ 10 2 ♣J852

♠AK6 ♥ A 10 7 3 ♦Q83 ♣976 South

♠Q97 ♥KQ ♦975 ♣ A K Q 10 4

South 1 NT 2♦

West Pass Pass

North 2♣ 3 NT

Brock decided that her best extra chance was to play partner for a three-card heart suit, so at trick two she switched to the heart three, won by declarer’s king as West played the four. Declarer took a diamond finesse and Opening Lead: ♠ 2 that let Brock win her queen and cash the heart ace. If this had dropped her partner’s jack, Brock would have switched to a low spade, hoping that declarer would still get the suit wrong.

East Pass All Pass

However, when West followed low on the heart, Brock was confident her partner held the jack (or she would have discouraged at trick two). Since one down would be sufficient at teams scoring, Brock played the spade ace now, and West intelligently confirmed the spade position by dropping the jack, making the heart play a sure thing. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 10 5 3 ♥9865 ♦ AKJ64 ♣3 South ?

West

North 1♣

East 1♥

ANSWER: A call of two diamonds would overstate your hand by a queen or so, a response of one no-trump without a heart stop looks extremely distorted, and a negative double promises four spades. What does that leave? You can only pass and hope to get a second shot, or else defend one heart — and that will happen only if partner is minimum with heart length. As a passed hand, you might risk a bid of two diamonds.

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, September 2, 2010 by admin on September 16th, 2010 “Our sympathy is cold to the relation of distant misery.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: E/W — Edward Gibbon You might not agree with South’s decision to treat his hand as worth a three-level pre-empt, but my view is that at this vulnerability one is entitled to take a little latitude (or maybe rather more than a little) with pre-empting in first seat. There are, after all, two opponents to contend with but only one partner. Be that as it may, North felt he had enough to bid on to the heart game, although a call of three no-trump would have been a very practical alternative. On the lead of the diamond jack, declarer won the ace, played two top clubs while discarding a diamond, and led dummy’s heart. Can you see any hope for the defense?

♠ K J 10 ♥ 10 ♦AQ7 ♣ A K Q 10 8

5 West

East

♠8543 ♥K82 ♦ J 10 9 3 ♣62

♠A96 ♥A3 ♦K654 ♣J974 South

♠Q72 ♥QJ9765

4

♦82 ♣3

East knew that since his side could take no more than one trick in the side-suits, his partner had to have decent South West North Pass trumps to have any hope of defeating the game. That 3♥ 4♥ being so, a trump promotion or two would offer the best Opening Lead: ♦ J chance of a fourth trick. Accordingly, he won the heart ace and played a club. Declarer was forced to ruff high, and West discarded a diamond (to make sure his partner did not try to give him a spade ruff later on). When declarer led another high trump from his hand, West could win and play a spade to East’s ace. The fourth round of clubs promoted his heart eight to the setting trick.

ANSWER: Depending upon your partner’s ability, one option would be to respond in no-trump, in which case you’d jump to three no-trump to show 12-15. An inverted minor-suit raise to two clubs is also possible, so long as you play a simple raise is forcing here. But I’d prefer to respond one diamond. That gives partner room to describe his hand, and might also let the opponents warn us of dangers in one major or the other.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ A96 ♥A3 ♦ K654 ♣J974 South ?

West

North 1♣

East All Pass

East Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, September 3, 2010 by admin on September 17th, 2010 “If you can dream — and not make dreams your master; If you can think — and not make thoughts your aim…”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: None

♠K863 ♥95 ♦8632 ♣K82

— Rudyard Kipling The strong no-trump occasionally acts as a pre-emptive weapon. But when your opponents bid to game, it also can work to your disadvantage by telling declarer where the high cards are. Today West’s no-trump was strong, so it certainly made placing the outstanding high cards easy for South.

West

East

♠74 ♥ K J 10 3 ♦AKQ9 ♣ Q 10 5

♠9 ♥87642 ♦754 ♣J643 South

The auction also featured a point of interest: Is it better to play weak jump overcalls or strong ones when the opponents transfer into a major over a strong no-trump? Both options make sense, but on this deal South was playing strong jumps, and North thought that his two kings were enough to go forward. (He was also hoping that his hand might also offer a heart ruff.) Against four spades West led the diamond king and received a count signal of the four from East. To avoid being forced to isolate the diamond menace, West cashed a second diamond and shifted to a trump.

♠ A Q J 10 5 2

♥AQ ♦ J 10 ♣A97

South 3♠

West 1 NT Pass

North Pass 4♠

East 2♦ All Pass

Without a clear idea of where he was going, declarer won Opening Lead: ♦ K the trump in dummy, ruffed a diamond, and ran the rest of his trumps, reducing to a five-card ending in which West had to keep at least two hearts, or his king would drop. Since he had to retain the master diamond as well, he could keep only two clubs. South now cashed the ace and king of clubs, then exited with the losing diamond from the board. West won the trick, but had to lead into South’s heart tenace, conceding the contract. ANSWER: It seems unlikely that you can defend clubs successfully, and since you have a second suit to bid, you should introduce it now, suggesting a little extra shape and moderate values. A call of two diamonds does not commit your hand to anything beyond the two-level.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ K863 ♥95 ♦ 8632 ♣K82 South 1♠ ?

West 1♣ Dbl.

North Dbl. Rdbl.

East Pass 2♣

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, September 4, 2010 by admin on September 18th, 2010 “A ROMAN Master stands on Grecian ground, And to the people at the Isthmian Games …

Dealer: South North

Vul: N/S

Proclaims THE LIBERTY OF GREECE…”

♠9843 ♥K8 ♦KQ5 ♣K752

— William Wordsworth

West

East

As a commentator at world championships, I was constantly amazed by the skill of Lorenzo Lauria. His play in today’s deal was most impressive.

♠Q5 ♥ Q 10 7 6

♠ 10 7 6 2 ♥A52 ♦ A 10 7 6 ♣ 10 9

In three no-trump on repeated heart leads (suggesting West had started with five), you win the second and plan to cash as many clubs as you can before deciding whether to set up a diamond for your ninth trick, or to fall back on the spade finesse. On your third club winner, West discards an encouraging diamond three, while East lets go the diamond six. You lead a spade to the king, then cross back to the club seven, on which both opponents again let go of small diamonds. I just had time to say, “I’ve seen this sort of position for 50 years and no one has ever successfully dropped a doubleton queen offside” when Lauria did find the play!

4

♦J943 ♣J8 South

♠AKJ ♥J93 ♦82 ♣AQ643

South 1 NT 2♦

West Pass Pass

North 2♣ 3 NT

East Pass All Pass

Opening Lead: ♥ 6

Lauria had decided that the diamond discards suggested West had begun life with either a small doubleton spade or the doubleton queen. If so, why had East not pitched a spade? After all, he knew he could afford one. Lauria had reasoned as follows: “East thinks if he lets go a small spade, it might persuade me to play for the drop. Since East wants me to think he is keeping spades because he has something, he really has nothing in the suit. If he had started life with queen-fourth of spades, he would have pitched one to make me play for the drop.” ANSWER: If your partner has come into the auction with a relatively poor suit, he rates to have either extra length or extra high-cards. Either way, bidding three no-trump now seems the practical option. If nothing else, it should teach your partner that two-level overcalls are not to be taken lightly.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 9843 ♥K8 ♦ KQ5 ♣K752 South

West

North

Pass ?

1♥

2♦

East 1♣ Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, September 5, 2010 by admin on September 19th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

How often in a five-card major system will a one-diamond opening be based on a threecard suit? Does it matter if you occasionally open one diamond with 3-3 in the minors for lead-directing purposes? — Bloodhound, Pueblo, Colo. ANSWER: The three-card suit comes up only about one time in 50 for a onediamond opening bid. However, opening one diamond with 3-3 would affect the calculation considerably. My advice is that, except in third seat, one should never open one diamond with fewer than four, or specifically a 4-4-3-2 pattern. In third seat a lead-directing call is acceptable with three — if you must. Dear Mr. Wolff: Holding ♠ K-9, ♥ 2, ♦ A-Q-J-10-3, ♣ A-10-43-2, I responded two clubs Stayman to my partner’s strong no-trump, then bid three clubs, and next introduced my diamonds. We made six clubs after a tortured auction, but we could have made six no-trump. How could we have gotten there? — Road Map, Danville, Ill. ANSWER: I’d respond three diamonds initially, natural and game-forcing, planning to bid six clubs at my next turn to offer a choice of slams. I’d bid the minors in this order because of the suit disparity. Six notrump may be too tough to reach unless partner can bid it on his own after this start. Incidentally, an alternative approach is to use direct calls of three clubs and three diamonds conventionally to show 5-5 in the minors, invitational and game-forcing respectively, while bids in the majors show 5-4 in the minors and show my shortage. Dear Mr. Wolff: My bridge partner says that if I open one of anything, then when my LHO passes and she responds three of a suit, that it is not a jump-shift, but a reverse pre-empt. Have you ever heard of this? — Brown Study, Topeka, Kan.

ANSWER: Let’s differentiate between single and double jumps. A bid of three hearts in response to one diamond is normally played as weak — about the values for a minimum three-level pre-empt (say, seven hearts to the K-J, but you might have a queen on the side). The single jump — three hearts over one spade — can be played as weak, strong or invitational and requires agreement. In a two-over-one base it won’t be strong. I’d call it a jump shift, not a reverse pre-empt!

Dear Mr. Wolff: You posed a recent query with ♠ Q-3-2, ♥ A-K-7-4, ♦ Q-2, ♣ Q-J-10-9. After doubling one diamond, your LHO raises to two diamonds and your partner doubles for takeout. When you bid two hearts, partner says two no-trump. You suggested this denied hearts, but is he not showing four hearts and a diamond stop, allowing you to choose strain and level? — Lost in Translation, Pottsville, Pa. ANSWER: Without getting into specifics, the responsive double says “both majors OR spades, and able to correct hearts to no-trump to get my values across.” Here the continuation of two no-trump must deny hearts unequivocally. In my old-fashioned style, I raise hearts as advancer if I have them, or probe with three diamonds if I want to keep no-trump in the picture. Dear Mr. Wolff: In first seat I held ♠ J-9-5-4, ♥ A-Q-7-3-2, ♦ K-10, ♣ J-4. Do you agree with my decision to open one heart? After my partner responded with a forcing no-trump, what should I do now? — Stuck for an Answer, Jackson, Tenn. ANSWER: It is precisely because I have no rebid over a forcing no-trump (or indeed over a two-diamond response) that I would pass this hand. With 11-counts, the ease of rebid is critical to deciding whether to open. Here, unless you want to break discipline and pass the forcing no-trump (I might!), you have to bid two clubs and hope you emerge relatively unscathed.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, September 6, 2010 by admin on September 20th, 2010 Dealer: South North

“Do not block the way of inquiry.”

Vul: E/W — Charles Peirce On today’s deal both the defenders and declarer had the chance to do better. See where you think most of the blame should fall. South, playing five-card majors, opened his better minor. His rebid showed a balanced 18-19, and North had an easy raise to three no-trump. When West led a fourthhighest spade, South won and immediately played on diamonds, letting East win and cash out the spades. West could then switch to a top heart, leaving declarer struggling to escape for down one because the diamond blockage prevented establishment of that suit. Both declarer and the defenders had a chance to do better. To start with, after winning the spade lead, all South had to do was cash both top clubs, then play the ace and queen of diamonds. The best East can do now is to return the spade and let West cash out (dummy discarding the losing hearts), then play a top heart. Declarer wins in dummy and cashes the remaining top club, discarding his unblocking diamond honor. Dummy is now high.

♠J4 ♥A62 ♦ 10 9 8 4 2 ♣QJ5

West

East

♠A972 ♥ K Q 10 ♦653 ♣984

♠ Q 10 8 ♥743 ♦K7 ♣ 10 7 6 3 2 South

♠K653 ♥J985 ♦AQJ ♣AK

South 1♦ 2 NT

West Pass Pass

North 2♦ 3 NT

East Pass All Pass

Opening Lead: ♠ 2 So how could the defenders have done better? West’s opening lead was to blame. Although I won’t go so far as to say that leading from acefourth into a strong no-trump is never right, my experience tells me that whenever a viable alternative exists, it should be taken. In this case, on a top heart lead declarer must duck dummy’s ace, and when East discourages hearts, the spade shift establishes five tricks for the defenders before declarer can take nine. ANSWER: If you are going to lead a diamond, as I would, my instincts are to lead the 10 or the seven, not a smaller one. The reason is that with partner almost guaranteed to have five or six diamonds, I want to avoid letting declarer score a singleton honor (with the bare queen facing kingthird, for example).

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ J93 ♥AJ4 ♦ 10 7 4 3 ♣Q87 South

West

2♦ All Pass

2♠

North 1♦ 3♦

East 1♠ 3♠

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, September 7, 2010 by admin on September 21st, 2010 “Reminiscences make one feel so deliciously aged and sad.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: All

— George Bernard Shaw Today’s deal was played almost 50 years ago as evidenced by the bidding. It is a good example of the edge declarer can create for himself if he knows the opponents to be honest. The auction predated transfer responses to a no-trump. Despite holding three-card heart support, South, with his sterile 3-3-3-4 shape, exercised good judgment in rebidding three no-trump rather than four hearts — a contract that would have been doomed.

West

East

♠J972 ♥QJ83 ♦Q72 ♣Q5

♠K863 ♥ 10 ♦ 10 9 6 4 ♣J974 South

♠ Q 10 4 ♥952 ♦AK8 ♣AK83

Playing fourth-highest leads, West led the spade two to East’s king, and the return of the spade three removed dummy’s ace, as well as almost guaranteeing the 4-4 spade break. One heart trick had to be lost inevitably, so declarer led the heart four from the table at trick three. Winning with the 10, East played a third spade, won by South’s queen. Declarer fell from grace by next playing a heart to dummy’s ace. With no outside entry to dummy, the 4-1 heart break spelled defeat, eight tricks now being the limit of the hand.

♠A5 ♥AK764 ♦J53 ♣ 10 6 2

South 1 NT 3 NT

West Pass All Pass

North 3♥

East Pass

Opening Lead: ♠ 2

Do you see what declarer should have done better, or differently? Once both East and West had followed to one round of hearts, the contract was assured, so long as the defensive carding in spades was honest. Declarer knew he could afford to lose two tricks in each of the majors. Therefore, by ducking in hearts for a second time (leading a second low heart from each hand), South would have assured himself the three heart tricks needed to fulfill the contract. ANSWER: You had planned to bid hearts at your next turn if partner showed a minimum and the opponents competed. Instead your partner has shown 18-20, so all you have to do is decide on which game is best. You might cuebid two clubs, hoping partner will introduce hearts. But equally sensible is a jump to three no-trump. (You may not want to play a 4-4 heart fit even if you have one.)

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ J972 ♥QJ83 ♦ Q72 ♣Q5 South 1♠ ?

West 1♣ Pass

North Dbl. 1 NT

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, September 8, 2010 by admin on September 22nd, 2010 “I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume;

Dealer: South North

Vul: All

♠ Q 10 6 ♥Q7 ♦752 ♣ Q 10 9 6 3

For every atom belonging to me, as good belongs to you.” — Walt Whitman

West

East

Today’s deal, from the Forbo-Krommenie Nations Cup a few years ago, saw 64 top-class teams from all over the world competing. This deal shows declarer reading the location of the opponents’ cards accurately.

♠KJ743

♠85 ♥52 ♦ K Q 10 9

2

♥ A 10 8 ♦J8 ♣75

Fred Gitelman was the man at the helm. He had been given an idea of the location of the high cards from the auction. The key to success was to prevent a trump promotion. West led the diamond jack against four hearts, overtaken with East’s queen, and South ducked the trick. If declarer had won, then when West got in with the heart ace, he would have had a second diamond to play. At that point a third diamond from East would have resulted in the heart 10 being promoted to the setting trick.

43

♣K42 South

♠A9 ♥KJ9643 ♦A6 ♣AJ8

South 1♥ 2♠ 3♥

West 1♠ Pass Pass

North 1 NT 3♣ 4♥

East 2♦ Pass All Pass

At the table, when the diamond queen held, East switched to a spade. Confident that East would not have underled Opening Lead: ♦ J the king, Gitelman won this with the ace and returned a second spade. West took his king and could do no better than press on with a third spade. Dummy’s spade queen was ruffed by East and overruffed by declarer. Now Gitelman played a low heart, and when dummy’s queen held, he was able to take two successful club finesses before reverting to trumps. The heart ace was the last trick for the defense. ANSWER: Your call of two no-trump was natural and game-forcing. With a really weak hand, a second negative of three clubs was available, so you suggested 4-7 points. Since no suit has been agreed upon, your partner’s call should be quantitative. My best guess now would be to bid slam, offering six clubs as an alternative contract. Partner can always correct to hearts or no-trump as appropriate.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ Q 10 6 ♥Q7 ♦ 752 ♣ Q 10 9 6 3 South

West

2♦ 2 NT ?

Pass Pass

North 2♣ 2♥ 4 NT

East Pass Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, September 9, 2010 by admin on September 23rd, 2010 “Not with a Club, the Heart is broken Nor with a Stone —

Dealer: East

North

Vul: None

♠J853 ♥AK6 ♦J6 ♣ Q 10 7 2

A whip so small you could not see it.” — Emily Dickinson

West

East

“Cover an honor with an honor” is an oft-quoted but sometimes inappropriate mantra. Today’s deal from a tournament shows just one example of when the saying is not only misleading, but downright wrong.

♠K ♥ Q J 10 9

♠ Q 10 2 ♥82 ♦52 ♣KJ984

754

♦ 10 9 ♣A65

I was an innocent spectator at one table where, after South made an aggressive but entirely reasonable jump to six diamonds, West led the heart queen to dummy’s king. Declarer then drew trumps and played ace and another spade. With spades breaking 3-1, the slam went down. The score sheet showed that only one declarer had brought the contract home. Here’s how. After the same lead, declarer next played the diamond ace and a diamond to the jack. When both opponents followed, declarer appreciated from the bidding that West could hold no more than two spades. Seven hearts for his pre-empt, coupled with his partner’s failure to open a club preempt marked him with at least two clubs. (If he held a singleton, East would have had eight and would surely have bid.)

3 South

♠A9764 ♥3 ♦AKQ87

43

♣—

South

West

North

1♦ 6♦

3♥ All Pass

3 NT

East Pass Pass

Opening Lead: ♥ Q

So the play of a spade to the ace, hoping for a singleton honor with East, then a spade toward the jack, which would hold the losers in the suit to one if West had started with three cards to an honor, was destined to fail. The correct continuation at trick four is the spade jack, playing East for K-Q-2 and West for the bare 10. It also has the psychological advantage that East might instinctively cover the jack with the queen or king from a three-card holding — which was exactly what happened. ANSWER: Playing for penalties looks too dangerous. So the choice is to cue-bid two clubs, to jump in spades, or to bid no-trump. My instincts are to respond one no-trump, which, by a passed hand in this auction, should show 1013 or so. My honor location is such that spades does not look a great spot to play in unless partner has extra shape, in which case he will surely bid again.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ J853 ♥AK6 ♦ J6 ♣ Q 10 7 2 South

West

North

Pass ?

Pass

Dbl.

East 1♣ Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, September 10, 2010 by admin on September 24th, 2010 “Our little systems have their day; They have their day and cease to be…”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: N/S

♠63 ♥AQ4 ♦AK5 ♣ A 10 8 7 3

— Alfred, Lord Tennyson When you are playing a vulnerable game at teams, safety plays become highly important. You should be prepared to give up on overtricks to make sure you bring home your games, and equally to insure the defeat of a game or slam without worrying about undoubled undertricks.

West

East

♠ 10 7 2 ♥ J 10 9 7 ♦862 ♣962

♠KQJ85 ♥K5 ♦ J 10 9 4 ♣Q5

That said, can you see which unlikely card in the defenders’ hands might be the key to a safety play in three no-trump? West obediently led a spade in response to his partner’s opening bid overcall.Declarer ducked his ace until the third round and pitched a heart from dummy. Then he crossed to the diamond ace and advanced the club 10, planning to run that card to keep East off lead if he had the guarded club jack. East covered the club 10, and declarer crossed back to dummy with a second diamond and led the club seven, letting it ride to West’s nine. Surprised, West won a cheap trick and exited with a heart, but declarer wrapped up his four club tricks, three diamonds, and two aces.

South

♠A94 ♥8632 ♦Q73 ♣KJ4 South

West

North

Pass 2♥ 3 NT

Pass Pass All Pass

Dbl. 3♥

East 1♠ Pass Pass

Opening Lead: ♠ 2

It may seem that all declarer had done was to surrender an overtrick, but in the other room West tried the effect of raising one spade to two. (Children, don’t try this at home.) When North doubled and South bid three hearts, it was almost impossible to reach three no-trump now. In fact North did quite well to pass and let South find his way home for nine tricks, but still, a game-swing away. ANSWER: You may think you can defeat the contract because your side clearly has the balance of high cards, but consider that West knows that and obviously has a great deal of shape. Your partner did not wish to compete any further, but your diamond length argues for competing to three diamonds — though it is a close call.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ A94 ♥8632 ♦ Q73 ♣KJ4 South

West

1♥ 2 NT ?

2♣ 3♣

North 1♦ 2♦ Pass

East Pass Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, September 11, 2010 by admin on September 25th, 2010 “Oh! Death will find me, long before I tire Of watching you; and swing me suddenly

Dealer: South North

Vul: E/W

Into the shade and loneliness and mire Of the last land!” — Rupert Brooke In today’s spade slam South could see, when dummy came down, that a grand slam might have been easy to make if spades and diamonds behaved, but he was not going to play carelessly and risk his contract just because his side might have missed the boat. He won the club lead with the ace, played the spade ace, then led the spade nine to dummy’s king.

♠KQ85 ♥A975 ♦93 ♣K85

West

East

♠ 10 7 6 2 ♥J8 ♦Q8542 ♣ J 10

♠3 ♥ K Q 10 2 ♦6 ♣Q9764

32 South

♠AJ94 ♥643 ♦ A K J 10 7 ♣A

Had both opponents followed suit, declarer’s life would have been easy. He would have drawn the last trump and played on diamonds. But when East discarded on the South West North East second trump, South resisted the knee-jerk reaction to ruff Pass Pass 1♦ 1♥ a club — that would have been fatal as the cards lay. 2♠ Pass Pass 3♠ Pass 4 NT Pass Instead, he ran the diamond nine to preserve entries to 4♣ Pass 5 NT Pass hand. West ducked this, so declarer cashed his two top 5♣* Pass All Pass 6♦ 6♠ diamonds and ruffed out the diamond queen. Then he *Three aces or none, counting the trump king as ruffed a club low in hand, relieved to see West follow suit, an ace and cashed his last diamond winner while West again had Opening Lead: ♣ J to follow suit. Next, declarer went to the heart ace and ruffed the club king with the spade jack and could take the trump queen in dummy for the 12th trick. He gave up his heart loser at trick 13 as West disconsolately trumped his partner’s winner. Incidentally, on an initial heart lead, declarer can succeed only by drawing trumps with the spade king and queen, then ruffing out the diamonds — a successful, but far from obvious, line. ANSWER: Since a call of two hearts from your partner at his last turn to speak would have shown a good hand, his jump shows a great hand — eight playing tricks or so. Your choice is to pass or bid three no-trump now. Your bits and pieces may be just enough (with the heart queen instead of the jack, I would act), but I’ll guess to pass today.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 10 7 6 2 ♥J8 ♦ Q8542 ♣ J 10 South 1♠ ?

West 1♦ 2♦

North Dbl. 3♥

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, September 12, 2010 by admin on September 26th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

On a sequence where you use fourth-suit game-forcing and then support partner’s second suit, which is known to be fourcards long, does not that delayed support promise only three trumps? I’m thinking of a sequence like 1 ♣ – 1 ♥ – 1 ♠ – 2 ♦ – 3 ♣ – 3 ♠ . The logic is that you would have raised directly with four trumps. — Stutter Step, Charlottesville, Va. ANSWER: The problem with your idea is that the fourth-suit call could have concealed a game-forcing or slaminterested hand with four spades. This is because there is no forcing raise of spades for responder at his second turn — bar a jump to four spades. Therefore if (as here) you raise spades after using fourth-suit, it shows four trumps, not three. If you delayed raising spades for one round further, you would show only three trumps, but not by the route you suggest. Dear Mr. Wolff: Recently you showed a sequence where responder holds a strong hand with four decent clubs and five hearts. He responded one heart to one club and heard partner jump to four clubs. What kind of club suit would you expect for that auction? Does it always show a heart fit too? And why would opener not show shortage in a side-suit instead of rebidding clubs? — Monkey Business, Vancouver, British Columbia ANSWER: The jump to four clubs is conventional, in a sense. It shows heart support, good long clubs, and real extras — a hand like this would be a minimum: ♠ 9, ♥ A-J-7-3, ♦ A-Q, ♣ A-Q-10-4-3-2. Normally opener would possess better clubs. Opener rates not to have a void, as he might prefer to show that first, unless his clubs were solid. However, shortage somewhere is guaranteed, since opener has at least 10 cards in clubs and hearts. Dear Mr. Wolff: I was fourth to speak, with a strong notrump, facing an overcall, when both opponents were bidding their own suits. Before I jump to game in no-trump, how good a stopper would I need in each of the opponents’ suits? What about stoppers in the unbid suit? And if I cuebid, do I promise support here or just show a good hand? — Pinochle Deck, Greenville, S.C.

ANSWER: When you are considering no-trump, weak length in an unbid suit should not worry you. Remember that, as fourth to speak, you can also double for takeout, suggesting a good hand with some length in the fourth suit and support or tolerance for partner. A double covers most awkward hands without three trumps; hence the cuebid would always deliver support here.

Dear Mr. Wolff: I was in third seat with ♠ A-Q-7-3-2, ♥ K-103-2, ♦ 10-4 ♣ J-2. When partner opened three clubs at favorable vulnerability, what should I do now? Would it affect my call if I thought my RHO had squirmed before passing? — Tactical Warrior, Bremerton, Wash. ANSWER: This sort of deal is a good example of how tough the game is. On the surface of it, you don’t fear the opponents playing game in no-trump or either major, so passing seems logical. But you might tempt your RHO back into the auction if you raise to four clubs and pretend you are preempting with a fit. Of course, this might backfire on you horribly! If so, please don’t blame me. Dear Mr. Wolff: I am a beginner who enjoys reading your columns, but I only comprehend about half of them. It would help enormously if you actually showed exactly how the cards are played as you do for the bidding. When I try to understand what’s happening, I get lost in the lingo. (This is just a suggestion and may only apply to a novice like myself.) — Scooby-Newbie, Texarkana, Texas ANSWER: You make a good point, one I don’t always take into account. I do try to spell things out in the column — but the problem is one of space. I have a strict limit on the number of words, and it is tough to cram a quart into a pint jar! By the way, the earlier the deal in the week, the easier I try to make it. I don’t always succeed.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, September 13, 2010 by admin on September 27th, 2010 “It takes all sorts of in and outdoor schooling To get adapted to my kind of fooling.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: None

♠ 10 6 4 ♥K95 ♦Q982 ♣Q93

— Robert Frost All this week’s deals come from last year’s Lederer Invitational tournament. You will be able to follow this year’s event on bridgebase.com. It may come as a surprise to see two Easts open third in hand, but the Board-a-Match scoring encourages such levity. In our featured auction, Alexander Alfrey (East) started with his longest suit, hearts. South drove to three no-trump in short order, and Andrew Robson (West) led a heart to the eight and jack. Declarer did not yet know East had psyched, so he crossed to the heart king and led a spade to the jack, but Robson ducked smoothly. Declarer now misguessed diamonds by finessing dummy’s nine on the third round, losing to East’s jack. Declarer now had only 10 tricks — a triumph for “natural” bidding! At another table Jon Cooke, a professional poker player, psyched a one-spade opening as East. However, John Matheson (South) brushed aside the psyche by bidding three no-trump on the next round.

West

East

♠A852 ♥76 ♦743 ♣ J 10 6 4

♠Q97 ♥ Q 10 8 4 ♦ J 10 6 ♣852 South

♠KJ3 ♥AJ32 ♦AK5 ♣AK7

South Dbl. 3 NT

West Pass Pass All Pass

North Pass 2♦

East 1♥ Pass

Opening Lead: ♥ 7

West led a normal spade, Matheson won the nine with the jack, and the psyche was fully exposed. Declarer crossed to the heart king and led a heart to the jack. He now cashed the diamonds from the top. When both defenders threw clubs, he took three rounds of clubs, ending in North. This squeezed East in the majors. East had no choice but to bare the spade queen, but South exited dummy with a spade to the queen, king and ace, scoring an improbable 690. ANSWER: A diamond lead might work, but seems far too committal for our side. A passive lead is safer, and a club looks least likely to give away a trick. On this auction partner will have two trumps more often than not (from his failure to compete further in diamonds), so any time he has an honor, a spade lead may cost a trick.

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ J63 ♥ Q 10 4 ♦ A96 ♣J742 South 2♦

West 1♣ 2♠

North 1♦ All Pass

East 1♠

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, September 14, 2010 by admin on September 28th, 2010 “Wisdom denotes the pursuing of the best ends by the best means.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: None

♠Q6 ♥KQJ54 ♦AK972 ♣K

— Francis Hutcheson This week’s deals all come from the 2009 Lederer Invitational tournament, marking this year’s event to be held in London this weekend. Eight of the stronger teams in the U.K. and Europe play a round-robin event using a form of scoring closer to pairs than teams. Awards are given for the outstanding deals in the bidding and play. Here is the best-bid hand for the weekend. It is rare that a contract reached at only one table is exactly 100%, but such was the case for South’s six no-trump. The key to this hand was to avoid playing in diamonds, which Keith Bennett (South) did comfortably by never supporting the suit. After the normal first two calls, Bennett upgraded his hand by virtue of its two red 10s and rebid two no-trump, which in his methods was natural and showed extras.

West

East

♠ 10 8 7 4 3 ♥762 ♦J ♣ J 10 7 5

♠5 ♥A983 ♦Q83 ♣98643 South

♠AKJ92 ♥ 10 ♦ 10 6 5 4 ♣AQ2

South 1♠ 2 NT 3 NT 4 NT

West Pass Pass Pass Pass

North 2♥ 3♦ 4♦ 6 NT

After two natural slam tries by his partner, Neil Rosen, Bennett saw no benefit to playing in diamonds and bid a natural four no-trump, suggesting a minimum hand with no Opening Lead: ♥ 7 great fit for either red suit. Now it was Rosen’s turn to reevaluate. Looking at honors in both black suits, he simply bid what he thought he could make. Bennett could win the heart lead in hand, then cross to dummy with a club, and drive out the heart ace. Even if neither major suit split, declarer would have been able to establish a third heart winner and claim four spades, two diamonds, and three tricks each in hearts and clubs.

East Pass Pass Pass All Pass

Note that six diamonds goes down on the bad trump break. ANSWER: Before you pass after partner was unable to compete at his second turn, consider that you have extra values and the opponents have found a fit. If they do, then so must your side! Even if you have only a seven-card spade fit, how bad can that be? Double for takeout and resolve never to let the opponents declare the hand at a low level when they have a fit and your side has values.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ AKJ92 ♥ 10 ♦ 10 6 5 4 ♣AQ2 South 1♠ ?

West 1♣ 2♥

North Pass Pass

East 1♥ Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 by admin on September 29th, 2010 “Both look up to me alone For learning and defence

Dealer: East

North

Vul: E/W

♠ Q J 10 2 ♥ 10 6 4 ♦J54 ♣K74

As I look up to Providence.” — W.B. Yeats

West

East

This week’s deals all come from the 2009 Lederer Invitational teams tournament. Yesterday’s winner of the award for the best-bid hand was the victim (as declarer) of the deal that won the prize for best defense.

♠K65 ♥Q8 ♦763 ♣ Q 10 5 3

♠987 ♥A52 ♦K982 ♣J98

2

In the last match of the event, a simple auction brought Bennett and Rosen, who were in contention for second place, to the normal game. John Matheson avoided giving the 10th trick immediately by not leading a spade or a diamond. (Even Zia’s unlikely choice of the heart eight might have worked well enough here.) Instead, Matheson led a small club. Bennett won the trick and advanced the heart king, as only a singleton queen was going to be of any use to him. Both opponents ducked, the second essential play to prevent declarer from getting to dummy for the finesses he needed, and West won the next trump to play a second club. Declarer took this in dummy with the king and ran the spade queen. Again, both opponents ducked smoothly.

South

♠A43 ♥KJ973 ♦ A Q 10 ♣A6

South

West

North

1♥ 4♥

Pass All Pass

2♥

East Pass Pass

Opening Lead: ♣ 3

It is far from clear what to do next. Maybe the defenders ducked because the king was onside — it does happen! Whether there is a case for switching to diamonds by leading the jack, you can certainly sympathize with declarer when he repeated the spade finesse. West now won and exited in spades. There was no further entry to dummy, and declarer had to go one down. ANSWER: Even the most experienced partnerships will not have a detailed agreement about what to do here, but a simple bid of four spades is not enough. One would make the same call without the minor-suit honors, maybe with just three trumps. Jump to five spades, intending it to show a hand too good for four spades and with no diamond control.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ Q J 10 2 ♥ 10 6 4 ♦ J54 ♣K74 South

West

2♦ ?

Dbl.

North 2♣ 2♠

East Pass 4♦

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, September 16, 2010 by admin on September 30th, 2010 “What is man in nature? Nothing in relation to the infinite, everything in relation to nothing, a mean between nothing and everything.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: All

♠AK832 ♥42 ♦AK87 ♣ 10 2

— Blaise Pascal In the featured auction here from last year’s Lederer tournament, North-South (Tony Priday and Bernard Teltscher) exercised some nice judgment.

West

East

♠ 10 7 ♥ A 10 7 6

♠Q964 ♥KQJ8 ♦5 ♣J963

3

Continuations after fourth suit forcing are notoriously difficult. In today’s deal, if South had a significant doubleton spade honor (such as the ace, king, or even queen), it would be clearly right to show that at his fourth turn.

♦963 ♣874 South

♠J5 ♥95 ♦ Q J 10 4 2 ♣AKQ5

On the actual deal it is extremely hard to decide what to do with the doubleton spade jack, and one can hardly fault Teltscher’s choice of four diamonds — particularly since it led to the best game! While there is nothing to the play in five diamonds, the Irish (the eventual tournament winners) were in four spades from the North seat against Dixon and Silverstone, South having supported spades at his fourth turn and North having raised himself to game.

South 1♦ 2♣ Pass 4♦

West Pass Pass Pass Pass

North 1♠ 2♥ 3♦ 5♦

East Pass Dbl. Pass All Pass

Opening Lead: ♥ A

Victor Silverstone as East showed that the simple way to defeat that game was to lead hearts at every opportunity. But even here, there was a trap to avoid. He started with the heart king and then continued thoughtfully with the queen. Dixon could not get in the way by overtaking, so now Silverstone could continue with a third heart. Declarer ruffed in hand and tried a spade toward the jack, but Silverstone rose with his queen and exited with a diamond. Declarer could win and unblock the spade jack, but had no safe route back to hand to draw trumps and had to concede a diamond ruff. ANSWER: There are only two practical options here. You can double, which is card-showing, not penalties, or you can bid four hearts. The latter is the call you would have made had the opponents not competed for a second time. I’m torn between the two actions, but I tend to believe the opponents and so would simply raise to four hearts rather than try something more extravagant.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ J5 ♥95 ♦ Q J 10 4 2 ♣AKQ5 South ?

West 2♠

North 3♥

East 3♠

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, September 17, 2010 by admin on October 1st, 2010 “Not wrung from speculations and subtleties, but from common sense and observation.”

Dealer: North North

Vul: N/S

♠95 ♥AJ9 ♦QJ7 ♣K7543

— Thomas Browne The Lederer tournament, an invitational teams event for eight of the top squads in Europe, will be played this coming weekend and relayed on bridgebase.com. All this week’s deals come from last year’s event.

West

East

♠— ♥ K 10 8 5

♠Q732 ♥743 ♦984 ♣QJ6

2 Victor Silverstone usually provides a couple of stimulating hands, and today’s deal, which is one of his, contains some interesting points.

♦AK52 ♣ A 10 9 2 South

Four spades doubled was typical of the rough and tumble of international play, with chances for both sides to do better. In the auction, the one-club opening was clubs or balanced, and the one-heart response showed spades, a style that is becoming increasingly popular at the very top levels of the game. West cashed his minor-suit winners and exited with a club, ruffed by South, a key play. In retrospect Silverstone believed he should have taken a first-round trump finesse, but he recovered well.

♠ A K J 10 8 64

♥Q6 ♦ 10 6 3 ♣8

South

West

1♥* 4♠

Dbl. Dbl.

North 1♣ Pass All Pass

East Pass Pass

After cashing the spade ace and discovering the bad *Spades news, he led a heart to dummy’s jack. Now he repeated Opening Lead: ♦ K the spade finesse, crossed to a diamond, ruffed another club, returned to dummy with the heart ace, and led another club to trump-coup East in the two-card ending. You will perhaps have spotted West’s error: he should have inserted the heart king on the first round of the suit, after which declarer is an entry short for the coup. Better still would have been to exit with a diamond rather than a club at trick three; then finding the blocking play would have been unnecessary. ANSWER: Your partner has shown a great hand by doubling again. The second double is also takeout. Having passed over one heart at your first turn, you can hardly do less than bid four spades now. Partner can’t really expect you to have any more than this.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ Q732 ♥743 ♦ 984 ♣QJ6 South Pass ?

West 1♦ 3♥

North Dbl. Dbl.

East 1♥ Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, September 18, 2010 by admin on October 2nd, 2010 “We meant full well and we tried full hard, And our failures were manifold.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: N/S

♠K97 ♥ 10 7 6 4 3 ♦ 10 9 8 4 3 ♣—

— Richard Burton The best-played hand of the 2009 Lederer was also a candidate for the best-defended hands at some tables, and a missed opportunity at another. In our featured auction, Cameron Small, for the TGR Super League winners, contented himself with a game-try on the South cards, which his partner was quick to decline. Against three spades, West led a diamond, and East won and switched to the spade 10 to the jack, queen and king. A heart to the jack and ace saw West play a second trump, which was won in dummy with the nine. Now Small ruffed a heart and exited with the diamond queen to the king. East was endplayed — a heart or diamond is clearly fatal — so he exited with a club. Small covered with the nine and pitched a diamond from dummy to endplay West for nine tricks.

West

East

♠Q5 ♥A952 ♦2 ♣ K 10 7 6

♠ 10 6 ♥QJ8 ♦AKJ76 ♣J83

42

South

♠AJ8432 ♥K ♦Q5 ♣AQ95

South 1♠ 3♣

West Pass Dbl. Pass

North Pass 2♠ 3♠

At another table, when David Bakhshi was South, he simply bid game at his second turn when his partner Zia raised, and West, Andrew McIntosh, for the Gold Cup Opening Lead: ♦ 2 team, raised the stakes by doubling. Again West led his singleton diamond, and East, Nick Sandqvist, won and continued with the diamond king and jack, theoretically a fatal error. Now South misguessed when he ruffed with the trump jack and went down.

East 1♦ Pass All Pass

The winning line was to ruff with the ace, cross to dummy with the king of trumps, and discard the heart king on a diamond. This line succeeds if the opposing trumps are 2-2, or if West has queen-third of spades. ANSWER: Your partner’s redouble shows a good hand, so you have enough to drive to game. The simplest way to find out about your partner’s hand and set up a game-forcing auction is to cue-bid three spades. Your plan would be to pass three no-trump if your partner bids it.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 10 6 ♥QJ8 ♦ AKJ76 ♣J83 South

West

1♦ ?

Dbl.

North 1♣ Rdbl.

East Pass 2♠

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, September 19, 2010 by admin on October 3rd, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

You posed a problem where you held acedoubleton of spades, five small hearts, kingfourth of diamonds and a doubleton club. Your unopposed auction had gone one diamond – one heart – one spade – two diamonds – two spades, and you advocated a jump to five diamonds with your “miserable seven-count.” Is this the principle of Fast Arrival? And might your partner have only five spades and five diamonds to bid like this? — High-Wire Artist, Cedar Rapids, Iowa ANSWER: This is, of course, a spectacular seven count — blame my ironic sense of humor. If you open a minor and then repeat a major (with the POSSIBLE exception of clubs and spades, where opinions differ and suit quality issues may be paramount), then you are implying a 6-5 pattern. The sequence does not constitute Fast Arrival — that applies only to jumps to game in game-forcing auctions. Dear Mr. Wolff: I have told my bridge friends that when you make a jump shift, you are allowed to alert your partner by saying “Skip Bid” before you bid. Is that right? — Wake-Up Call, Twin Falls, Idaho ANSWER: The objective of the skip bid (which you should use before any jump bid, even in a slam-going and uncontested auction) is NOT to alert partner. It is to let the opponents pause over your bid without conveying information to their partner. When you pre-empt, you may give LHO a problem. The 10-second pause is designed to make that player’s life easier by imposing a mandatory pause — thus his partner is not passed unauthorized information by a slow pass. In theory… Dear Mr. Wolff: Why do some players use a waiting twodiamond response to a strong two-club opener, when there are other response systems that give information about the responder’s hand? — Jumping In, Canton, Ga.

ANSWER: The idea is that in order not to pre-empt opener, you only respond in a suit (and risk pushing partner up a level) if you have a good suit. Hence, the two-diamond response may conceal a good hand and a moderate suit. Note that an initial response of two hearts will never pre-empt partner. Therefore one should almost always respond two hearts with five decent hearts and a positive, and you don’t have to wait for a great suit. The higher the response, the better the suit needed by responder.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Recently I received a lot of flak for forcing to game by responding two hearts to a onespade opening with ♠ J-9, ♥ A-Q-7-3-2, ♦ K10-8-3-2, ♣ 4. What would you recommend with this hand? — In the Soup, Troy, N.Y. ANSWER: This is a very tough problem. I’d prefer to respond with a forcing no-trump, planning to bid hearts at my next turn over a two-club response, or to raise spades if partner shows six. Forcing to game seems a little too rich for my blood, but if partner has hearts, I would certainly be happy to play in four hearts. Dear Mr. Wolff: As responder you were dealt ♠ J-7-4, ♥ 7-2, ♦ A-Q-J-10-3-2, ♣ 8-4. Partner opened one club, and over your response of one diamond he rebid one heart. When you repeated your diamonds, your partner bid two spades. What sort of hand would that show, and what would you do next? — Misfit, Seneca, S.C. ANSWER: I’d expect my partner to raise diamonds with extras whenever he could, so here he rates to have something like 2-42-5 shape. I hold some extras and am not unsuitable for no-trump. Even if partner has no spade honor, we might make game if the missing spades split or if there is a blockage in the suit. So I would gamble out three no-trumps, hoping that he has the diamond king, or that the finesse works.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, September 20, 2010 by admin on October 4th, 2010 “Life is the art of drawing sufficient conclusions from insufficient premises.”

Dealer: North North

Vul: All

— Samuel Butler Your partner opens one club and you hold five clubs and 6-9 points. What is your response? You know that a jump would be pre-emptive and a simple raise would be inverted (showing a limit raise or better). What’s left? Today’s South compromised sensibly enough with a response of one no-trump. With such a strong hand and secure stoppers in every suit, North saw no reason merely to invite game but went all the way. Thus the partnership ended up in the no-trump game from the wrong seat. Declarer had his first reprieve on a heart lead, when dummy’s queen held the trick. What next? South rejected the idea of crossing to hand with his diamond king to take the club finesse. Instead, he laid down the club ace and scowled when East discarded. There was no way back: the defenders could establish their five winners before declarer had nine.

♠ A 10 8 4 ♥AQ ♦ A 10 8 ♣A943

West

East

♠KJ ♥K952 ♦Q92 ♣ K 10 8 7

♠Q962 ♥ 10 8 6 4 3

♦J754 ♣— South

♠753 ♥J7 ♦K63 ♣QJ652

South

West

1 NT

Pass

North 1♣ 3 NT

East Pass All Pass

Needing only four club tricks to make his contract, South should have taken a safety-play in clubs to guard against Opening Lead: ♥ 2 any adverse split. Admittedly, cashing the club ace suffices if East has all four clubs. However, the low lead toward the South hand wins if either player has all four clubs, for it gives declarer the extra entry to dummy needed to finesse against West’s club 10. If declarer wastes his diamond entry to take the club finesse, the entries to defend against the 4-0 split will also be fatally scrambled. ANSWER: This is the sort of club-holding where leading an honor rates to block the suit or worse. If either partner or dummy has a doubleton club honor, be it the ace, king. or even the 10, you may need to lead a low club to unscramble the suit to best effect. Typically, fourth highest is right from any two honors unless they are supported by a large intermediate — here, the 10 or nine.

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 753 ♥ 10 7 ♦ K63 ♣QJ652 South Pass All Pass

West 1♦ 2♥

North Pass Pass

East 1♥ 3 NT

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 by admin on October 5th, 2010 “Among all forms of mistake, prophecy is the most gratuitous.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: E/W

— George Eliot When responder to a major-suit opening bid has a 10count with three trumps, he has three ways to describe his hand. If he has extra shape (say a side-suit singleton or extra length in a side-suit), he might jump directly to three of partner’s suit. More typical, though, is to downgrade the hand into a constructive raise to two of partner’s suit, or to upgrade the hand via the forcing no-trump to a balanced limit-raise.

West

East

♠ Q 10 9 ♥J52 ♦KQ7 ♣J973

♠K832 ♥ 10 4 ♦A6432 ♣ 10 8 South

♠75 ♥KQ863 ♦ 10 8 ♣AKQ4

This was what today’s North did. South, with concentrated values in his two suits and decent high cards, had an easy acceptance of the invitation. In four hearts, declarer must not pin all his hopes on a 3-3 split in clubs, since he can make provision against a 4-2 split as well. West leads the spade 10, which South allows to hold the trick. After winning the spade continuation, what next?

♠AJ64 ♥A97 ♦J95 ♣652

South 1♥ 2♣ 4♥

West Pass Pass All Pass

North 1 NT 3♥

East Pass Pass

After taking the heart ace and king, declarer should next lead out the three top clubs. If the clubs split 3-3, he can Opening Lead: ♠ 10 draw the last trump and claim. If the clubs split 4-2 and the third round is ruffed, dummy will have a trump to ruff the fourth club. Nothing has been lost, since the contract would always have gone down one. However, if the clubs split 4-2 and the defender who is long in clubs also has the last heart, the contract can be made by ruffing the fourth club before pulling the last trump. ANSWER: Your partner’s use of the fourth suit is conventional. It is artificial and game-forcing and asks you to describe your hand further. With no real support for your partner and no diamond stop, the cheapest call of two hearts is the least lie. It does not promise six hearts, merely a rebiddable five-card suit, or better.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 75 ♥KQ863 ♦ 10 8 ♣AKQ4 South 1♥ 2♣ ?

West Pass Pass

North 1♠ 2♦

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, September 22, 2010 by admin on October 6th, 2010 “They tell me when the fleeting charm

Dealer: South North

Vul: N/S

Of novelty is o’er, Thou’lt turn away with careless brow And think of me no more.” — Emma Embury Some bridge books totally transcend the test of time. Others just need to be brought up to date to reflect bidding changes of the last two decades. Thanks to Ron Klinger of Australia who updated the classic “The Mistakes You Make at Bridge” by Terence Reese and Roger Trezel. This is a book with something for everyone. It concentrates on the errors even experienced players commit from time to time, and a frequent flip through should keep your game well honed, no matter what your level of ability. In today’s deal, North asked for the trump queen, then took a stab at the spade grand slam. After drawing trumps in two rounds, what do you do next? Did you, in a moment of aberration, discard the club jack on the third diamond, cash the heart ace, and run the spades, hoping for a miracle in hearts or a squeeze? If so, down you go!

♠ J 10 4 ♥AK32 ♦AKQ ♣632

West

East

♠32 ♥ Q 10 8 ♦ 10 8 5 ♣ K 10 9 8

♠65 ♥976 ♦J9432 ♣Q74

5

South

♠AKQ98 7

♥J54 ♦76 ♣AJ

South West North East Pass Pass 1♠ 2♦ Pass 4 NT Pass 3♠ Pass Pass 5♣* 5♦ Pass All Pass 6♠** 7♠ *Three aces, counting the trump king as an ace **The trump queen but no side kings

Opening Lead: ♠ 3

A far better chance exists — namely, that either the heart queen drops doubleton, or that hearts divide 3-3. Accordingly you must take the chances in the right order. After drawing trumps, cash the ace and king of hearts. If the queen has failed to appear, continue with the three top diamonds and discard not the club jack, but the heart jack, on the third diamond. Then ruff a heart. With hearts breaking 3-3, dummy is re-entered in trumps, and only now is the club jack jettisoned — on the 13th heart. ANSWER: This double is for takeout, suggesting five spades and relatively short hearts. North rates to have three cards in each minor, or to be planning to correct a bid in clubs to two diamonds to show something akin to five spades and four diamonds. For the time being, simply bid two clubs and await developments, if any.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 32 ♥ Q 10 8 ♦ 10 8 5 ♣ K 10 9 8 5 South Pass ?

West 1♥ Pass

North 1♠ Dbl.

East 1 NT Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, September 23, 2010 by admin on October 7th, 2010 “I see the better way, and approve it; I follow the worse.”

Dealer: North North

Vul: E/W — Ovid It is especially satisfying to declarers when they can take more tricks seeing only two hands than the spectators and commentators can envision viewing all four hands. Consider this deal, where, trailing by 68 IMPs going into the final 15-board segment of the U.S. International Team Trials in 2000, the Schwartz team started a huge charge. They made up half the deficit in the first three boards, though they fell just short at the end.

West

East

♠J52 ♥J62 ♦62 ♣ K 10 6 4

♠ 10 8 7 3 ♥Q9874 ♦Q3 ♣A9

2

South

The commentator saw Zia Mahmood and Michael Rosenberg reach six no-trump and foolishly said that this looked like a big pickup for their opponents, since there was no play for the slam. Michael Rosenberg, who did not hear this comment, proved it inaccurate. On West’s deceptive lead of the spade jack, the defense had already started to create a problem for themselves. Rosenberg won, cashed the diamond ace, then led a club from dummy. East missed his first chance to settle declarer’s hash by rising with the ace and returning the suit — a play that, in retrospect, could hardly have cost.

♠AK9 ♥ 10 3 ♦AKJ974 ♣53

♠Q64 ♥AK5 ♦ 10 8 5 ♣QJ87

South

West

2 NT

Pass

North 1♦ 6 NT

East Pass All Pass

Opening Lead: ♠ J

As it was, West won his club king and played a second diamond. Now declarer rose with the king and ran the diamonds, East’s first discard being an encouraging heart. At this point, instead of pitching spades to clarify the position to his partner, West chose to believe his partner’s discard and pitched a heart. Curtains! Declarer ran the diamonds and spades to squeeze East in hearts and clubs: contract made. ANSWER: A jump in balancing seat is not weak and pre-emptive, even if you play weak jump overcalls in almost every other seat. Jumps in this seat should be intermediate (say 12-15 with a good six-card suit). You want to drive the hand to game, but three no-trump could easily be best. Cuebid three clubs, planning to follow up with three no-trump, offering partner the choice of games.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ Q64 ♥AK5 ♦ 10 8 5 ♣QJ87 South

West

North

Pass ?

Pass

2♠

East 1♣ Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, September 24, 2010 by admin on October 8th, 2010 “Oh I get by with a little help from my friends.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: E/W — Lennon and McCartney Defensive signaling is a vastly under-studied area of the game. Everyone thinks they understand attitude and count signals, but suit preference is the red-headed step-child of signals. The point is that on just about every deal one defender or the other has the opportunity to pass a message to his partner. Of course that signal does not always translate into tricks, but that does not take away from the usefulness of the signal.

♠A96 ♥ A 10 6 ♦Q95 ♣J952

West

East

♠J8732 ♥875 ♦A4 ♣ 10 7 6

♠ K 10 4 ♥J432 ♦K32 ♣Q83 South

After West led the spade three to the king, East returned ♠Q5 the suit. Declarer won the queen as West contributed the ♥KQ9 eight. Declarer now thoughtfully led a heart to the ace and ♦ J 10 8 7 6 tried a low diamond from the board. If East had played ♣AK4 low, declarer would have been home, since West’s diamond entry would have been dislodged before the spades were established. However East alertly rose with South West North the diamond king to play a spade, and defeat the game. 1 NT Pass 3 NT Why did East find the play? On the second spade West had followed with the eight, in a position where he could not have started life with three or four small cards, or he would have led a larger spot-card initially. The most likely Opening Lead: ♠ 3 meaning for the spade eight was suit preference for West’s remaining entry. Following with the jack would have suggested a card in hearts, so the eight suggested diamonds.

East All Pass

East knew that unless West had an ace, the game was surely not going to be defeated, and it was necessary for East to preserve his partner’s entry until the spades were established. ANSWER: Frequently when your partner makes a simple overcall and the opponents bounce to game in an agreed suit, it puts you under the gun in fourth seat. Best here is to double, meaning it simply as values, (in an ideal world those values would be ‘transferable’ meaning tricks on both offence and defense). The overcaller is expected to bid again with significant extra length in his suit, or a two-suiter.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ A96 ♥ A 10 6 ♦ Q95 ♣J952 South ?

West 1♥

North 2♦

East 4♥

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, September 25, 2010 by admin on October 9th, 2010 “Who would have thought my shriveled heart Could have recovered greenness? It was gone

Dealer: North North

Vul: All

Quite under ground.”

♠AJ7 ♥ K 10 4 ♦AJ76 ♣AQ2

— George Herbert

West

East

Looking at all four hands on this deal from the 2000 U.S. International trials, we can see that a club lead by Eric Rodwell defeats four spades, while the lead of the heart ace allows declarer to discard his losing club on the king and make the contract. So Jeff Meckstroth’s four-club bid should have made the defense simple.

♠KQ9 ♥AJ62 ♦954 ♣843

♠ 10 ♥Q9873 ♦ K 10 ♣ K J 10 7 6

South

♠865432 ♥5 ♦Q832 ♣95

Not so fast: Rodwell quite reasonably thought he might be need to start tapping dummy immediately, so he tabled the heart ace and shifted to a club. Was this too little too late? Read on. Declarer, Steve Garner, rose with the ace, pitched his losing club on the heart king, ruffed the third heart in hand, and played a trump to the king and ace. (Ducking would have simplified the play.)

South

West

Now declarer ruffed a club to hand to lead a second trump toward dummy’s jack. West won the queen and tapped South again with a heart.

1♠ Pass Pass

2♠ Pass Dbl.

Opening Lead: ♥ A

North 1♦ Dbl. 4♠ All Pass

East 1♥ 4♣ Pass

Down to one trump in hand, Garner now led out the diamond queen, leaving a trump outstanding. He would have been home had East taken the trick, but Meckstroth smoothly ducked! When declarer repeated the finesse, Meckstroth produced the diamond king followed by the club jack, giving everyone a ruff and discard. Declarer was dead in the water now. Ruffing in dummy would promote the spade nine, while ruffing in hand would allow West to jettison his last diamond. Declarer would then have no way back to dummy to draw the last trump. Down one! ANSWER: Gone are the days when this sequence was nonforcing. Your partner has enough values to force to game and may have slam interest. Rather than stolidly raising to game, cuebid three spades to let him cooperate if he has enough values to be looking for higher things. In context, you are highly slam-suitable.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ AJ7 ♥ K 10 4 ♦ AJ76 ♣AQ2 South 1♦ 2 NT ?

West Pass Pass

North 1♥ 3♥

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, September 26, 2010 by admin on October 10th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

Recently in “Bid with the Aces” you posed a problem hand where the auction around the table had gone: one diamond – one heart – one no-trump. As fourth hand I would not be clear why the auction was a tip-off to a possible bad heart break. Since you as fourth hand have four small hearts, and partner presumably has five or more, that would leave four hearts between the other two hands. How badly can the hearts be breaking? — Math Maven, Richmond, Va. ANSWER: Your RHO’s decision to bid notrump does not always deliver a second heart stop, but it frequently does. If a game contract our way depended on trumps splitting 2-2 or on a finesse through the opening bidder for the trump queen or king, I would not fancy your chances, would you? Dear Mr. Wolff: My partner held ♠ K-J-9-7-3, ♥ Q-J-2, ♦ 103-2, ♣ 8-2. He raised my opening of one spade to two, and over my game-try of three clubs he signed off in three spades. I passed, with 16 points and a 5-1-3-4 pattern, and we made game comfortably enough. Who was to blame? — Ray of Sunshine, Houston, Texas ANSWER: Your partner might have done more than raise one spade to two – some would invite, some would drive to four spades here as a two-way shot. After your sensible game-try, your partner must bid game. Like it or not, he knows he has spectacular trumps, and the right doubleton, which should be almost enough on its own. You were correct, in theory, to pass the sign-off. When you consult partner, you must trust him. Dear Mr. Wolff: When would you risk a contract to play for an overtrick? What odds would you need in your favor? And what about settling for one down instead of playing to make a contract and risking going two down? — Handicapper, San Luis Obispo, Calif.

ANSWER: Matchpoints is the only form of the game where safety plays are unattractive. At pairs, in a normal contract, if all other factors are equal (though they rarely are), one follows the line offering the best chance of taking the most tricks. This could be a 60 percent line that might lead to an overtrick if it succeeds or might risk going down if it fails. Bear in mind that one sometimes needs to risk a contract to get back to par on a deal after a bad guess by you or a good lead by the opponents.

Dear Mr. Wolff: My LHO opened one no-trump. My RHO held ♠ J-9-7-4, ♥ A-Q-7-3-2, ♦ K-8, ♣ 9-6, but instead of transferring into hearts, he bid Stayman and then three spades! His side still reached a heart game, but I had no idea how (or why) they did it. — Lost in Space, Wichita, Texas ANSWER: Your opponents were playing a convention called Smolen, whereby a jump in a major after a two-diamond response to Stayman shows both majors, with four in the bid suit and five in the other major. This acts as a transfer to get the strong hand to be declarer if theew is a 5-3 fit. Note that when your opponents announce a conventional bid, if you ask, they must explain it to you. If you still don’t understand, just ask them to explain it further and don’t feel embarrassed about that. Dear Mr. Wolff: In a duplicate match my partner and I were doubled in four hearts, and made it. Another team bid three hearts, were also doubled, and made an overtrick. They received 930 points while we received 790. Since we bid game and they didn’t, we shouldn’t we have received the same number of points? Someone told me they were doubled into game, but I don’t understand that concept. Could you please explain the 140-point difference. — Short-Changed, Woodland Hills, Calif. ANSWER: When a contract of three hearts (worth 90 points) is doubled, it becomes worth 180 and thus scores as game, since any contract scoring more than 100 carries the game bonus. Doubled overtricks are worth 100 nonvulnerable, or 200 when vulnerable. The 140 discrepancy comes from the difference between a doubled vulnerable overtrick of 200 and a doubled trick of 30, worth 60. Which is more embarrassing: to double opponents (who can make 10 tricks) at the three-level or four-level? The former, I’d say — hence it should cost more!

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, September 27, 2010 by admin on October 11th, 2010 “There is not a fiercer hell than the failure in a great object.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: E/W

♠862 ♥8 ♦83 ♣ A K 10 8 7

— John Keats After reversing, South has a problem at his third turn, when North repeats his clubs. Maybe he should use fourth-suit forcing instead of stopping off in three no-trump. After all, five clubs is the best game today, and slam is in the picture, even facing North’s dead minimum. Having said that, South’s decision to bid three no-trump is reasonable enough., West’s fourth-highest lead of the spade three strongly suggests that he has at most four cards in the suit, since if he had five, the three could not be fourth-highest. This is so because South can see the spade two. South should realize that it would be foolish to duck the first trick and risk a shift to hearts. He must win his spade ace and should now try to bring the club suit in if he can. The right way to do this is to run the club jack at once, keeping communications intact with the dummy if the finesse against the queen loses.

52 West

East

♠ Q 10 7 3 ♥Q952 ♦ Q 10 7 6 ♣6

♠KJ94 ♥ K J 10 4 ♦52 ♣Q94 South

♠A5 ♥A763 ♦AKJ94 ♣J3

South

West

North

1♦ 2♥ 3 NT

Pass Pass All Pass

2♣ 3♣

East Pass Pass Pass

Playing the ace-king of clubs, hoping to drop the queen, will cost the contract today, since there would be no way to Opening Lead: ♠ 3 reach dummy’s established club suit. And if declarer switches his attention to diamonds after finding no joy in the clubs, the defenders have five winners before declarer can take nine. As it is, East takes his club queen at trick two and can cash three spade tricks for his side, but declarer has the rest. ANSWER: Your heart sequence is not so solid that you can lead it with impunity, particularly when partner rates to be very short. I would secretly admire any defender who led a low heart at trick one, but that is far too rich for me. I’ll settle for the club ace and find out later what I should have done.

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ J 10 3 ♥QJ872 ♦ J8 ♣A65 South

West

4♣ All Pass

Dbl.

North 3♣ Pass

East Pass 4♠

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, September 28, 2010 by admin on October 12th, 2010 “Progress, therefore, is not an accident, but a necessity … It is a part of nature.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: None

♠A86 ♥75 ♦ K Q 10 7 ♣AQ42

— Herbert Spencer In today’s deal South survived the first two hurdles in his contract of three no-trump, but tripped over the third. South’s first good decision was to respond two no-trump rather than raising diamonds. His well-placed heart honors persuaded him to take the clubs on trust, a sensible enough gamble. When North raised his partner to three no-trump, West obediently kicked off with the heart two (to clarify the count in that suit for his partner). East played the heart king, and South ducked. South won the heart return with the ace, but now fell from grace by playing on diamonds. When West took the ace, he still had a heart left to return, which removed declarer’s last stop. Declarer had eight tricks, but needed a second club trick. When the finesse failed, so did the contract.

West

East

♠ 10 7 4 3 ♥862 ♦A65 ♣865

♠QJ5 ♥ K J 10 9 4

♦82 ♣ K 10 9 South

♠K92 ♥AQ3 ♦J943 ♣J73

South

West Pass Pass

North 1♦ 3 NT

The danger hand is East; therefore, East’s entry must be 2 NT attacked before South’s last heart stopper is removed. If West has the club king, there is no problem: the finesse of the club queen will win, then the diamond ace can be Opening Lead: ♥ 2 dislodged. If East has both the diamond ace and the club king, the contract is doomed anyway. But if, as here, West has the diamond ace and East the club king, then when West eventually comes on lead with his ace, he will have no heart to return.

East 1♥ All Pass

Note that if the defenders shift to spades at trick two, West becomes the danger hand, and declarer must play on diamonds before clubs. ANSWER: Having shown 10 or more points with your redouble, you can comfortably bid just one no-trump now. There is no reason to assume that you want partner to bid on, unless he has some sort of extra high-cards or shape. The more space you can save, the better the picture your partner will be able to paint.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ K92 ♥AQ3 ♦ J943 ♣J73 South

West

Rdbl. ?

1♠

North 1♣ Pass

East Dbl. Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 by admin on October 13th, 2010 “Speech was given to the ordinary sort of men whereby to communicate their mind; but to wise men, whereby to conceal it.”

Dealer: North North

Vul: E/W

♠9743 ♥AK7 ♦9 ♣A9864

— Robert South After North opened light, sensibly relying on the extra controls and 5-4 pattern, South found the heart fit and drove to game. If West had led and continued spades, declarer would have had an easy time of it by playing along crossruff lines. He would have ruffed the second spade and cashed his minor -suit top winners. Then he could crossruff spades and diamonds to win a total of seven trump tricks and three plain-suit winners. If East ruffed high on the fourth spade, declarer would have been able to discard his club loser and eventually ruff a club in hand. But West found the more challenging lead of a trump, and now declarer could see the crossruff would fail. One possibility was to duck a club. The plan would be to take a second club with the ace, lead a third round for South to ruff, and (if the suit split) go back to dummy with the third round of trumps to cash the two long clubs.

West

East

♠ K J 10 6 5 ♥ 10 9 ♦Q854 ♣K2

♠AQ8 ♥J65 ♦ J 10 2 ♣ Q J 10 7 South

♠2 ♥Q8432 ♦AK763 ♣53

South

West

1♥ 4♥

Pass All Pass

North 1♣ 2♥

East Pass Pass

Opening Lead: ♥ 10

South found a better line when he won the heart in dummy, played the diamond ace, ruffed a diamond, then played dummy’s second top trump and gave up a spade. He could arrange to ruff a spade, draw the last trump, then play the diamond king and concede a diamond while he still had one trump remaining with which to regain the lead and cash the last diamond. Declarer emerged with five hearts, four diamonds and a club trick. ANSWER: If you play the Michaels Cuebid, where a direct cuebid shows at least 5-5 with the other major and an unspecified minor, this hand is tailor-made for the bid. If at unfavorable vulnerability you might be a little worried by the weak heart intermediates, but showing the hand at one go makes the risk worthwhile.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠2 ♥Q8432 ♦ AK763 ♣53 South ?

West

North

East 1♠

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, September 30, 2010 by admin on October 14th, 2010 “Not to admire is all the art I know.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: E/W

♠962 ♥ A 10 5 ♦ Q 10 8 2 ♣QJ9

— Lord Byron When West led the heart four against three no-trump, declarer ran the lead to his hand, then played a club to dummy’s queen as West ducked. Now when a second club went to West’s king, he paused to count out the hand and concluded correctly that his partner had no more than six points and no more than two hearts. The problem was now to construct a hand that would lead to the defeat of the contract.

West

East

♠85 ♥K8743

♠ K J 10 4 ♥J9 ♦J964 ♣ 10 6

2

♦73 ♣AK2 South

West eventually decided that his only hope, unlikely as it might be, was for declarer to hold the doubleton queenjack or king-jack of spades. He therefore tried the effect of a switch to the spade eight, but met with no success. After declarer had wrapped up 10 tricks, West explained why he had not continued hearts. He knew that even if he had found East with the doubleton heart jack, his partner would have been left on lead. The defenders would still not have been able to set up the suit, as West had only one side-suit entry.

3

♠AQ7 ♥Q6 ♦AK5 ♣87543

South

West

North

1 NT

Pass

3 NT

East Pass All Pass

It was only much later that inspiration dawned on West as Opening Lead: ♥ 4 to what would have been his best shot. If he had led the heart king at trick four, it would have looked completely natural for declarer to duck this trick. But then West remains on play and can press on with a third heart while he still has the club entry to run the heart suit on regaining the lead. ANSWER: There seem to be an awful lot of points in this deck! Rather than drive directly to game, cue-bid two diamonds to show a good hand and follow up with an invitational call, even after a sign-off in two hearts. At that point either a raise to three hearts or a call of two no-trump looks right on values; I prefer the latter.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ AQ7 ♥A6 ♦ AK5 ♣87543 South ?

West 1♦

North 1♥

East 1♠

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, October 1, 2010 by admin on October 15th, 2010 “Since knowledge is but sorrow’s spy,

Dealer: South North

Vul: E/W

It is not safe to know.”

♠KQ ♥ K Q 10 5 3 ♦Q742 ♣75

— Sir William Davenant In today’s deal the four-heart contract hinged on South’s taking evasive action to insure he held his diamond losers to two tricks. Sadly, declarer was not up to the task. The club queen was won in hand and declarer drew trumps in three rounds before playing a spade to dummy’s king and East’s ace. Winning the club return, South cashed dummy’s spade queen, then played a diamond to the 10, king and ace. Now three diamond tricks had to be lost, and with them, the contract. A spade loser is inevitable, so all of declarer’s efforts should be directed toward holding the diamond losers to two. There is no problem if diamonds break 3-2; curiously, the 4-1 split should not have proved an insurmountable obstacle, either. The black suits need to be eliminated, so on winning the club lead, best is to play a spade immediately. West wins and returns a club — no other return is better. South wins, dummy’s second spade is cashed, trumps are drawn ending in hand, and South’s last spade is ruffed.

West

East

♠ 10 6 3 2 ♥2 ♦AJ98 ♣ Q J 10 6

♠AJ98 ♥986 ♦ 10 ♣98432 South

♠754 ♥AJ74 ♦K653 ♣AK

South 1 NT 3♥

West Pass Pass

North 2♦ 4♥

East Pass All Pass

Opening Lead: ♣ Q

Now comes a low diamond, and irrespective of the card contributed by East, South should play low. If diamonds break 3-2, declarer will lose only two diamond tricks. But if the suit breaks 4-1, then regardless of whether West allows East’s 10 to hold or overtakes with the jack, a black suit return will allow a ruff and discard, and the play of a diamond presents declarer with two tricks in the suit. ANSWER: Your partner’s redouble simply announces a good hand, generally one suitable for defense. With your decent values, extra shape and a convenient second suit to bid, do not hold back. Simply bid two diamonds to tell your partner what you have. Let him go on from there.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ KQ ♥ K Q 10 5 3 ♦ Q742 ♣75 South

West

North

1♥ ?

Dbl.

Rdbl.

East 1♣ 1♠

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, October 2, 2010 by admin on October 16th, 2010 “To fall into a habit is to begin to cease to be.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: N/S

♠Q42 ♥83 ♦A97653

— Miguel de Unamuno Poland and Sweden have in the past adopted an unusual approach to selecting their national teams: Ten prequalified pairs from each country played the second stage of their respective trials against each other. Today’s deal from those trials is a rarity because after West failed to find the killing lead against six spades, the only way for him to defeat the spade slam would be to sacrifice his trump trick.

2

♣A West

East

♠K9 ♥AQJ97

♠ 10 8 ♥ 10 6 4 2 ♦ 10 8 ♣KQ86

5

♦QJ4 ♣75

North-South found their way to a highly ambitious slam, one apparently doomed on West’s natural lead of the heart ace. However Zdzislaw Laszczak, having put far too much faith in his opponents’ bidding, elected to lead a club. Declarer, Marten Gustafsson, won, played a diamond to his king, ruffed a club in dummy, then cashed the diamond ace to discard his losing heart. A diamond ruff in hand now set up the suit.

3

South

♠AJ7653 ♥K ♦K ♣ J 10 9 4 2

South

West

North

1♠ 3♥ Pass

2♥ Dbl. Pass

2 NT 4♣ 6♠

Despite this great start, declarer still needed trumps to be 2-2, with West holding the spade king and no more clubs, or he could force the dummy. Accordingly, Gustafsson led Opening Lead: ♣ 7 a low spade from hand toward dummy’s queen. If West takes the king and returns a heart, declarer ruffs in hand and plays a spade to the queen. Dummy is now high.

East Pass 3♣ 5♥ All Pass

Laszczak, despite being disconcerted by the knowledge that cashing the heart ace would have defeated the contract out of hand, was still focused enough to resist the automatic play. Instead, he played low on declarer’s trump lead. Although dummy’s queen won, the diamond suit was now dead, and the contract had to fail. ANSWER: If your partner was weak with both majors, he would surely have passed three diamonds (or have bid spades earlier). I’d take this call as a game-try for diamonds, with spade values. Your extra diamond length should be enough for game, but just in case, stop off in four hearts along the way. The earlier bidding has made it clear that you can’t hold more than a doubleton heart.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ Q42 ♥83 ♦ A976532 ♣A South

West

2♦ 3♦ ?

Pass Pass

North 1♥ 2♥ 3♠

East 2♣ Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, October 3, 2010 by admin on October 17th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

When is a revoke established? Last week in my duplicate club my RHO revoked as declarer, but then corrected it after my partner had led to the next trick. The Director said that there was no penalty and the revoke could be corrected. Can this be right? — The Enforcer, Woodland Hills, Calif. ANSWER: In midplay a revoke is established only if the player who revoked (or his partner) played to the next trick. This did not happen here, so the revoke is not established, and declarer can change his card without penalty. But your partner gets to retract his lead now and can lead something else. Dear Mr. Wolff: If you held ♠ K-9-3, ♥ Q-5-4, ♦ A-J-3-2, ♣ A10-2, I assume you would open one club and plan to rebid one no-trump if partner responded one spade. Does the picture alter if LHO doubled one club and partner bid one spade? Does that call suggest or promise five spades? — Looking for More, Selma, Ala. ANSWER: I would still rebid one no-trump because I have honors in all suits. The onespade bid here suggests at least four decent spades (headed by a top honor). With a bad suit and a bad hand, you would pass; with 7-10 and a weak suit, you might well opt to respond one no-trump and bypass the weak suit. In other words, move the heart queen into diamonds, and you might tempt me to raise spades, but not with this hand. Dear Mr. Wolff: You recently stated that a two-suited opening bid was allowed in Europe but not in the United States. Why is a bid that is legal elsewhere not permitted by the ACBL? It would seem that to prepare us for anything that comes up, especially with so many top foreign players coming here or our going abroad, we need to keep an open mind on all bridge bids. — Equal Rights, Albuquerque, N.M.

ANSWER: A reasonable idea, but it is not the way of the world. Some would argue that to maximize income, we tie our players’ hands behind their backs, then wonder why no youngsters are participating. As against that, will players stop competing in events if they have to defend against complex methods? I haven’t found that to be the case.

Dear Mr. Wolff: In second seat I opened one diamond with: ♠ K-9-3-2, ♥ K-6-4, ♦ A-Q-J-10, ♣ 9-2. My partner made an inverted raise to two diamonds. Would you rebid in no-trump, spades, or diamonds, and what would determine your choice? — Rabid Rebidder, Danville, Ill. ANSWER: This feels like a semibalanced hand because of the two small clubs. So a call of two spades looks closest to the mark. Reraising diamonds with only four seems premature, and I don’t want to wrong-side no-trump. We can always get to no-trump later. Dear Mr. Wolff: At my local club we always get killed when we play IMPs and our opponents open a kamikaze 10-12 no-trump. We play Cappelletti over a weak no-trump, but we don’t know what to do when they initiate a runout. How should the auction continue after we double and they run? — Run Over, Levittown, Pa. ANSWER: I suggest that passing a runout up to two hearts is forcing. The first double is takeout from either side (subsequent doubles are penalty), and responder bids as if his partner had opened one no-trump and the opponents had intervened. Stayman and transfers apply over a pass or a rescue to two clubs; Lebensohl applies over any higher escape. In virtually all other auctions, everything is natural.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, October 4, 2010 by admin on October 18th, 2010 “This life’s five windows of the soul Distorts the Heavens from pole to pole,

Dealer: South North

Vul: None

♠KJ54 ♥AKQ ♦982 ♣J83

And leads you to believe a lie.” — William Blake

West

East

To mark this year’s world championships, being held in Philadelphia, all this week’s deals come from the last world championships, held in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

♠Q ♥ J 10 6 4 3 ♦QJ76 ♣ K 10 4

♠ 10 6 ♥952 ♦A53 ♣AQ76

Lynn Deas and Beth Palmer defended expertly on this deal from their round-robin match against Jordan. In the other room Kerri Sanborn had made 10 tricks in two spades, collecting six spades, three hearts and one diamond. But there was more at stake in the closed room, where the Jordanians had reached game. Deas (West) led the heart three. The Jordanian declarer, Randa Saket, won, drew trumps, and cashed the other two hearts, discarding a club from her hand. Then she called for a club, Palmer as East rising with her ace and shifting to a low diamond, which was ducked to West’s jack. Now Deas set out to help declarer misplace the diamond honors. Instead of leading the club king, she played a low club to the jack and queen, ruffed by South.

5 South

♠A98732 ♥87 ♦ K 10 4 ♣92

South 2♦* 2♠

West Pass Pass

North 2♥ 4♠

East Pass All Pass

*Weak two in either major, or 22-23 HCP

Opening Lead: ♥ 3

Declarer, thinking that East had false-carded on the first round of clubs from the ace-king-queen, now knew that East was unlikely also to have the diamond ace and to have stayed silent at her first turn. She crossed to dummy with a trump and played a diamond to her 10. Deas produced the queen and returned a diamond for down one and six IMPs to USA-1, instead of a loss of the same number. ANSWER: While a diamond lead can offer instant gratification if successful, the more mundane fourth highest in a black suit is more likely to succeed. The spade lead is preferable since any honor in partner’s hand will minimize the chance of that lead costing a trick. A club lead, however, might be expensive even when you find the queen or jack opposite.

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ Q 10 4 3 ♥ 10 6 2 ♦ A3 ♣J842 South

West

Pass

4♥

North Pass All Pass

East 1♥

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, October 5, 2010 by admin on October 19th, 2010 “In the vaunted works of Art The master-stroke is Nature’s part.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: N/S

♠J9 ♥AJ83 ♦9 ♣Q9863

— Ralph Waldo Emerson In today’s deal from the Transnational event at last year’s World Championships in Sao Paulo, the hero was Peter Boyd of USA-1. After the heart lead, declarer could have succeeded in three spades simply by taking the club finesse, cashing the club ace, and exiting with a low diamond. It’s not as easy when you cannot see all the cards, however, so declarer played on diamonds at trick two, leading the nine to his king and Boyd’s ace.

2 West

East

♠Q8732 ♥9642 ♦AQ ♣75

♠6 ♥KQ75 ♦J8642 ♣ K 10 4 South

♠ A K 10 5 4 ♥ 10 ♦ K 10 7 5 3 ♣AJ

At this point, only one card in Boyd’s hand would defeat three spades, and he found it: the spade queen! Say Boyd had exited with a heart. Declarer ruffs, ruffs a diamond, ruffs a heart, and ruffs another diamond, noting Boyd’s discard. If Boyd discards a club, declarer ruffs a heart, plays the club ace, and exits with a club or a diamond. Boyd, down to all trumps, would be forced to ruff, then lead into declarer’s trump tenace.

South 1♠ 2♦ 3♠

West Pass Pass 2♥ All Pass

North Pass 1 NT 2♠

East Pass Dbl. 3♥

Opening Lead: ♥ 9

Equally, a low-spade switch from Boyd does not do the job, because declarer can win the trick in dummy, take the club finesse, cash the club ace, ruff a diamond, and eventually force West to ruff one of his partner’s winners and lead into the spade tenace. After the play of the spade queen, declarer won in hand, ruffed a diamond, took the club finesse, cashed the club ace, and exited with a diamond. However, East won, cashed another diamond, and gave West a ruff. Boyd still had a sure trump trick to come, for down one. ANSWER: Your partner’s double is for takeout, suggesting five diamonds and four spades. Since declarer is marked with long clubs, (or he would have balanced with a double), your choice is to defend, which seems a little adventurous, or else bid a quiet one no-trump, which would be my choice.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ J9 ♥AJ83 ♦9 ♣Q98632 South Pass ?

West 1♣ 1♥

North 1♦ Dbl.

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, October 6, 2010 by admin on October 20th, 2010 “To err is human, not to, animal.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: All

♠ 10 2 ♥ A 10 7 3 ♦ A 10 9 5 3 ♣AQ

— Robert Frost To mark the world championships currently taking place in Philadelphia, all this week’s deals come from last year’s championships from Sao Paulo. When England played Indonesia, there were two identical auctions to three no-trump. A club lead would have been fatal, but against Colin Simpson, West selected the heart nine. Declarer won with his jack and immediately ran the diamond queen. East took his king and shifted to the spade three (when maybe the eight would have been a better choice). South should have won the trick, cashed the heart king, overtaken the heart queen with dummy’s ace, and played on diamonds. At worst he would have lost two spades and two diamonds. But declarer ducked the spade, which might have allowed West to win and shift to a club. However, West was equally fooled by his partner’s lowspade shift, so he continued with the spade king. South could now claim 10 winners.

West

East

♠KQ9 ♥9862 ♦842 ♣J52

♠853 ♥54 ♦KJ76 ♣ K 10 9 4 South

♠AJ764 ♥KQJ ♦Q ♣8763

South

West

North

1♠ 2 NT

Pass Pass

2♦ 3 NT

East Pass Pass All Pass

Opening Lead: Your choice!

In the other room, John Holland (West) led the heart two. South started in identical fashion, winning in his hand and running the diamond queen. But now came the key difference: Gunnar Hallberg (East), a Swede who has lived in England for many years, ducked. And now the contract could not be brought home. South tried a low spade, but West won with his queen and shifted to the club two. East took dummy’s queen with his king and returned the four, West carefully unblocking his jack. Declarer was now dead in the water. ANSWER: You are too strong for a simple bid of four spades, since it is easy to envisage quite moderate hands opposite where slam might be laydown. At the same time you don’t want to risk the five-level unnecessarily, so cue-bid four clubs, planning to bid four spades over a red-suit response. This sequence simply suggests a good four-spade bid, in case partner has extras.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ AJ764 ♥KQJ ♦Q ♣8763 South ?

West 3♣

North Dbl.

East Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, October 7, 2010 by admin on October 21st, 2010 “What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: None

♠KJ43 ♥AK ♦ 10 6 ♣ K 10 7 5 4

— Samuel Johnson All this week’s deals come from the World Championship last year in Sao Paulo, to mark the ongoing championships in Philadelphia. At many tables South played three no-trump, speedily down on a diamond lead. But in Russia vs. Italy, the Italian declarer brought home a diamond partscore while the Russian declarer, Yuri Khiuppenen, reached five clubs via the auction shown and received a heart lead. The simplest way to try to set up the spades for two diamond discards would have been to lead a spade to the nine. But Khiuppenen did better. He cashed both top hearts, crossed with a club to hand to ruff out the hearts, and drew the rest of the trumps before leading a spade toward dummy, He had worked out to play West for the doubleton spade ace (since West was marked with five diamonds and three hearts and three clubs). If West ducked his ace, he would be endplayed on the next round of spades. If he took his ace, declarer would have two discards for his diamond losers.

West

East

♠ A 10 ♥Q62 ♦AQ982 ♣J96

♠87652 ♥ J 10 9 5 4

♦J43 ♣— South

♠Q9 ♥873 ♦K75 ♣AQ832

South 1♣ Pass 3 NT

West 1♦ Pass Pass

North 1♠ 3♦ 5♣

East 2♦ Pass All Pass

Opening Lead: ♥ 2

Incidentally, at another table, South played five clubs doubled and made a slight slip when he played a trump to his queen at once. Now the 3-0 trump break meant that to sort out the entry position, he needed to play a spade up at once. But in fact he played a second trump instead and now could no longer achieve the endplay, but was forced to lead a spade to the nine. Unlucky! ANSWER: It is correct to balance with this hand, although you would not have acted with it in second seat. Since a takeout double is clearly wrong, as you have neither major suit, the choice is the simple two-club overcall, or, my favorite, a call of one no-trump. In balancing seat the range for this call is 10-14, not 15-17; thus you get to protect your diamond king and describe your hand simultaneously.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ Q9 ♥873 ♦ K75 ♣AQ832 South ?

West 1♦

North Pass

East Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, October 8, 2010 by admin on October 22nd, 2010 “How comes it to pass, then, that we appear such cowards in reasoning, and are so afraid to stand the test of ridicule?”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: E/W

♠AK3 ♥KQ865 ♦7 ♣J843

— Earl of Shaftesbury All this week’s deals come from last year’s world championships in Brazil. Today’s deal is from a Seniors’ match between USA and Poland and features Poland missing an opportunity. Where Poland sat North-South, the contract of three notrump was played by North (Jacek Romanski). After Mark Lair (East) led a top spade, the Polish declarer was not under pressure. Since East had not bid spades at either of his first two turns, North was confident that West held the heart ace and club king. So declarer won the first trick in his hand, led a club to dummy’s ace, and played the heart 10 to his king. Declarer continued with the club jack and another club, establishing nine tricks: two spades, one heart, two diamonds and four clubs. Against Mike Passell, West found the apparently killing lead of a diamond. Declarer took the trick with the king and led his singleton heart. When West ducked, declarer won with dummy’s king, then played a club to his queen. West took the trick and led another diamond, but Passell had the same nine tricks as Romanski.

West

East

♠2 ♥AJ43 ♦ J 10 8 6 2 ♣ K 10 5

♠QJ986 4

♥972 ♦Q95 ♣6 South

♠ 10 7 5 ♥ 10 ♦AK43 ♣AQ972

South

West

North

1♦ 2♣ 2 NT

Pass Pass Pass

1♥ 2♠ 3 NT

East Pass Pass Pass All Pass

Opening Lead: ♦ J

Did you notice West’s error? He needed to play diamonds three times: twice to knock out declarer’s ace-king and once to cash his established winners. And he had three chances: the lead at trick one and when in with his two entries — the heart ace and club king. At trick two, he should have hopped up with his heart ace to lead another diamond. This would have defeated the contract. ANSWER: In this seat, double would simply be for takeout. It’s the most flexible action since you will elicit three-card support from your partner, or find out more about your partner’s minor-suit pattern. It seems premature for you to commit the hand either to clubs or to no-trump.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ AK3 ♥KQ865 ♦7 ♣J843 South

West

1♥ ?

2♠

North 1♣ Pass

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, October 9, 2010 by admin on October 23rd, 2010 “The reason firm, the temperate will, Endurance, foresight, strength, and skill;

Dealer: West

North

Vul: N/S

♠AK6 ♥A4 ♦96 ♣AJ9864

A perfect woman, nobly planned, To warn, to comfort, and command.” — William Wordsworth These days at the world championships there is almost always a choice of events. Right now in Philadelphia the major events are open teams and women’s teams. But last year there was an open team game as well as separate events for women, a senior event and a transnational teams. Here are Michael and Debbie Rosenberg at work in the last-mentioned event. Michael’s double of four diamonds was intended as optional, with extra values, and Debbie expected to find a hand that was at least moderately suitable for spades. The opponents can hold their loss to one trick in four diamonds, so it seems right to attempt the spade game, despite the work required to succeed in that contract. The defenders led two top diamonds and East signaled for a heart. West obediently shifted to the heart five, suggesting three. Debbie needed the spades to be 3-2, and because West had 10 red cards, she placed him with short clubs.

West

East

♠ 10 9 ♥Q85 ♦AKJ85

♠J73 ♥KJ973 ♦7 ♣ Q 10 7 3

42

♣5 South

♠Q8542 ♥ 10 6 2 ♦ Q 10 3 ♣K2

South

West 2♦* Dbl. 4♦ Pass

North 3♣ Pass Dbl. Pass

Pass Pass 4♠ All Pass *9-13 points, diamonds, unbalanced

East Pass 3♥ Pass Dbl.

Opening Lead: ♦ K

Having drawn this conclusion, Rosenberg now found the fine move of advancing the club jack! Had this held the trick, she would have drawn two trumps with the ace and king, unblocked clubs, and pitched her heart loser on the diamond queen. Whether East ruffed or not, declarer would be able to ruff one heart and throw the other on the club ace. In fact, East covered the club jack, so declarer took the trump ace and queen, set up the clubs via the ruffing finesse, and made no fewer than 11 tricks. ANSWER: Any delayed double of a suit in this way is takeout if facing a passed partner. Here, North rates to have awkward length in hearts and short diamonds, together with about an opening bid. He was unable to double initially because of his short diamonds. This being the case, you have a simple call of two spades. Your problem may come on the next round if the opponents compete to three diamonds.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ Q8542 ♥ 10 6 2 ♦ Q 10 3 ♣K2 South Pass ?

West 1♥ 2♦

North Pass Dbl.

East 1 NT Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, October 10, 2010 by admin on October 24th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

At pairs with nobody vulnerable your LHO opens three diamonds, partner doubles, and RHO bids six diamonds. You hold ♠ K10-8-5-4, ♥ Q-8-7-6-2, ♦ —, ♣ A-10-4. Would you bid, pass, or double, and what should be your partnership agreements about forcing passes? — Stymied, Texarkana, Texas ANSWER: It is fair to assume that if the opponents are not vulnerable, their jumps to game or slam here set up a forcing pass. That said, what is right now? I’ve no idea! You could persuade me to pass or to bid. (If I did act, I think my spade 10 suggests bidding that suit. We might be able to avoid a loser against a bad break in spades, but not in hearts.) Dear Mr. Wolff: When playing pairs, my partners and I have significant disagreements about how to bid in third seat with moderate values and a decent four-card major. Say I have four clubs and four hearts (or spades), each suit headed by one top honor. Should I open the major or the minor? And why? — Chain Reaction, Fayetteville, N.C. ANSWER: It is impossible to generalize, but I would open the minor on almost any hand where I planned not to pass any response by my partner in a new suit. Having said that, with a really bad minor or good major, I might open the major. If I’m making a tactical opening bid with 9-12 high-card points, I’d open the suit I wanted led. Dear Mr. Wolff: I was in three no-trump on a low heart lead to my RHO’s king. Dummy had 8-5 while I had A-J-6 in hand. To make game, I had to bring in the diamonds for only one loser. (Dummy had K-J-10-7-2, while I had ninefourth.) Should I lead to the king, hoping to find the queen on my right doubleton or singleton? Or should I play to the jack, hoping to drive out the ace and find hearts were split 4-4? Does the size of the spotcard and thus the likelihood of my LHO having five-plus hearts make a difference? What if the game were IMPs? — Riddler, Worcester, Mass.

ANSWER: Off the cuff, against the lead of what looked to be a five- or six-card suit, the first play looks like a huge favorite. Guessing diamonds by putting in the jack, losing to the ace won’t help! It is even clearer at IMPs. However, against the lead of the heart two, I’d lead a diamond to the jack — the best play in diamonds, in abstract.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Is there a specific way show a void suit during the auction? I’m worried that a splinter bid in clubs might be misunderstood, particularly if it may be confused with the Gerber convention. — Plenty of Nothing, Honolulu, Hawaii ANSWER: First, I’d encourage you NOT to use Gerber except after no-trump openings or rebids.Blackwood does the job just as well. Meanwhile, do not abandon splinters or cue-bids. A simple rule about splinter bids is that in any sequence, if a bid in a new suit would be natural and game-forcing, a higher bid in that suit is not natural but shortage. Just remember that principle and see where it gets you. Dear Mr. Wolff: Holding ♠ K-9-8-2, ♥ K-10-4-2, ♦ 10-3, ♣ 43-2, I responded two diamonds to my partner’s two-club opening. He rebid three clubs, and I was not sure what to do next. How do you feel about temporizing with three diamonds, hoping partner will bid a major, or raising clubs, as opposed to committing the hand to three no-trump right away? — Stuck, Trenton, N.J. ANSWER: I do not like the three-no-trump bid. After all, the diamond suit could be wide open. I’d prefer a four-card major to have more internal solidity than either of your suits here. So the choice is between the temporizing three-diamond call (consistent with a second negative) and the raise of clubs. I like the slam potential of this hand, and since clubs rates to be your best slam, a four-club call is best.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, October 11, 2010 by admin on October 25th, 2010 “To do two things at once is to do neither.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: E/W — Publilius Syrus It may sound trite, but when you have two chances for a contract and can take them both in proper order, this is generally a better approach than putting all your eggs in one basket. Today’s deal gives you just that opportunity. The point of the play in four hearts is that declarer has three quick losers and has to negotiate a possible problem in clubs. Declarer must not pin his entire hope on a 3-3 split in clubs, since he can make provision against a 4-2 split as well. The defenders lead the spade 10, which South allows to hold the trick. After he wins the spade continuation, what next? After taking the heart king and ace (in that order, so he can survive a 4-1 trump break with West having the bare jack or 10), he must lead the three top clubs, while leaving one trump outstanding. If the clubs split 3-3, he can take out the last trump and cash the fourth club. If the club split is 4-2 and the third round is ruffed, dummy will have a trump to ruff out the fourth. The defenders have four tricks, but nothing will have been lost in this case, since the contract would have gone down one whatever South did.

♠AJ64 ♥A97 ♦J95 ♣652

West

East

♠ Q 10 9 ♥J52 ♦KQ7 ♣J973

♠K832 ♥ 10 4 ♦A6432 ♣ 10 8 South

♠75 ♥KQ863 ♦ 10 8 ♣AKQ4

South 1♥ 2♣ 4♥

West Pass Pass All Pass

North 1 NT 3♥

East Pass Pass

Opening Lead: ♠ 10

However, if the clubs split 4-2 and the defender who is long in clubs also has the last trump, the contract can be made by ruffing out the fourth club before pulling the last trump. ANSWER: East rates to have nine cards in hearts and clubs, and is also likely to have a singleton spade, or a small doubleton, with a diamond guard. Since your partner did not double two diamonds, he does not rate to have a stack there, so I would settle for leading up to declarer’s shortage with the spade two.

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ J952 ♥Q3 ♦ 843 ♣Q432 South

West

North

Pass Pass Pass

1♠ 2♦ 3 NT

Pass Pass All Pass

East 1♥ 2♣ 2 NT

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 by admin on October 26th, 2010 “He who has never hoped can never despair.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: All — G.B. Shaw In his contract of six no-trump declarer can count 12 winners if the diamonds split 3-3, but if they do not, do not despair. Brace yourselves: the only remaining chance is to bring off a squeeze. To develop this possibility, dec1arer has to give away one trick to reduce his potential winners to all the rest but one. This is almost always good technique for a squeeze.

West

East

♠ Q J 10 3 ♥J75 ♦84 ♣8752

♠962 ♥Q864 ♦ J 10 9 2 ♣96 South

The only suit in which South can duck a trick without dipping into his counted winners or the vital threat cards (the fourth diamond, or third heart) is spades. He should therefore immediately give away a spade trick by playing the spade ace and ducking a spade. After this, declarer must manipulate his entries (his precise play being dependent on what the defenders shift to after taking their spade winner) toward the ending he desires.

♠K875 ♥A92 ♦K75 ♣ A 10 3

♠A4 ♥ K 10 3 ♦AQ63 ♣KQJ4

South 1♦ 2 NT

West Pass Pass

North 1♠ 6 NT

East Pass All Pass

Specifically, declarer will play three rounds of each suit other than hearts. North is left with one spade and three hearts. South is left with two hearts (one has been Opening Lead: ♣ 8 discarded on the spade king), one diamond and the last club winner. When the club is led, West must save his high spade, so must reduce to two hearts. North pitches his now irrelevant spade, and the focus turns to East. That player must save his high diamond, so must reduce to two hearts. Now declarer wins all three heart tricks. If the defenders attack hearts, declarer can kill the queen or jack, then finesse successfully against the other honor. ANSWER: Your partner’s pass does NOT show club length and a desire to play in this contract. It simply indicates no long suit of his own. Since you have only one four-card suit, you might as well bid it, but if the opponents double in a bloodthirsty turn, you might find one no-trump to be a less expensive spot.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ K875 ♥A92 ♦ K75 ♣ A 10 3 South

West

North

Dbl. ?

Rdbl.

Pass

East 1♣ Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 by admin on October 27th, 2010 “Wrongs unredressed, or insults unavenged.”

Dealer: North North

Vul: All

♠ J 10 ♥KQ654

— William Wordsworth

3

I’m willing to bet that if this three-no-trump deal was slipped into a pairs game, most Souths would win the opening club lead in dummy, cross to hand with a diamond, then lead a heart to the king and ace. Eventually declarer would emerge with 10 tricks and no one would think anything more of the deal, even though declarer had done his best to go down in his contract and East had let it through! Can you see why?

♦A92 ♣J5 West

East

♠K92 ♥ 10 7 ♦J85 ♣Q9862

♠A87 ♥AJ9 ♦ 10 7 6 4 ♣ 10 7 3 South

On winning the opening club lead, declarer should immediately go after hearts by leading a low heart from dummy. As he can afford to lose two heart tricks, he must take insurance against a defender’s holding two stoppers — which will be the case if East has the guarded heart ace. On the actual sequence of play at the table, imagine that the heart king had been allowed to win. Now, when a second heart lead did not set the suit up, hearts would be dead. The point is that North had only one side-entry in the form of the diamond ace. Declarer can set up hearts but cannot reach them.

♠Q6543 ♥82 ♦KQ3 ♣AK4

South

West

1♠ 2 NT

Pass Pass

North 1♥ 2♥ 3 NT

East Pass Pass All Pass

Opening Lead: ♣ 6

Ducking the first round of hearts preserves the needed additional entry in the suit itself. Declarer can win the return and play a heart to the king, ready to lead a third round if the defenders duck. If they take the ace, the suit will be good, and there is still an entry to the board. ANSWER: In these auctions new suits by responder at the three-level are natural and game-forcing. Here, you are well-placed to give preference to three spades; your strong doubleton is just as good as three-card support. My second choice would be to temporize with a call of three diamonds, the fourth suit, asking for clarification.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ J 10 ♥KQ6543 ♦ A92 ♣J5 South 1♥ 2♥ ?

West Pass Pass

North 1♠ 3♣

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, October 14, 2010 by admin on October 28th, 2010 “Remorse sleeps during a prosperous period, but wakes up during adversity.”

Dealer: North North

Vul: E/W

— Jean Jacques Rousseau How should South set about playing one no-trump on a low diamond lead? The first careful play South should make is to put up dummy’s 10. Who knows, it may hold the trick! Assuming East covers the 10, I’m guessing many declarers would duck the trick, on general principle, win the next diamond, then go after hearts. Some might cash the four club winners early, hoping for a defensive error, but the result ought to be the same. The point is that whether South leads a low heart to the jack or runs the queen from hand (hoping for a defensive error), the defenders are in control. They should emerge with three heart tricks, two spades, and two diamonds.

♠J85 ♥J752 ♦ 10 4 ♣Q832

West

East

♠ A 10 6 ♥K98 ♦J975 ♣J95

♠K94 ♥ A 10 4 ♦Q862 ♣ 10 6 4 South

♠Q732 ♥Q63 ♦AK3 ♣AK7

Mrs. Guggenheim (South), who hates to duck tricks, might do better here. She would win the first diamond, thereby South West North Pass preserving an exit-card. She can now make one no-trump 1 NT All Pass simply by cashing the four club tricks (pitching a major-suit card from hand) and the second diamond trick. Then she exits with the third diamond. The defenders can win only Opening Lead: ♦ 5 two diamonds plus their four aces and kings before giving declarer her seventh trick with one of her major-suit stoppers. They have to lead one of the majors, and whichever one they broach, declarer gets to establish the third round of that suit by simply preserving her queens and jacks till they are good.

East Pass

Note that if diamonds are not 4-4 (and clubs 3-3), you have no realistic chance to make your contract whatever you do. ANSWER: You suspect the opponents can make a slam , so have to decide if immediate action from you will push them there, or will generate too large a penalty against you. I assume you will make about six or seven tricks in hearts, so if the vulnerability permits it, jump to four hearts. At unfavorable vulnerability, where your partner might have a better hand, a simple raise to three hearts would suffice.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ J85 ♥J752 ♦ 10 4 ♣Q832 South ?

West 1♦

North 2♥

East 2♠

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, October 15, 2010 by admin on October 29th, 2010 “Truth, like a torch, the more it’s shook it shines.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: None

♠6542 ♥54 ♦K873 ♣ K 10 9

— Sir William Hamilton In four spades (reached after South’s strong jump overcall of the pre-empt), West led the heart ace and a second heart to East’s king. It looks as if you need a 3-3 diamond break, or else must guess which opponent has ace doubleton. But the auction suggests that West may well hold four diamonds headed by the ace. Can you see what you can do if that is the case?

West

East

♠73 ♥ A 10 7 3 ♦ A J 10 2 ♣Q54

♠8 ♥KJ986 2

♦96 ♣J762

Provided that East has the diamond jack, 10 or nine in his doubleton, and holds one of the outstanding club honors, your spade game can succeed. Ruff the heart, draw trumps, and play the diamond queen. West will win and can do little else but return a low diamond. (Everything else, except perhaps a deceptive club queen, looks worse.) You now duck the diamond to East. If he returns a diamond, the suit is 3-3 and you can discard a club from your hand. A heart lead gives you a ruff and sluff, so the best he can do is broach the club suit, thus enabling you to play that suit for no losers when the honors are divided. Note that if either defender is forced to open up the club suit, he should do so by leading his honor, thus giving declarer the losing option of playing him for both honors.

South

♠ A K Q J 10 9

♥Q ♦Q54 ♣A83

South

West

North

3♠

4♥

4♠

East 2♥ All Pass

Opening Lead: ♥ A

And one final point: West should have switched to a trump at trick two. Now declarer cannot ruff dummy’s last heart except by using the diamond king prematurely. ANSWER: In this sequence I like to use takeout doubles from both sides of the table, and your hand qualifies for that action. You have not guaranteed four spades. Indeed, with an unsuitable hand for a takeout double, you might bid two spades yourself since partner knows from your failure to transfer that you do not have five spades. But your partner will bid on the assumption that you do have four spades.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 6542 ♥54 ♦ K873 ♣ K 10 9 South

West

Pass ?

2♥

North 1 NT Pass

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, October 16, 2010 by admin on October 30th, 2010 “It is circumstance and proper measure that give an action its character, and make it either good or bad.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: All

♠AQ43 ♥64 ♦876 ♣AKJ2

— Plutarch Against a slam it is less frequently right than you might think to make a passive opening lead, not risking giving declarer his 12th trick. The point is that a good declarer can often draw the necessary inferences, even when the lead has given nothing tangible away. This was the case in six spades on the lead of the club nine. Declarer knew West well enough to take the lead at face value, as being based on shortage. He could see that any straightforward line of play would inevitably lead to the loss of a diamond and a club. So he won the club ace and took the seemingly unnecessary heart finesse. Then he played off five rounds of spades to produce a sixcard ending. This reduced East (who had to keep all his clubs or else declarer would simply duck a club) to one heart, two diamonds and three clubs. Accordingly declarer cashed his two hearts, forcing East to pitch a diamond. Now declarer read the position perfectly. He took the diamond ace and ran the club eight around to East, who won the trick but had to return a club into dummy’s K-J.

West

East

♠6 ♥ 10 8 7 3 ♦KJ954

♠752 ♥Q952 ♦ Q 10 ♣ Q 10 5 4

2

♣93 South

♠ K J 10 9 8 ♥AKJ ♦A3 ♣876

South 1♠ 3♠ 6♠

West Pass Pass All Pass

North 2 NT* 4♠

East Pass Pass

*Game-forcing with spades

Opening Lead: ♣ 9 East had another option in the six-card ending. He might have kept all his hearts and clubs, and pitched his diamonds. Now declarer has to cash the diamond ace to squeeze East in the same way as described previously. A diamond leads beats the slam outright, and a heart lead would probably do the job too. ANSWER: Two diamonds is the fourth suit — artificial and game-forcing. If your RHO had not doubled, you would have had a vicious problem. Here, though, your task has been made much easier. You can pass, suggesting a balanced hand without three-card support for your partner and then wait for him to describe his hand. Thanks, East!

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ AQ43 ♥64 ♦ 876 ♣AKJ2 South 1♣ 1♠ ?

West Pass Pass

North 1♥ 2♦

East Pass Dbl.

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, October 17, 2010 by admin on October 31st, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

When declaring a contract against competent opponents, which is better, to try to give yourself an extra chance at the risk of being defeated by best defense, or to assume the lie of the cards (however unlikely that may be) that you need to make the hand? I suppose either could be right, but I think, in an expert game, you must assume best defense and play accordingly. — Table Turner, Tupelo, Miss. ANSWER: Your question of whether to try the best line in abstract or in practice has no simple answer, but I’m big on what is best in practice. If I would not solve the problem I’m setting for my expert opponent, I’ll go for the swindle. I went down in a slam in a world championship by trying a Chinese finesse when missing six clubs to the king (and yes, the king WAS singleton!) so I’ll put my money where my mouth is. Dear Mr. Wolff: I held ♠ K-9, ♥ A-10-9-3, ♦ 10-4-3-2, ♣ Q-85. My LHO opened a weak two diamonds and my partner doubled. When my RHO bid three diamonds, should I double or bid hearts? If the latter, should I bid game? — Olive Oyl, Cartersville, Ga. ANSWER: You have a good hand for hearts facing short diamonds, but your partner knows his short diamonds will be useful. I’d bid four hearts with as little as the heart jack instead of the three, but as it is, I feel three hearts is enough. A double should show both majors here, I believe, and is for takeout not penalties. Dear Mr. Wolff: In today’s bridge article, I think you were using a system that I do not recognize. The opener bid two clubs, explained as “natural, 11-15 points.” What does “natural” mean? Do you have a pamphlet or book that explains your system? — Lost in Neverland, Seattle, Wash.

ANSWER: I was not recommending this system. With hands from real life I present the bidding as it happened, not what I suggest you play! The pair in question use a strong club, so they bid one club with all hands of 16 or more points; hence two clubs is natural (showing clubs) and limited. Please forgive me if I did not make this clear.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Holding ♠ A-10-4-3-2, ♥ K-9, ♦ 2, ♣ A-Q-J10-3, I opened one club and rebid one spade over my partner’s one-heart response. When my partner rebid one notrump, I tried two spades, and played there, making eight tricks when trumps split 3-3. My partner said this sequence suggested six clubs and five spades, but I thought the suit-quality disparity was such that a oneclub opening bid was sounder. What do you say? — The Major or the Minor?, Erie, Pa. ANSWER: Your idea used to be the mainstream position. Players with 5-5 in the black suits would open one club no matter which suit was better. These days the reverse holds true; majors come before minors at all times, it seems. I’m somewhere in the middle: I like to bid good suits before bad ones — particularly on strong hands — so I can sympathize with your approach here. Dear Mr. Wolff: In a recent column, you held ♠ 10-4, ♥ K-97-4-3, ♦ Q-9-2, ♣ J-7-3. Partner opened two clubs, you responded two diamonds, and partner rebid two spades. You recommended a call of two no-trump, saying you’d prefer “better hearts” to bid them. How good does the heart suit have to be to become biddable? — Rags to Riches, Winston-Salem, N.C. ANSWER: Off the cuff, I’d say the minimum standard is a five-card suit headed by two of the top four honors, thus Q-J-9-x-x or so. However, with more shape in the minors I might also start with three hearts. So, if that hand had queen-jack-fourth of diamonds and two small clubs, I’d go the other way and bid my hearts.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, October 18, 2010 by admin on November 1st, 2010 “Heaven be their resource who have no other but the charity of the world, the stock of which, I fear, is no way sufficient for the many great claims which are hourly made upon it.” — Laurence Sterne The traditional opening event of every national tournament in the United States is the Charity Pairs. On this deal from a recent charity game, most of the field reached three notrump and, in a display of charity to their opponents, generally failed to apply the correct technique.

Dealer: South North

Vul: None

West

East

♠3 ♥ Q 10 9 4

♠A9752 ♥J7 ♦Q73 ♣ 10 8 3

2

♦J65 ♣A652 South

The auction put West on lead with an easy attack of the heart 10. With the heart suit lying as it does, you (South) must consider your first move carefully. If the heart suit splits 4-3, it is irrelevant whether you win the first round of the suit or the second . But see what happens if you take the first heart and drive out the spade ace. (If you lead the club king, West will duck, and normal play thereafter will lead to your defeat.) When East takes the spade ace and returns the heart jack, West overtakes and can clear the suit while retaining the club ace as an entry. The bad spade split leaves you a trick short.

♠K6 ♥A63 ♦K84 ♣QJ974

♠ Q J 10 8 4 ♥K85 ♦ A 10 9 2 ♣K

South 1♠ 2♦ 2 NT

West Pass Pass Pass

North 2♣ 2♥ 3 NT

East Pass Pass All Pass

Opening Lead: ♥ 4 The key play is to duck the first heart (often the right play when you have no other danger suit, and must knock out two key cards). Then win the second heart in hand. Now you have started to sever the defenders’ communications. The point is that East will have no hearts left when you drive out his spade ace. He has to shift, letting you dislodge the club ace at your leisure. Ducking at trick one makes the difference between an undertrick and an overtrick. ANSWER: Rather than looking for a miracle in partner’s hand, try leading a heart, hoping that partner holds any of the missing three top hearts. If you think about it, declarer’s failure to look for a heart game and dummy’s failure to raise hearts make partner something of a favorite to hold heart length or strength.

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 73 ♥ Q 10 7 5 ♦ KJ63 ♣Q42 South Pass All Pass

West 1♦ 2♦

North Pass Pass

East 1♥ 3 NT

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 by admin on November 2nd, 2010 “No! The two kinds of people on earth that I mean Are the people who lift and the people who lean.”

Dealer: North North

Vul: E/W

♠J73 ♥AJ9864 32

— Ella Wheeler Wilcox This was my favorite deal from the Birmingham Nationals, when New York expert Mel Colchamiro cornered me on my way to the elevator and gave me a beautiful hand. Beware: It’s far harder than it looks, even though it is far from complicated. Without going into too many details of the auction — we would not want to embarrass any guilty parties — consider the play in six spades. Best defense is obviously to lead two rounds of clubs, but your generous opponent plays a top club and shifts to diamonds. Obviously he believes you might have bid a slam off two aces. It is up to you to punish him for such an insult. The natural thing to do is to cash the spade ace and the heart king. Then you lead the spade 10 from hand. If West discards, you need the heart queen to fall. If West follows, you must guess immediately whether trumps are splitting or hearts behave. That looks pretty good, but it is far from best.

♦7 ♣4 West

East

♠982 ♥75 ♦ Q 10 8 4 ♣ A 10 9 2

♠6 ♥ Q 10 ♦KJ953 ♣KJ653 South

♠ A K Q 10 5

4

♥K ♦A62 ♣Q87

South

West

3♠ 6♣

Pass All Pass

North 3♥ 4♣*

East Pass Pass

*Cuebid agreeing spades

The winning line is to overtake the heart king with the ace Opening Lead: ♣ A at trick two and ruff a heart high. If that suit splits or if the heart queen is bare, you have no problem in drawing trumps, ending in dummy. If hearts do not behave, you need 2-2 spades — it’s as simple as that. On this occasion hearts split and spades do not, so if you play spades first, you had better guess very well! ANSWER: Today’s deal encapsulates an important idea. When both members of a partnership pass at their first turn, their subsequent objective is always assumed to be to find the best partscore, not to look for game. Accordingly, a response by you here of two notrump will NOT be natural and to play. It suggests a two-suiter (presumably the minors) and asks partner to bid his first playable spot.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 982 ♥75 ♦ Q 10 8 4 ♣ A 10 9 2 South Pass ?

West 1♠ Pass

North Pass Dbl.

East 2♠ Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 by admin on November 3rd, 2010 “For the race is run by one and one and never by two and two.”

Dealer: North North

Vul: All

♠AJ5 ♥432 ♦A853 ♣752

— Rudyard Kipling The following deal from the 1995 finals of the New York Reisinger features two subtle points in play and defense. Alas, in both rooms these points became evident only in the post-mortem and not at the table. Four hearts was the contract in both rooms. In the first room West’s heart lead worked fine, up to a point. Declarer, Mike Kamil won in hand and passed the diamond nine. East won his 10 and might have shifted to the club nine (or even the club jack), but in fact he played the club six, to the eight and 10. Now I think a second diamond from West can hardly be wrong (whether declarer has three or four diamonds, there are no discards coming), but West returned the club king and declarer was home.

West

East

♠K8632 ♥K97 ♦J6 ♣ K 10 3

♠Q974 ♥ 10 5 ♦ Q 10 7 2 ♣J96 South

♠ 10 ♥AQJ86 ♦K94 ♣AQ84

South

West

North Pass 2♥ 4♥

East Pass Pass All Pass

The game went down in the other room on a spade lead. Pass 1♥ There, declarer rose with the spade ace at trick one and 3♦ Pass took an early club finesse of the queen. He now had no chance. But consider what might have happened if South Opening Lead: To be determined! had nonchalantly played low from dummy at trick one! Even if East wins the trick, he may well give up a vital entry to dummy at his next play. And as the cards lay, would he not find it very hard to refrain from playing the spade nine at trick one? If East wins with an honor at this point, declarer can always dispose of his diamond loser on the spade ace.

ANSWER: Hands up anyone who thought this was Gerber? It is not; it suggests short clubs and a slam-try in spades. Your hand is unbelievably good now; you should cue-bid four diamonds, expecting partner to use Blackwood perhaps. But if instead partner cue-bids four hearts, you have enough to go past four spades. I think a bid of five spades would be best.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ AJ5 ♥432 ♦ A853 ♣752 South

West

2♠ ?

Pass

North 1♠ 4♣

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, October 21, 2010 by admin on November 4th, 2010 “The man is a perfect stone. We might boil him in the pigmarket, and we should get no word out of him.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: N/S

♠K542 ♥KJ4 ♦8 ♣Q9852

— Victor Hugo As big, if not especially bad, Wolff, I’ve always had a remarkably soft spot for the tormentor of the three little pigs. Let’s look at them in action here, where each one of them declares six hearts on the challenging trump lead. Little piggy number one wins the trump in dummy and ruffs a diamond, crosses to the club ace to ruff a second diamond, then leads a second club and is more hurt than surprised when East ruffs in and cashes his spade ace for down one. Little piggy number two exerts a trifle more diligence. He wins the trump lead and crosses back to hand with a top club to ruff a second diamond. So far so good, but now, after cashing dummy’s top trump, he leads a low spade from the board, and East steels himself to duck the trick. West wins his spade eight and returns a club. East ruffs, and there is no joy in Pigville.

West

East

♠J98 ♥9 ♦ Q 10 7 2 ♣ J 10 7 4 3

♠ A Q 10 7 6

♥ 10 8 2 ♦9643 ♣6 South

♠3 ♥AQ765 3

♦AKJ5 ♣AK

South 2♣ 2♥ 4 NT 6♥

West Pass Pass Pass All Pass

North 2♦ 4♦ 5♦

The third little piggy is made of sterner stuff. Again, play starts with a trump lead won in dummy. Declarer cashes both top diamonds, ruffs a diamond low, then crosses to hand with a club to ruff a second diamond. If diamonds Opening Lead: ♥ 9 had not split, he might need to risk coming back to hand with a club to draw the trumps. As it is, he now exits from dummy by leading the spade king! This prevents the club ruff, unless one defender has the spade ace and five clubs, when declarer was doomed anyway.

ANSWER: Your partner has a maximum overcall, and you have what looks like a good hand for defense. Double two spades — which is not a command, but more of a suggestion to defend. If your partner simply has a good hand and very short spades, he does not have to sit for the double.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ K542 ♥KJ4 ♦8 ♣Q9852 South 2♥ ?

West 1♦ Dbl.

North 1♥ Rdbl.

East Pass Pass Pass

East Pass 2♠

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, October 22, 2010 by admin on November 5th, 2010 “It’s a very odd thing — As odd as can be —

Dealer: West

North

Vul: N/S

♠J5 ♥K762 ♦K974 ♣ K 10 3

That whatever Miss T. eats Turns into Miss T.” — Walter de la Mare Do you believe in coincidences at bridge? Today’s and tomorrow’s deals bear a weird similarity to each other. As you will see, the coincidences do not stop there.

West

East

♠ A Q 10 6 ♥A84 ♦QJ6 ♣J98

♠32 ♥J93 ♦A8532 ♣A76 South

At the World Championships in Tunisia in 1997, Michael Rosenberg boldly protected against the Chinese EastWest pair, and West decided to try to punish him for his impudence. The defenders led the diamond queen and shifted to the club nine, which went to the 10 and ace. Now back came the heart three to the 10 and ace, and another heart to Rosenberg’s queen.

♠K9874 ♥ Q 10 5 ♦ 10 ♣Q542

South Pass 2♠

West 1♣ 1 NT Dbl.

North Pass Pass All Pass

East 1♦ Pass

Declarer ruffed two diamonds in hand while cashing his remaining heart and club winners, to reach a four-card ending with the lead in South and six tricks in the bag. Opening Lead: ♦ Q Rosenberg had three trumps and a club left in hand, West had all his trumps left, and dummy had two spades and one card in each red suit. The East hand was irrelevant. Declarer now advanced his club (planning to ruff with the spade jack and collect one more trump trick subsequently). West could do no better than ruff with the queen and lead a low spade, hoping his partner has the spade nine. But Rosenberg could run the spade to his hand and make two trump tricks for his contract.

After the first two tricks, the only way to set the contract was for East to shift to a trump at trick three. Two early rounds of spades insures that West collects his third trump winner eventually. ANSWER: It is clear to pass now; while you may find lies of the cards where you can make game, they are few and far between. There are many more hands on which a three- or four-level contract will go down. To bid on, you need a fifth trump. Turn any of your small plain cards into the trump two and you have enough to try for game.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ J5 ♥K762 ♦ K974 ♣ K 10 3 South

West

1♥ ?

Pass

North 1♣ 2♥

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, October 23, 2010 by admin on November 6th, 2010 “Yet both so passing strange and wonderful!”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: All

♠AJ54 ♥J9 ♦ A 10 8 4 ♣973

— Percy Bysshe Shelley There is a strange coincidence linking yesterday’s deal, played in 1997 by Michael Rosenberg, to today’s, which was played by Jared Lilienstein five years later. His teammates at the time included Rosenberg, who collected a partscore for East-West in one no-trump on this deal. In our featured room, after the same start, Jared (South) protected with two hearts. Clearly not a student of bridge literature, West doubled and led the diamond queen to dummy’s ace. A club to the jack scored, and the next club went to East’s king. East tried to cash the diamond king, but Lilienstein ruffed and finessed in spades. Now East had her chance to play a trump — West cashes two trumps and then plays the diamond six East’s king to set up a force. Instead, though, East exited in clubs to West, who played a second spade. Lilienstein won in dummy, ruffed a diamond, cashed the spade queen, and had reached a four-card ending where he had taken six tricks. He had three trumps and the 13th club in hand; dummy had a spade, a diamond and two trumps; and West was down to all trumps.

West

East

♠ 10 6 2 ♥AQ76 ♦QJ6 ♣A84

♠K93 ♥ 10 4 ♦K7532 ♣K65 South

♠Q87 ♥K8532 ♦9 ♣ Q J 10 2

South Pass 2♥

West 1♣ 1 NT Dbl.

North Pass Pass All Pass

East 1♦ Pass

Opening Lead: ♦ Q

When declarer led his club, planning to ruff with the trump jack and lead a diamond to endplay West, that player could do no better than ruff in with the heart queen and lead back a low trump to the nine, 10 and king. With the eight and jack of trumps left, Lilienstein was sure of one more trick for his contract. ANSWER: It is a common mistake to double on auctions of this sort. Bear in mind that West is unlimited. While it would be absolutely clear with these cards to balance with a double if two clubs were passed around to you, here the auction is still live. Doubling two clubs does not show this hand at all. It is for penalties based on a club stack.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ AJ54 ♥J9 ♦ A 10 8 4 ♣973 South

West

North

Pass ?

1♥

Pass

East 1♣ 2♣

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, October 24, 2010 by admin on November 7th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

Please explain the law of symmetry. Do experts still believe in this idea? — Fearful Symmetry, Greenville, S.C. ANSWER: Ely Culbertson suggested that if one hand had a singleton, it was more likely that other players also had a singleton. That is fallacious; but the underlying idea that if one player is short in one suit he is likely to be longer in another suit (sometimes called the Law of Vacant Spaces) is certainly mathematically sound. Dear Mr. Wolff: Holding ♠ Q-8-4-2, ♥ K-9, ♦ A-J-10-3, ♣ 43-2, I raised my partner’s opening bid of one spade to three to show a limit raise. Now my partner rebid four clubs and I cooperated with four diamonds, and eventually we reached a poor slam. My partner later described his four-club call as a help-suit try. Is this normal practice? — Help Wanted, Wichita Falls, Texas ANSWER: It is not normal practice, but it does make very good sense for opener, the strong hand, to use help-suit slam-tries when facing a jump raise — in the same way that he uses help-suit game tries facing a simple raise. But without prior agreement I’d take the four-club call as a cue-bid here and respond with a diamond cue-bid in return, just as you did. Dear Mr. Wolff: My partner opened one heart in third seat. When this was doubled, I redoubled with 10 points and two hearts. This was passed back to my RHO, who escaped to two clubs, and I passed since I could not double this contract. This was passed out and got us a bad score since we could have made two diamonds or two hearts. Who was wrong here? — Petering Out, Fredericksburg, Va.

ANSWER: Your pass would clearly be forcing were it not for the fact that some third-in-hand openers might take a view and let the opponents play undoubled if they had opened extremely light. Opener must act if he has anything approaching full opening values here. He can bid a second suit, repeat his own suit with extra length or strength, or double if balanced.

Dear Mr. Wolff: In third seat, with ♠ K-2, ♥ Q-J-4-2, ♦ K-J-97-6, ♣ Q-8, I elected to force to game facing a one-spade opener by bidding two diamonds. Over my partner’s rebid of two spades, would you go to four spades, or look for no-trump now? And does a threespade call show a minimum or extras? — Big Game Hunter, Sunbury, Pa. ANSWER: If you play two-over-one gameforcing, you have to decide whether jumps to game in forcing auctions are weak (the so-called Principle of Fast Arrival), which is simple if not particularly efficient, or more complex methods. Even assuming a jump to four spades was a minimum hand, I’d prefer the two-no-trump rebid. Your hand looks singularly unappetizing for the suit game. Dear Mr. Wolff: Recently you discussed this hand in your bidding forum: ♠ A-K-9-7-3, ♥ A-Q-8-2, ♦ Q6-3, ♣ 10. After an opening bid of one club to your right,. I agree with your choice of bidding one spade because you can get both majors into the action efficiently. What is your opinion of a Michaels Cuebid of two clubs here to show both majors with one bid? — Twofer, Grand Forks, N.D. ANSWER: That you can bid spades, then double or bid two hearts, and get all the suits into the action in the right order is key to starting with one spade. As to the Michaels Cuebid, with the same hand but 54 the other way and with three small diamonds I can see a case, but I would not do it myself. Mike Lawrence has occasionally recommended that action with the right hand. I’m still on the fence.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, October 25, 2010 by admin on November 8th, 2010 “Now and then there is a person born who is so unlucky that he runs into accidents which started out to happen to somebody else.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: All

♠J4 ♥52 ♦K43 ♣AQJ98

— Don Marquis Today’s deal shows that sometimes when the fates (and bridge percentages) have pointed a player toward the winning action, an outside influence may step in and wreck his plans. The deal comes from last year’s European championships in San Remo. Six diamonds is a delicate slam, but on a spade lead the percentages in the diamond suit indicate that you will get the suit right. To pick up a singleton queen in either hand and any diamond queen in East, you would lead to the diamond king and finesse on the way back. Running the diamond jack on the first round loses to a singleton queen, while cashing the ace and running the jack loses out to any four-card diamond suit headed by the queen in West. Given that spades rate to be the unbid suit on just about any auction North-South might have, you would expect West to lead a spade and South to bring home his contract. And that was generally the case.

5 West

East

♠Q9873

♠ A 10 6 ♥864 ♦Q86 ♣7632

2

♥973 ♦75 ♣ K 10 South

♠K5 ♥ A K Q J 10 ♦ A J 10 9 2 ♣4

South

West

North

1♥ 2♦ 3♠ 6♦

Pass Pass Pass All Pass

2♣ 3♣ 4♦

East Pass Pass Pass Pass

But there were two awkward leads that the defenders Opening Lead: ♠ 7 might find. A heart lead, unlikely as that might seem, would leave you short of entries to the North hand needed to play on both spades and diamonds, and now you might misguess diamonds. The alternative is the even more diabolical lead of the club 10, found by Jan van Cleeff against the diamond slam. Now declarer opted to take the ace and misguessed the trump queen, and no one can hardly blame him. ANSWER: Partner’s failure to raise spades suggests we look elsewhere. The choice is the passive heart, or the active club lead. Since I’d expect dummy to have hearts, some spade length, and at least a doubleton diamond, partner rates to have club length, so that would be my first choice. A second reason for this choice is that even if a heart is right, partner may not read me to have only a doubleton.

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ AJ974 ♥32 ♦ J5 ♣Q985 South

West

North

1♠ Pass All Pass

Dbl. 3♦

Pass Pass

East 1♦ 2♦ 3 NT

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, October 26, 2010 by admin on November 9th, 2010 “O Captain! my Captain! Our fearful trip is done, The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: None

♠ K 10 ♥A63 ♦AK754 ♣K63

— Walt Whitman “Jimmie” Arthur, who died recently, was a former president of the Scottish Bridge Union and a Scottish international player. But his main claim to fame was as Britain’s most successful team captain ever. Having captained Scottish Open and Ladies’ teams 27 times in the Home Internationals series, he was the popular choice as captain of the British Ladies’ team for the European Championships in 1997, and his astute player deployment helped them to the Gold Medal. He repeated this success in 1999, but then devolution saw England, Scotland and Wales fielding separate teams, whereupon he took charge of the Scottish Open team in the 2000 Olympiad. However, the England Ladies’ team requested Jimmie’s services for the 2001 European Championships and he accepted the captaincy. The result was yet another Gold Medal — and then a Bronze in 2003.

West

East

♠A4 ♥J2 ♦ Q 10 ♣ J 10 9 8 7

♠53 ♥9854 ♦J9863 2

♣4

52

South

♠QJ9876 2

♥ K Q 10 7 ♦— ♣AQ

South 4♣ 6♠

West 3♣ Pass All Pass

North 3 NT 4♦

East Pass Pass

Jimmie excelled at many physical games as well as Opening Lead: ♣ J cerebral bridge. He was in action as South on this deal. After West had opened with a pre-emptive three clubs, Jimmie Arthur ended as declarer in six spades. West led the club jack, and Jimmie reasoned that if West held the ace of trumps, he would be able to deliver a club ruff to East. So, instead of winning the club lead in hand, he rose with dummy’s king, under which he dropped his queen, then cashed the diamond ace, on which he discarded his club ace. Only then did he touch trumps, bringing home a slam that failed at many other tables. ANSWER: You correctly up-valued this hand to treat it as a balanced 18-19 initially (the five-card suit and controls make this the sensible action). See your plan through by rebidding one no-trump now to show these values. You can’t underwrite this action; as usual, at bridge even the most sensible of actions carries some risk.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ K 10 ♥A63 ♦ AK754 ♣K63 South 1♦ ?

West 1♥

North Pass

East Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 by admin on November 10th, 2010 “Through all the compass of the notes it ran, The diapason closing full in Man.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: All

— John Dryden Bridge literature has documented the lead of the jack by East from K-J-9, when North has 10-third, to prevent declarer from taking an extra trick when he has either the queen or the ace-queen. The “surrounding” play that crops up in today’s deal is less well-known.

West

East

♠QJ93 ♥J5 ♦QJ6 ♣Q632

♠AK852 ♥6 ♦ 10 8 4 3 ♣ K 10 8

Suppose that West leads the spade queen against three hearts and leads a second spade, won by East, who switches to a low diamond. Declarer wins, draws trumps, and on the face of it has three further losers. However, if South continues with the second top diamond, then plays a third, he will prevail unless West unblocks his diamond jack. The point is that a third spade return from West would allow a ruff and discard, and a club to the king and a club back means that declarer will end with two tricks in the suit if he guesses well. West needs to unblock his diamond jack so that East wins the third round of diamonds. Now East must switch to the club 10, “surrounding” the nine in dummy.

♠76 ♥A8732 ♦975 ♣A95

South

♠ 10 4 ♥ K Q 10 9 4 ♦AK2 ♣J74

South 1♥

West Pass

North 3♥

East All Pass

Opening Lead: ♠ Q

If the 10 is covered all around, declarer will lose two further tricks in the suit, and if not, the 10 fetches the ace, again leaving two losers. Had East led the low club instead, South plays low, and West is forced to contribute the queen. When dummy’s ace wins, a low club toward the jack means that the defense comes to just one club trick. ANSWER: The jump to two spades is a gameforce. Just because you have extras does not mean you have to make an extravagant leap. Support your partner with a call of three clubs. Let him have all the space he needs to tell you why he forced to game.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 76 ♥A8732 ♦ 975 ♣A95 South

West

1♥ ?

Pass

North 1♣ 2♠

East Dbl. Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, October 28, 2010 by admin on November 11th, 2010 “Mr. Podsnap had even acquired a peculiar flourish of his right arm in often clearing the world of its most difficult problems, by sweeping them behind him.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: N/S

♠Q8764 ♥Q96 ♦K862 ♣K

— Charles Dickens When declarer knows that his shortages lie over the defenders’ so that he cannot be overruffed, it is often better to play on crossruff lines rather than drawing trumps. Today’s deal provides a good example. West led the spade jack against four hearts, overtaken by East’s king, and a diamond came back to the ace, followed by the diamond queen. Declarer quite naturally covered with the king, and East scored his heart eight, but then mistakenly tried to cash his spade ace, thinking the diamond queen was suit preference. A heart return would have been the killer here. In practice, though, declarer ruffed the spade ace high, played a club to the king and followed with the heart queen, a heart to his ace and a club ruff. Now he ruffed a diamond back to hand and drew trumps, hoping that his long clubs would be good. When the 5-2 break came to light, he had to go one down.

West

East

♠J3 ♥742 ♦ A Q 10 5

♠ A K 10 9 5

♥85 ♦9 ♣ J 10 9 7

43

♣53

2 South

♠2 ♥ A K J 10 3 ♦J7 ♣AQ864

South 3♥

West Pass Pass

North Pass 4♥

East 2♠ All Pass

Declarer should have considered a 5-2 club break likely as Opening Lead: ♠ J soon as he discovered that East had only five spades and a singleton diamond. But there was no need for declarer to draw trumps. Suppose instead that after ruffing the spade ace, he had played a club to the king and ruffed a diamond. Now he can safely play the top clubs. If clubs break 4-3, South ruffs a club and draws trump. When West ruffs the third club, declarer overruffs, ruffs a diamond in hand with the heart 10, and ruffs a club in dummy with the heart nine. Then the last three tricks can be made on a high crossruff. ANSWER: It is by no means guaranteed that you have a safe way into your opponents’ auction, but if you feel like bidding, you can risk a double here safely enough. Normally, one tends to bid a five-card major rather than make a takeout double here, but your spades are so weak that showing your two suits looks like the most flexible action.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ Q8764 ♥Q96 ♦ K862 ♣K South Pass ?

West 1♣

North Pass

East 1♥

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, October 29, 2010 by admin on November 12th, 2010 “Faint, faint and clear, Faint as the music that in dreams we hear

Dealer: East

North

Vul: E/W

♠AQ65 ♥ 10 9 7 3 ♦AK ♣A93

Shaking the curtain-fold of sleep, That shuts away The world’s hoarse voice.” — Mary Ainge de Vere After East’s pre-empt North-South had an intelligent auction to slam. North’s jump to five spades asked South to bid on with a heart control, and South could hardly refuse, despite his minimum hand. (Incidentally, had he held the guarded heart king, the right call here would have been five no-trump.) Against six spades West led his singleton heart. South won and felt he had to draw at least two rounds of trump at once in case of a bad side-suit break. Take a moment to consider how you would protect against a bad trump break.

West

East

♠ 10 8 7 2 ♥2 ♦54 ♣J7654

♠9 ♥KQJ86

4

♦J876 ♣ Q 10

2

South

♠KJ43 ♥A5 ♦ Q 10 9 3 2 ♣K8

South

West

North

Dbl. 3♠ 6♠

Pass Pass All Pass

3♥ 5♠

The winning line is to cash the trump ace and queen — by no means obvious, is it? Now South took the two top diamonds, crossed to his spade jack, and led out a low Opening Lead: ♥ 2 diamond. Had West followed (or discarded), declarer would have ruffed, come back to hand with a club, and drawn the trump, conceding a heart at the end.

East 2♥ Pass Pass

In fact, West ruffed in, so declarer pitched a heart from dummy and could win the club return, discard both of dummy’s hearts on his two high diamonds, and ruff his losing heart in dummy for the 12th trick. Without the weak-two bid, it is far from clear whether this would be the best line, but because West was known to have no more hearts, it made it the indicated play. You can also succeed by unblocking diamonds before touching spades, but that would be a needless risk. ANSWER: What an impossible problem! Partner has hearts and a strong hand; other than that you know very little about his shape. A case can be made for a natural two clubs, but this may not be so easy for your partner to work out. Alternatively, you could pass and hope to buy some spade length opposite. If you don’t trust your partner to understand a call of two clubs, passing would be your best guess today.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 10 8 7 2 ♥2 ♦ 54 ♣J76542 South Pass

West 1♣ 1♠

North Dbl. Dbl.

East 1♦ Pass

?

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, October 30, 2010 by admin on November 13th, 2010 Dealer: South North

“Go where glory waits thee,

Vul: E/W

But, while fame elates thee, Oh! still remember me.”

♠KQ3 ♥K942 ♦AK93 ♣AQ

— Thomas Moore

West

East

At the table, North began by using the Jacoby two-notrump convention to set hearts as trump. After using Blackwood, North was happy to gamble on a grand slam that he knew was unlikely to be worse than a 50-50 club finesse.

♠ 10 7 ♥653 ♦ Q 10 7 4

♠J985 ♥8 ♦865 ♣ K 10 9 8

2

♣J73

6 South

Declarer took the trump lead, eventually tested spades, then fell back on the club finesse, seeing nothing better. Down one, and an opportunity wasted. Let’s revisit the hand and try again. Best is to win the trump lead with the ace. Next comes the diamond ace followed by a diamond ruffed high. South can lead the heart 10 to the king and ruff a second diamond high. South then leads a heart to dummy’s nine, which draws the last trump, and cashes the fourth trump winner while throwing a club from his hand. The diamond king reduces everyone to five cards.

♠A642 ♥ A Q J 10 7 ♦J ♣542

South 1♥ 3♦* 5♠**

West Pass Pass Pass

North 2 NT 4 NT 7♥

East Pass Pass All Pass

*Short diamonds **Two key cards, counting the trump king as an ace, and the trump queen

Dummy has three spades and two clubs, South has four spades and one club — but what about East? He must Opening Lead: ♥ 5 keep his four spades, and so must try to bare his club king as smoothly as possible. Declarer cashes the three top spades, finding East with the length, at which point he knows East started with four red cards only, and four spades. Thus he has five clubs to his partner’s three and so is far more likely than West to have begun with the club king. Additionally, what expert would take a finesse when he can play for a squeeze? Declarer plays a club to the ace. Result: happiness!

ANSWER: Your partner has made a penalty double and you have no reason to overrule him. He won’t always produce four good trumps, but you can expect him to have either trump length or a hand unsuitable for playing hearts. In either eventuality you surely want to defend, so pass.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ A642 ♥ A Q J 10 7 ♦J ♣542 South 1♥ Pass ?

West Dbl. Pass

North Rdbl. Dbl.

East 2♦ Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, October 31, 2010 by admin on November 14th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

What are the advantages and disadvantages of playing Drury? I’m not convinced one can afford to lose a natural response in the club suit. — Iconoclast, Atlanta, Ga. ANSWER: Just to recap: A response of two clubs by a passed hand to an opening of a major suit suggests support and a maximum pass. I love Drury for various reasons, not just that it lets third hand open light for the lead, without partner hanging him. If you play a sensible series of continuations, you can improve your game and slam bidding. Opener should rebid his own suit with no game interest, bid two diamonds with any game-try, and bid higher to try for slam. More later! Dear Mr. Wolff: In a recent column the dealer opened one club, and his LHO made a weak jump in diamonds. Partner bid two spades, and RHO bid three diamonds. What are the principles, if any, that can be applied to determine when a bid should be considered forcing or nonforcing now? You say that dealer’s raise to three spades should be nonforcing and that seems straightforward. But wasn’t his two-spade bid gameforcing?.Or is it nonforcing in competition? — The Force Be With You, Little Rock, Ark. ANSWER: Playing two spades here as nonforcing forces you to start strong hands with a double, or a jump: I can’t and won’t accept that. I think it is right for two spades to be forcing, but not to game, so that a call of three spades by opener or responder at their next turn would not be forcing. An immediate new suit by responder at the three-level would set up a game-force. Dear Mr. Wolff: If you hold ♠ A-Q-J-9-8, ♥ 10-4-3-2, ♦ J-2, ♣ K-9 ,would youu open the bidding? What are the pros and cons of opening 11counts? — Sad Sack, Dover, Del.

ANSWER: This hand has many pluses. You are opening the suit you want led, you have a guaranteed easy rebid, you have decent controls and a little extra shape. Switch the spades and clubs and I would not open because of the possible rebid problem. Equally, move the spade ace into one of the doubleton suits and the lead-directing factor is diminished. An 11-count with 5-4 shape is far closer to an opening bid than completely abalanced hand with the same point-count.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Are you allowed to ask your partner if he has no more cards in a suit when he discards? I thought the rules had changed to prevent that. — Interrogation Unit, Salinas, Calif. ANSWER: No, the rules have gone in a circle, and we are back where we started. The reason the question was outlawed was that it sometimes gave away that declarer had unexpected length or the asker had unexpected shortness. This reasoning was eventually determined to be somewhat paranoid, and prevention of an accidental revoke was considered more important. So you can ask without penalty. Dear Mr. Wolff: Please discuss in more detail a hand you quoted in a problem. With: ♠ K-Q-9-7, ♥ 2, ♦ A-K-10-9-7-2, ♣ 4-2, you hear partner open one club, and your RHO makes a one-heart oercall. Would you double, bid two diamonds, or bid one spade? Aren’t you too strong to double? And isn’t a cuebid a way to set up a game-force? — Warthog, Kingston, Ontario ANSWER: There is no upper limit to a negative double, but one should select another alternative if an equal one exists. Here, two diamonds, then a spade bid, tells the story in the right order (diamonds with spades being a secondary suit). You can show you have extras later. Remember a call of one spade here shows five spades, while a cuebid of two hearts guarantees a club fit.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, November 1, 2010 by admin on November 15th, 2010 “One of the greatest pains to human nature is the pain of a new idea.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: N/S

— Walter Bagehot Two terms that are hardest to explain to novices are the trick and the finesse. Once they master the finesse, players take them willy-nilly, some necessary and some inadvisable. Consider today’s deal to see how good your judgment is. After an opening bid of two no-trump, you find yourself in the mundane contract of four hearts, and West leads a top diamond. Since you have possible homes for dummy’s slow diamond losers, you win the ace. What next? The answer is that the right plan is to cash the two top trumps, rejecting the heart finesse because you cannot afford to lose the lead. Now comes four rounds of spades, both diamonds being pitched from dummy. It would do West no good to ruff the fourth spade (he wants to keep his heart queen to draw two of declarer’s trumps), so he discards a diamond.

♠Q3 ♥8742 ♦A65 ♣8652

West

East

♠ 10 6 2 ♥ Q 10 9 ♦KQJ8 ♣K73

♠9875 ♥63 ♦ 10 9 2 ♣ J 10 9 4 South

♠AKJ4 ♥AKJ5 ♦743 ♣AQ

South 2 NT 3♥

West Pass Pass

North 3♣ 4♥

East Pass All Pass

Declarer can now ruff a diamond in dummy and again is faced with a tempting finesse in clubs. If he takes it, West Opening Lead: ♦ K can win and draw dummy’s last trump, holding declarer to 10 tricks, but since that is only a question of an overtrick, it is safe enough to make the play. If South wants to make 11 tricks against any likely distribution, he should win the club ace and ruff a second diamond. Note that an early heart finesse leads to one down when West cashes two diamonds, then sits back for his club trick. ANSWER: When your partner opens a minor suit, the least attractive lead against no-trump tends to be the other minor, so I would not lead a diamond. I might lead a spade from a four-card suit, but here I will settle for an unimaginative club, expecting to get the chance to shift to a spade later if circumstances demand it.

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ Q73 ♥ 10 7 6 ♦ A 10 4 2 ♣ 10 8 6 South

West

Pass All Pass

1♠

North 1♣ Pass

East 1♥ 1 NT

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, November 2, 2010 by admin on November 16th, 2010 “Common sense is the best distributed commodity in the world, for every man is convinced that he is well supplied with it.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: All

♠ J 10 5 ♥9643 ♦K93 ♣KQ5

— Rene Descartes Against your contract of four spades West leads the heart king, on which East plays the queen, promising the jack. West continues with the heart two, to East’s 10. How do you plan to bring home your game? You can always make 10 tricks provided the diamonds are 3-2 and neither defender can get a club ruff, but you must focus on the essentials. The first move, of course, is to ruff the heart 10. Next, you play a club to dummy’s king. Suppose East takes that with the ace, and hoping to shorten your trumps inconveniently, plays a third heart (nothing else is better). After ruffing this with the trump eight, you cash your three minor-suit winners, then play a third round of diamonds. As you will have already made six tricks, then when West wins his diamond queen, he has no winning defense. Leading a heart will just help you in your crossruff, so his best shot is to lead a trump. You play dummy’s five and win the trick with the queen. You can make the next three tricks on a crossruff.

West

East

♠3 ♥AK82 ♦ Q 10 2 ♣97432

♠9742 ♥ Q J 10 7 ♦J6 ♣ A J 10 South

♠AKQ86 ♥5 ♦A8754 ♣86

South 1♠ 3♦

West Pass Pass

North 2♠ 4♠

East Pass All Pass

Opening Lead: ♥ K

If East had returned a trump after winning the club ace, you would have won it in hand and played ace, king and another diamond. Either you will be able to follow the approach suggested above if the defenders revert to the forcing game, or, on a nonheart return, you can draw trumps and claim. ANSWER: Your partner has suggested six diamonds and four spades, and may have quite a reasonable hand, unaware of what suitable holdings you have in both his suits. Raise to three diamonds to let him know you have not given up hope of game; he can decide what to do next — if anything.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ J 10 5 ♥9643 ♦ K93 ♣KQ5 South

West

1♥ 1 NT ?

Pass Pass

North 1♦ 1♠ 2♦

East Pass Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, November 3, 2010 by admin on November 17th, 2010 “Here, as elsewhere, the search for causes must follow the collection of facts.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: All

♠K65 ♥K82 ♦AQJ3 ♣732

— Hippolyte Taine Suppose you are sitting South in a team game, which means that assuring the contract is paramount. You have become declarer in four spades after East had opened one club. Your partner’s cue-bid in response to your overcall promised values and spade support. Your jump to three spades showed a little extra, allowing partner to bid on to game. Plan the play on the club-10 lead.

West

East

♠QJ7 ♥ J 10 7 6 ♦ 10 4 ♣ 10 9 8 6

♠9 ♥AQ9 ♦9862 ♣KQJ5

South

There are two obvious considerations. The first is that you would lead to the trump king and finesse on the way back if West produced an honor. This is the right play in abstract, especially if you want to keep East off lead. But here you wish to keep West off lead to avoid a potentially fatal heart shift, so that plan is a poor idea. Instead, it looks entirely logical to play a no-frills line. Draw trumps, then cash winners. Accordingly, you take the two top trumps and leave West with the master trump if necessary, then run diamonds to pitch your heart loser. Nice try, but no cigar! West can ruff the third diamond and find the deadly shift to the heart jack.

4

♠ A 10 8 4 3 2

♥543 ♦K75 ♣A

South

West

North

1♠ 3♠

Pass Pass

2♣ 4♠

East 1♣ Pass All Pass

Opening Lead: ♣ 10

Back once more to the drawing board. Win the club ace and play a deceptive spade four from hand. When West follows with the seven (he will, won’t he?), duck in dummy, knowing this will lose to East. Now the contract is ensured. You can win the return, draw trumps, and take five spades, four diamonds and a club. ANSWER: Do you have any idea who can make what, facing your partner’s weak two? Neither do I! Since the opponents may well have an excellent fit in one of the majors, it behooves you to make their lives as hard as possible. Jump to three no-trump confidently. If they lead a major into one of your kings, who knows? You might even make it!

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ K65 ♥K82 ♦ AQJ3 ♣732 South ?

West

North 2♦

East Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, November 4, 2010 by admin on November 18th, 2010 “Nothing happens to anybody which he is not fitted by nature to bear.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: N/S

♠K5 ♥A865 ♦764 ♣8654

— Marcus Aurelius In today’s auction West’s two-no-trump bid promised the minors, and over your takeout double North found an imaginative “choice-of-games” cue-bid. After West leads the club king to your ace, how do you plan the play in four spades? Since West can have at most three major-suit cards, he is more likely to hold only one trump than any other holding. If you start from that assumption, you should attempt to cut your four top losers in spades and diamonds to three by trying to ruff your fourth diamond in dummy. Win the club ace, cross to the trump king in dummy, and lead a diamond to the ace. A heart to the ace allows another diamond to be led toward your hand. Because East knows he cannot gain by ruffing a loser with a master trump, your diamond king will win.

West

East

♠3 ♥J2 ♦ Q J 10 9 5 ♣KQJ92

♠ Q J 10 8 ♥ Q 10 9 7 3

♦2 ♣ 10 7 3 South

♠A97642 ♥K4 ♦AK83 ♣A

South 1♠ Dbl. 4♠

West 2 NT Pass All Pass

North Pass 4♣

Now you put West on lead with a diamond, planning to ruff the fourth round of diamonds in dummy. Because West began with only one spade, he cannot prevent you from Opening Lead: ♣ K executing this plan. If he returns a diamond, you ruff with dummy’s five. All the defenders will score is two trump tricks to go with their diamond trick. If instead West returns a club, you will trump this in hand and lead a fourth round of diamonds, ruffing in the dummy.

East 3♣ Pass

Note that this line succeeds even if West has one heart and two spades; the defenders can maneuver a heart ruff, but East has one fewer natural trump trick. ANSWER: Your partner’s cue-bid shows a game-forcing hand, but he tends not to have heart support. (With heart support he would raise to the appropriate level or jump in a short suit.) Initially, he is looking for a diamond stopper for no-trump. Since you do not have that, but do have a fifth heart, rebid your heart suit to find out where partner is going.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ Q J 10 8 ♥ Q 10 9 7 3 ♦2 ♣ 10 7 3 South

West

1♥ ?

2♦

North 1♣ 3♦

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, November 5, 2010 by admin on November 19th, 2010 “Economy is going without something you do want in case you should, some day, want something you probably won’t want.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: E/W

♠Q98 ♥AQJ85 ♦53 ♣964

— Anthony Hope Put yourself in the East seat when West leads a low spade against three no-trump. The natural inclination is to play your spade king (hoping it wins), drive out North’s third-round spade winner, then try to keep declarer from enjoying the hearts in dummy.

West

East

♠ 10 7 6 5 2 ♥974 ♦ A Q 10 4 ♣2

♠K43 ♥ K 10 2 ♦62 ♣ J 10 8 7 South

This is a good idea as far as it goes, but what if South has the spade ace and partner has led from five to the jack or 10? (In both cases, not only would playing the spade king give South a third natural spade trick, but it would also give him a possible late entry to dummy with the spade queen.) On the sight of dummy, East should focus his attention on trying to try to kill the heart suit by holding up his heart king as long as he can and by saving his spade king over the queen to prevent the latter from being an entry.

3

♠AJ ♥63 ♦KJ987 ♣AKQ5

South 1♦ 2♣ 2 NT

West Pass Pass Pass

North 1♥ 2♥ 3 NT

East Pass Pass All Pass

Best defense is to duck the first spade. South will win in hand and lead a heart to dummy as West gives count in Opening Lead: ♠ 5 hearts by following low. East ducks offhandedly, and South returns to hand with a club to play a second heart to the queen and king. Now East exits with the club jack, and when West pitches the spade two, it clarifies the layout and the count in that suit. East can duck the next spade play, and the defenders will be in complete control. ANSWER: Your partner has suggested 22-24, and you have shown five hearts. What next? The simple answer is that your playing strength in hearts is almost good enough to offer partner a choice of slams, which you could do by bidding five no-trump (meaning “pick a slam”). If you feel slightly more cautious, you might settle for a jump to four no-trump, suggesting a little extra but not quite enough to drive to slam.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ Q98 ♥AQJ85 ♦ 53 ♣964 South

West

2♥ ?

Pass

North 2♣ 2 NT

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, November 6, 2010 by admin on November 20th, 2010 “To squander away the objects which made the happiness of their fellows would be to them no sacrifice at all.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: None

♠65 ♥ A J 10 8 5 2

— Edmund Burke A Merrimac Coup is an attempt to disrupt declarer’s communications by the strategic shift to an unsupported honor. You normally cannot be sure with a Merrimac Coup that it will cost you a trick, whereas today’s play was a more cold-blooded surrender of a winner. When France defeated England in their annual encounter in the Entente Cordiale Trophy, Michel Lebel was the player confronted with the tricky defensive problem against six spades. You can view it from Lebel’s perspective by taking the East seat. The auction was entirely straightforward, but South’s Blackwood inquiry had elicited the fact that North did not have the heart queen (not entirely a surprise to Lebel). Philippe Cronier led the diamond four, and declarer played low from dummy. How would you plan the defense?

♦AJ2 ♣63 West

East

♠ 10 3 2 ♥63 ♦ 10 8 4 ♣J9752

♠987 ♥Q94 ♦KQ763 ♣K4 South

♠AKQJ4 ♥K7 ♦95 ♣ A Q 10 8

South 1♠ 3♣ 3♥ 4 NT 6♠

West Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass

North 2♥ 3♦ 4♦ 5♥

It is all too easy to defend passively, but Lebel worked out that on a passive black-suit return, declarer would make 12 tricks easily. He would draw trumps, play the top hearts, ruff a heart, then cross to the diamond ace to run Opening Lead: ♦ 4 the hearts. Hoping to find his partner with the club jack, Lebel found the Greek gift of winning with the diamond queen and returning a diamond into dummy’s tenace, giving declarer a cheap trick, but taking away the entry to the heart suit. The best that declarer could do was take the club finesse and try to ruff a club, but Lebel could overruff for one down.

ANSWER: You have a real problem if you are playing standard methods. A cue-bid is unattractive without four hearts, and three diamonds is nonforcing. One solution is to play that a call of two no-trump acts as a puppet to three clubs, allowing you to show a weak hand with either minor, while a direct three-diamond call is forcing. This is called Lebensohl. More on this in my Sunday column later this month.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 987 ♥Q94 ♦ KQ763 ♣K4 South ?

West

North 1 NT

East Pass Pass Pass Pass

East 2♠

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, November 7, 2010 by admin on November 21st, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

How should I respond to a double of a fourspade opening bid? If I remove the double, is a call of four no-trump natural or artificial? — Mile High, Riverside, Calif. ANSWER: The double is best played as something close to optional. You pass the double unless you can remove to a contract you expect to make. The call of four notrump in response to a double would definitely not be natural. It suggests a twosuiter, initially the minors though one can have hearts and a minor, planning to correct an inconvenient response to the next higher suit. Dear Mr. Wolff: Holding ♠ K-9-4-2, ♥ Q-7-5-2, ♦ A-9-3, ♣ 32, how would you bid when your LHO opens one club and your partner overcalls one diamond? Should you pass, raise diamonds, or bid a major? — Standard Bearer, Cedar Rapids, Iowa ANSWER: I am way too good to pass. My choice is to raise diamonds (hoping partner will introduce a major with extras) or to respond one heart myself. I believe that if I bid a major here, I should be happy to be raised if partner has three. This hand does not qualify under that heading, but give me the heart jack instead of the two, and I might change my mind and bid one heart. Dear Mr. Wolff: Recently you ran a deal where South held ♠ K-8-2, ♥ J-10, ♦ K-Q-7-6-5-4 ♣ Q-3 and had opened one diamond. When I asked my bridge partner what she thought South should rebid, the reply was: “I don’t think South should have opened one diamond to begin with!” Her reasoning was that opener can’t count both points and length, or give full HCP credit to doubletons headed by a queen or jack. So is this really a weak twobid? — Demanding a Recount, Columbia, S.C.

ANSWER: It is not perfect, but I tend to follow the rule that a six-card suit plus 11 HCP equals an opening bid because the two points I mentally add for the six-carder make it up to 13. That said, I do not object to opening two diamonds. Indeed, the absence of aces may make it the value bid, but the weak diamond spots keep me from loving that call. This one is close enough that you both have sensible arguments, and no one is wrong. How Solomonic!

Dear Mr. Wolff: If you open one no-trump and the opponents intervene, does doubling under or over the trump suit indicate whether that call is penalty or takeout? And does it matter whether you are responder or opener? — Axolotl, San Francisco, Calif. ANSWER: There is no right or wrong here, just partnership agreement. I play takeout doubles by both sides at the first turn after they overcall our no-trump bid, but in some partnerships I’ve made an exception for when opener hears his RHO balance. Frankly, takeout doubles are better, in my opinion, but any agreement is fine here, so long as you both know it. Dear Mr. Wolff: Recently the ACBL bulletin suggested that in first seat at unfavorable vulnerability, if you hold ♠ K-10-8-7-6-5-4-3, ♥ 2, ♦ 6-5-4-3, ♣ —, an opening bid of three spades rather than four spades might be appropriate. What is your opinion? Is this hand not worth seven tricks? Would you consider passing with such a poor suit? — On the Fence, New Smyrna Beach, Fla. ANSWER: If I bid four spades, it often acts as a transfer to “double.” If so, will I be happy? I think not. The fourth diamond represents extra trick-taking, but my weak spade spots worry me. I’d feel different with the spade jack instead of the three. I’d open the hand four hearts if my spades and hearts were switched, but here three spades is enough — just so that next time partner can rely on my having full values when I do open four spades vulnerable.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, November 8, 2010 by admin on November 22nd, 2010 “I think the necessity of being ready increases. Look to it.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: All

♠K983 ♥Q96 ♦KQ75 ♣Q8

— Abraham Lincoln Defending against four spades, how should you (East) signal when your partner leads the heart king? Should you encourage or discourage? The answer is that you should encourage violently, using the heart seven to make sure your partner does not shift. You do not expect your partner to have a side-winner, but a heart continuation cannot cost and, as you shall see, is actually the key to the defense.

West

East

♠4 ♥AK5 ♦ 10 9 8 3 ♣ J 10 7 6 3

♠ A 10 7 2 ♥ 10 7 4 3 ♦J42 ♣52 South

Accordingly, your partner continues with ace and another heart. Declarer wins the third heart in dummy, plays a spade to his queen, and then guesses well by leading a spade back to dummy’s king (your partner discarding the diamond three). You have the choice of winning with the ace or ducking. Plan the defense. The first step is to count the points. Your partner cannot hold more than a side jack, so you have no side winners to come. Can you manufacture any other trick?

♠QJ65 ♥J82 ♦A6 ♣AK94

South

West

North

1 NT 2♠

Pass Pass

2♣ 4♠

Yes, you can. Ducking the spade will achieve nothing — declarer will simply continue to draw trumps and has 10 winners. Instead, take the second spade and play a fourth Opening Lead: ♥ K heart, giving declarer a useless ruff and discard. This promotes a trick for your trump 10, whichever hand declarer ruffs in. If he ruffs in dummy, you can cover dummy’s remaining spade spot; if he ruffs in hand, he can no longer finesse against the spade 10.

ANSWER: West was looking for higher things when he used the grand-slam force, but he got the weakest response. Your best chance is to try to set up a side-suit winner and hope partner has a trump trick. Dummy rates to have a long suit and a spade fit, so take your pick of hearts or diamonds and cross your fingers. My bet would be on the shorter suit; hence, I’d lead a diamond.

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠5 ♥ 10 9 7 4 2 ♦ 10 9 7 2 ♣J86 South Pass All Pass

West 2♣ 5 NT

North Pass Pass

East Pass Pass All Pass

East 2♠ 6♠

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, November 9, 2010 by admin on November 23rd, 2010 “None but the well-bred man knows how to confess a fault, or acknowledge himself in an error.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: All

♠A532 ♥ Q J 10 4 ♦965 ♣42

— Benjamin Franklin In today’s deal from the Dyspeptics Club, South picked up his rock-crusher with the air of a man who knew he deserved nothing less and drove to game as soon as he found the spade fit. The lead of the heart nine encouraged him to believe that the deal would be a pianola. (For those of you too young to remember, a pianola “plays itself.”) He covered the heart nine with the 10, which held the trick. Then he drew trumps in two rounds and paused for reflection, realizing that there was a shortage of entries to dummy to set up the hearts. Finally, shrugging his shoulders, he cashed the heart ace, hoping for a minor miracle, then crossed to the spade ace and advanced the heart jack, covered by East. South ruffed and played the diamond ace and a second diamond. East overtook his partner’s jack to shift to a club, and down South went. For once, North was temporarily silent, giving South the opportunity to complain about his bad luck. That triggered an outburst from North, in which “pinhead” was the most flattering epithet. Can you see what North was upset about?

West

East

♠9 ♥987 ♦KJ32 ♣AQ863

♠64 ♥K652 ♦ Q 10 8 ♣ J 10 9 5 South

♠ K Q J 10 8 7

♥A3 ♦A74 ♣K7

South 1♠ 4♠

West Pass All Pass

North 2♠

East Pass

Opening Lead: ♥ 9

Four spades is cold after the heart lead, as long as declarer wins the first trick with the heart ace. He then draws trump — in three rounds if necessary — preserving dummy’s entry. Next he knocks out the heart king and can claim at least 10 tricks: three hearts, six spades and the diamond ace. ANSWER: Opinions would be divided about whether you have enough to invite if you were facing an opening bid of one no-trump. However, the upper range for a one-no-trump overcall is a fraction higher, and there are so many ways that a Stayman inquiry might work here that it is clear to bid two clubs, then invite game in either notrump or a major-suit fit, if you find one.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ A532 ♥ Q J 10 4 ♦ 965 ♣42 South ?

West 1♣

North 1 NT

East Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, November 10, 2010 by admin on November 24th, 2010 Dealer: North North

“So they speak, Darkened by ignorance; and so they fall —

Vul: All

♠ K 10 9 3 ♥Q972 ♦ Q 10 3 ♣A4

Tossed to and fro with projects, tricked, and bound In net of black delusion.” — The Bhagavad-Gita When it becomes clear to a defender that the cards lie well for declarer, it may be right to take a trick with an unnecessarily high card to tempt declarer to abandon a winning strategy.

West

East

♠42 ♥A86 ♦J76 ♣ Q J 10 5

♠65 ♥ K 10 4 ♦K8542 ♣976

2

South

♠AQJ87 ♥J53 ♦A9 ♣K83

That was the policy adopted — with devastating effect — by Malcolm Harris (East), defending against the normal contract of four spades. Before you condemn declarer too quickly, consider how you would have played the deal. East led the club queen, and South could see four possible losers — three hearts and a diamond. Declarer won with dummy’s ace, drew trumps in two rounds, then eliminated clubs by cashing the king and ruffing the last club in dummy.

South

West

1 NT 2♠

Pass Pass

North Pass 2♣ 4♠

East Pass Pass All Pass

Next came the heart two toward the closed hand, to the Opening Lead: ♣ Q four, jack and ace. West returned the heart eight to dummy’s nine — and the king from Harris. He had appreciated that if South held both the queen and ace of diamonds as was almost guaranteed by the auction, then if he captured the heart nine with the 10 to return a diamond, declarer would have no alternative but to run this to dummy’s queen — successfully. When East won the second heart with the king, South would almost certainly place West with the A-10-8-6 of hearts. If so, South could finesse dummy’s seven, then cash the queen, providing a diamond discard and an overtrick. Deceived, declarer rose with the diamond ace and led a heart to the seven and 10, and Harris cashed his diamond king for down one. ANSWER: In the early days of bridge, overcalls used to show weak hands and takeout doubles promised opening bids, which could be offshape. These days, the upper range even for a one-level overcall is about a 16-count. So South can bid a comfortable one spade, perhaps planning to come in again if the opponents settle in diamonds. To double, then bid spades, South would need an extra queen.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ AQJ87 ♥J53 ♦ A9 ♣K83 South ?

West

North

East 1♦

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, November 11, 2010 by admin on November 25th, 2010 “Life is a foreign language — all men mispronounce it.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: All — Christopher Morley Sometimes the secret of when not to finesse is based on tempos, rather than endplays. In four spades today you might make 12 tricks with only a modicum of luck. However, as you might expect, you will not be receiving much in the way of good breaks today! Declarer won the heart lead and played the trump king, discovering the 4-0 break. South was still optimistic that all would be well and that an overtrick would roll in as long as West held the diamond queen. But when declarer played a diamond to dummy’s jack, East won with the queen and switched to clubs, dislodging the ace. Declarer drew two more rounds of trump, then played on diamonds, hoping that West would follow two more times. However, as so often happens when a hand has been misplayed, there was no reprieve. West ruffed the third round of diamonds, and the defenders took a heart and a club to put the contract one down.

♠A932 ♥94 ♦AJ652 ♣83

West

East

♠ J 10 8 5 ♥ Q J 10 7 ♦97 ♣ Q 10 4

♠— ♥K862 ♦ Q 10 8 ♣KJ965

2 South

♠KQ764 ♥A53 ♦K43 ♣A7

South 1♠ 4♠

West Pass All Pass

North 3♠

East Pass

Did you spot declarer’s mistake? He needed to establish the diamond suit in such a way that he could enjoy a discard before the defenders could cash out on him. Opening Lead: ♥ Q Suppose he takes the diamond king and plays a second diamond, rising with dummy’s ace. He can now concede a diamond trick to East, who will no doubt clear the club suit. No problem! Declarer draws two more rounds of trump with the queen and ace, then plays a good diamond, throwing a club. West can ruff this trick, but the defenders can score only three tricks. ANSWER: Textbooks of old would advise you to redouble here with any nine-count. But if you redouble and hear the opponents bid or jump in hearts, you will have no idea what to do next. Best is to bid one diamond, then bid spades over their hearts, describing your hand precisely.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ A932 ♥94 ♦ AJ652 ♣83 South ?

West

North 1♣

East Dbl.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, November 12, 2010 by admin on November 26th, 2010 “Life without industry is guilt, and industry without art is brutality.”

Dealer: North North

Vul: N/S

♠QJ432 ♥ Q 10 ♦QJ6 ♣AJ2

— John Ruskin Today’s deal, from the final of the United States Bridge Championships to select a team for the 2007 World Championships, features a superb defense by Zia Mahmood and Michael Rosenberg. Their team went on to win the silver medal, behind Norway. In the other room Zia and Michael’s counterparts as EastWest had scored plus 430 in three no-trump. But here, an enterprising South elected to sacrifice in four hearts, and North did well to let his partner stew in his own juice rather than rescuing in four spades. It appears that two down, for plus 500, is the limit — two hearts, two diamonds and a spade trick — but Zia’s reasoning led to a third undertrick. His club lead was won by dummy’s ace, Rosenberg playing the three. Declarer then played the heart queen, putting Zia back on lead. Because East’s simple overcall showed values, Zia accurately placed him with the red kings and a singleton spade. (Rosenberg’s club three was suit preference, suggesting the diamond king.)

West

East

♠ K 10 8 5 ♥A ♦ A 10 8 5 4

♠6 ♥K53 ♦K9 ♣ K Q 10 8

3

♣96

753 South

♠A97 ♥J98764 2

♦72 ♣4

South

West

2♠ 4♥

3 NT Dbl.

North 1♠ Pass All Pass

East 2♣ Pass

So Zia shifted to a low diamond, which went to Opening Lead: ♣ 9 Rosenberg’s king, and the spade return was taken by South’s ace. East won the ensuing trump lead with the king and played a diamond to West’s ace. Then the spade king and a spade ruff produced plus 800. Note that had Zia played the diamond ace and a second diamond, the defenders’ communications would have been cut for the spade ruff. ANSWER: Your partner’s redouble shows a good hand (typically upwards of 10 HCP, rarely based on diamond support). You would normally pass and await clarification, but here your extra shape suggests you continue describing your hand pattern by bidding one spade. You have not shown your extra values yet, but you can do so later, assuming the auction continues.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ K 10 8 5 ♥A ♦ A 10 8 5 4 3 ♣96 South

West

North

1♦ ?

Dbl.

Rdbl.

East 1♣ Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, November 13, 2010 by admin on November 27th, 2010 “My occupation in my solitary pilgrimages was to recall every yard of the old road as I went along it, and to haunt the old spots, of which I never tired.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: None

♠874 ♥AQ65 ♦865 ♣754

— Charles Dickens How should you play four spades after West leads three rounds of diamonds? A key play comes at the third trick. You must ruff the third diamond with the trump nine, retaining the six as a way to reach dummy. Now it looks natural to go after trumps by leading out the top winners. If the queen of trump falls under the ace and king, you will make an overtrick by unblocking the heart king and jack, crossing to dummy with the trump eight, and throwing your two clubs on the ace and queen of hearts. However, if you play this way today, you will go down. You cannot take your four heart winners, because of the lack of entries to dummy, so the defenders will make a trump, two diamonds and a club. The safest way to overcome this layout is to lead the trump 10 at trick four. If West plays low, you will make six trumps, three hearts (overtaking the second round) and the club ace. If instead West takes the 10 with the queen, you will win his return, unblock your top hearts from hand, and draw trumps ending in dummy. You will make five trumps, four hearts and the club ace.

West

East

♠Q32 ♥83 ♦AKJ43 ♣K93

♠5 ♥ 10 9 7 4 2

♦ 10 9 2 ♣ J 10 8 6 South

♠ A K J 10 9 6

♥KJ ♦Q7 ♣AQ2

South

West

North

1♠ 4♠

Pass All Pass

2♠

East Pass Pass

Opening Lead: ♦ K

Incidentally, this plan would also work when trumps are 4-0, as long as East has the club king. You can overtake your heart jack at the appropriate moment and subsequently finesse in clubs. ANSWER: When you responded two hearts, you showed a hand in the range 0-8 HCP. Facing that, your partner made a strong slam-try. Now, in context, you do have pretty good trumps. You should jump to five hearts, suggesting decent hearts but not much else, and let partner make the final decision.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 874 ♥AQ65 ♦ 865 ♣754 South 2♥ ?

West 2♦ Pass

North Dbl. 4♦

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, November 14, 2010 by admin on November 28th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

How can I warn my partner discreetly to hold her cards back, or ask my opponents not to look? — Show and Tell, Willoughby, Ohio ANSWER: There are two practices you can follow. The first is to ask one opponent to hold HIS cards back and then extend the warning to your partner. The second is to say to your partner that you can see her cards. (If you can see them, the opponents must be even better placed.) Dear Mr. Wolff: Holding ♠ K-9, ♥ A-Q-J, ♦ A-10-4-3-2, ♣ J6-4, I assume you would open one notrump if given the chance. But what would you do if your RHO opened in a black suit? Would you still overcall one no-trump, or would you consider doubling one spade? Would you bid one diamond over one club? — Second-Hand Rose, Dodge City, Kansas

ANSWER: This is a slightly unfair question because you did not specify vulnerability or position. It is a clear-cut opening bid in third seat, and perhaps in first seat nonvulnerable (particularly if the response of one notrump was not forcing). If I passed, I’d only balance over one no-trump if nobody was vulnerable. At rubber, balancing makes sense on the first, second or third deal, if nobody had a partscore.

Dear Mr. Wolff: What should you do when you discover, in the middle of the hand, that you have revoked? Must you tell your opponents? Are you permitted to revoke again without penalty? — Five-Suiter, Mitchell, S.D. ANSWER: You must not deliberately revoke again, so you must follow suit at the appropriate moment and take your penalty. Curiously, you are NOT obliged to say anything. I suppose if your opponents do not notice, they don’t deserve to get their free trick! Dear Mr. Wolff:

ANSWER: Two tough questions. I prefer the no-trump call over one club, since even if the opponents have clubs, they have not yet led the suit, and LHO may well opt for another suit at his first turn. Over one spade it is very close. I’d double if my partner was a passed hand, but otherwise I can live with the no-trump bid.

I was astonished to read, in a recent column, the advice to responder to “start with a takeout double” in a sequence where partner has already bid. I thought a double was for takeout, and thus forcing, only when partner had not bid; in all other cases it would be for penalties.

Dear Mr. Wolff:

— Doubly Confused, Tigard, Ore.

Holding ♠ K-6-4-3-2, ♥ Q-4-2, ♦ Q-10-8, ♣ A-7, would you ever open the bidding? If you passed and your LHO opened with a strong no-trump, would you balance over it when it was passed back to you?

ANSWER: Let us not focus on your side having bid to determine the meaning of a double. The negative double in response to an opening bid means that all initial doubles of overcalls of four spades or lower are geared toward takeout. Additionally, when the opponents find a fit, all doubles by either player at their second turn tend to be takeout. Only at later levels do doubles become more penalty-oriented, and even then, they are often optional.

— Second Chance, Corpus Christi, Texas

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, November 15, 2010 by admin on November 29th, 2010 “It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: E/W

♠K764 ♥8 ♦AQ3 ♣AQJ76

— Seneca Today’s deal has points of interest in both the bidding and the play. After West’s pre-emptive jump to three hearts, North is too good simply to bid four spades. (Remember, facing an overcall, a jump-raise is weak and shapely. It is not a limit raise, which one would show with a cuebid.) Since he could make slam opposite as little as ace-queenfifth of spades and the club king, North bids four hearts to emphasize a strong raise to four spades, suggesting short hearts. South signs off in four spades, and the focus shifts to the defenders. After West’s dutiful opening lead of a heart, East should shift to diamonds as the only possible point of attack. It is conceivable that the defense might establish a third-round diamond trick for themselves before declarer can set up the clubs for the diamond discards he needs. True, for this to happen, West must furnish at least the diamond king and a trump trick — but East loses nothing by trying for this remote chance.

West

East

♠ Q 10 2 ♥J7632 ♦ K 10 2 ♣83

♠5 ♥AKQ9 4

♦J764 ♣K54 South

♠AJ983 ♥ 10 5 ♦985 ♣ 10 9 2

South 1♠ 4♠

West Pass 3♥ All Pass

North 1♣ 4♥

East 1♥ Pass

Actually, this play (correctly followed up) gives the Opening Lead: ♥ 3 defenders a trick in each suit. If West is allowed to win the spade queen early on, he can play a second diamond, and declarer must now lose both a club and a diamond for down one. It does declarer no good to cash both top trumps and shift to clubs — East wins the club king and leads a second diamond. West can ruff the third club and lead to his partner’s diamond winner. ANSWER: The best suit in which we can hope to establish tricks looks like diamonds to me, so I would lead the diamond six. There is also a good case for leading hearts to build extra trump tricks for our side, but that might allow declarer to pitch his losers on dummy’s heart winners.

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 9753 ♥42 ♦ J76 ♣Q974 South

West

North

Pass 1♠

1♥ 3♣

Dbl. All Pass

East 1♣ Rdbl.

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 by admin on November 30th, 2010 Dealer: North North

“Men talk of killing time, while time quietly kills them.”

Vul: None — Dion de Boucicault Sometimes you duck with the idea of saving your honors for later, when you can get the maximum use out of them. For example, when West leads the diamond four against four spades, it looks normal to put up an honor from dummy. However, if East wins and does not return the suit (allowing South to discard, and then discard again on dummy’s established diamond honor), South will lose a trick in each side suit, making only nine tricks unless he takes an inspired view in trumps.

♠K75 ♥A74 ♦QJ6 ♣A874

West

East

♠Q64 ♥J832 ♦ K 10 8 4 ♣J9

♠3 ♥ Q 10 9 ♦A9732 ♣ Q 10 3 2 South

♠ A J 10 9 8 2

Now let’s see what happens if South plays low dummy at trick one. It is going to take a pretty brave player to insert the nine and run the risk of losing singleton 10 in declarer’s hand, or possibly even doubleton 10 if West’s lead was from K-8-4 originally.

from East to a to a

Surely, most East players will put up the ace. This will enable South, sometime later in the deal, to make a routine loser-on-loser play in diamonds for his contract. (South runs the diamond queen while discarding a club and afterwards discards a heart on the jack.)

♥K65 ♦5 ♣K65

South

West

North 1♣ 1 NT 2♠

Pass 1♠ Pass 2♦* All Pass 4♠ *New Minor, a forcing relay

East Pass Pass Pass

The recommended play also picks up a trick when East Opening Lead: ♦ 4 started with both the diamond ace and king, but not the 10. Would anybody insert an eight or nine from A-K-9-x or A-K-8-x when dummy played low? If they would, you should either stop playing against them, or hold your cards much farther back! BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ K75 ♥A74 ♦ QJ6 ♣A874 South

West

3 NT ?

Pass

North 1♦ 5♦

East Pass Pass

ANSWER: Some auctions do not require excessive navel contemplation. You showed a balanced 13-15, and partner suggested that five diamonds might be better than no-trump. You may not agree with him, but you were not consulted, since you have described your hand already. So pass and respect his decision. (Maybe partner has seven diamonds to the king, the spade ace and club king, and a void in hearts.)

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, November 17, 2010 by admin on December 1st, 2010 “Since we must admit that philosophy is at odds with common sense, let us make the most of it. What, then, IS common sense?”

Dealer: South North

Vul: None

♠AQ5 ♥3 ♦AQJ ♣AKJ982

— Ralph Perry It is important to know the odds for some basic suit combinations. It is also important to know when to throw the textbook out the window. For example, when West leads the spade seven against your heart slam, how do you plan to make 12 tricks?

West

East

♠74 ♥ Q 10 5 ♦8432 ♣ Q 10 5 4

♠ K J 10 9

The original declarer facing this problem played the hand according to the percentage tables and so managed to find a way to go down. He took the first trick with dummy’s spade ace, then played the club ace and king, discarding his spade loser from hand. Next, declarer finessed the trump jack (theoretically the correct play to avoid two heart losers, but not the right play today). West won with the heart queen and returned a third round of clubs. East brightly ruffed this with the trump nine, forcing South to overruff with the king. As a result, West’s trump 10 became the setting trick.

86

♥97 ♦765 ♣63 South

♠32 ♥AKJ864 2

♦ K 10 9 ♣7

South 1♥ 4♥ 5♥

West Pass Pass Pass

North 2♣ 4 NT 6♥

East 2♠ Pass All Pass

Declarer claimed that he had been unlucky. While there was some merit to this claim, the heart finesse was Opening Lead: ♠ 7 ambitious. It would be needed only if East had begun with four trumps headed by the queen. This was not likely, as he had advertised spade length in the bidding. The best plan to make this contact was the simplest. South should have played the ace and king of trumps at tricks two and three, and only then have taken the club ace and king. This avoids any trump promotions and prevents embarrassment when East is very short of clubs, with or without the heart queen. ANSWER: When your partner doubled one spade, he suggested both a good hand and some shape since you had shown a bad hand by your first pass. In context, you have significant extras and trump support. You might even have bid three clubs at your second turn. You certainly have enough to bid three clubs now.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 74 ♥ Q 10 5 ♦ 8432 ♣ Q 10 5 4 South

West

Pass 2♣ ?

1♠ 2♠

North 1♣ Dbl. Pass

East 1♥ Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, November 18, 2010 by admin on December 2nd, 2010 “Give me a look, give me a face That makes simplicity a grace.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: E/W

♠96 ♥K6 ♦A92 ♣AKJ975

— Ben Jonson The Principle of Restricted Choice (which, like Occam’s Razor, says “Always take the simplest path”) applies when an opponent plays an honor and you need to find a touching honor by either playing for the drop or finessing. It says that the missing honor is more likely to be in the other hand because with both honors a defender had a choice of which to play. Say you are missing four cards including the queen and jack. When you play the ace, one opponent plays an honor. Do you play him for Q-J-doubleton or a singleton honor? With Q-J-doubleton, the defender might have played either honor at his first turn; with a singleton honor, the player had no choice. The odds heavily favor finessing on the next round, playing him for a singleton honor. The same theory can be applied to situations like the one in today’s deal, where North-South bid to their best game — four hearts. The defenders started with three rounds of spades. Declarer won and cashed the heart king and ace. When West played the queen, declarer, using the Principle of Restricted Choice, correctly decided that an original holding of honor-doubleton was more likely than Q-J-7.

West

East

♠ J 10 8 4 3 ♥Q7 ♦ 10 8 ♣6432

♠AK7 ♥J982 ♦7653 ♣ Q 10 South

♠Q52 ♥ A 10 5 4 3 ♦KQJ4 ♣8

South 1♥ 3♦ 3♠ 4♥

West Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass

North 1♣ 3♣ 3♥ 4♣

East Pass Pass Pass Pass

Opening Lead: ♠ 4

Accordingly, declarer played a club to the ace, ruffed a club, took the diamond king, crossed to dummy’s diamond ace, and played winning clubs through East. Whenever East ruffed in, whether high or low, declarer would lose just one trick more. ANSWER: Your partner has shown a balanced 18-20 hand and not promised any spade length at all. But the odds strongly favor his having two or three spades, in which case spades will probably play better than no-trump. So bid two spades and apologize if partner has a small doubleton spade. But even then, your decision might still be right.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ J 10 8 4 3 ♥Q7 ♦ 10 8 ♣6432 South 1♠ ?

West 1♣ Pass

North Dbl. 1 NT

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, November 19, 2010 by admin on December 3rd, 2010 “Among other evils which being unarmed brings you, it causes you to be despised.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: None

♠AK54 ♥ A 10 9 6 4 ♦93 ♣J7

— Niccolo Macchiavelli Today’s deal, from a tournament in England, saw declarer playing well against challenging defense. South’s four-spade bid was slightly aggressive, but he was hoping to find four-card trump support opposite, plus club shortage. Quite often you do not need many more than half the points in the deck to have some play for 10 tricks, especially when you have a nine-card fit and when the bidding has given you some clues you can use in the play. West led the heart eight, won with dummy’s ace. This was revealing, since it marked East with all the missing heart honors, thus placing the diamond ace with West. So at trick two declarer ran the diamond nine to West’s queen.

West

East

♠ 10 9 3 ♥85 ♦AQ ♣ K Q 10 6

♠7 ♥KQJ32 ♦J8764 2

♣5

32

South

♠QJ862 ♥7 ♦ K 10 5 ♣A984

West now found the best switch to a trump, and declarer West North drew three rounds ending in the dummy. He then played a South Dbl. 1♣ diamond to his 10 and West’s ace. West got off play with a All Pass 4♠ heart, ruffed by declarer, who cashed his diamond king to make sure he had extracted all of West’s exit cards. In the five-card ending, a low club toward the jack finished West Opening Lead: ♥ 8 off. He had to go in with the queen and was left with nothing but clubs. He was forced to exit with the club king, to South’s ace. Now, since South had the 9-8 of clubs left, he could take a marked ruffing finesse against West’s 10 to set up his 10th winner for himself.

ANSWER: A raise to three diamonds (sometimes described as a courtesy raise) will achieve two things. It will make it harder for the opponents to venture into your auction and will keep the bidding open in case all your partner needed to know about was your trump support. You would perhaps like to do more, but you have no convenient way to invite without going past the safety of three diamonds.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ QJ862 ♥7 ♦ K 10 5 ♣A984 South 1♠ ?

West 1♣ Pass

North 1♦ 2♦

East 1♥

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, November 20, 2010 by admin on December 4th, 2010 Dealer: South North

“It was the limit of my dream,

Vul: E/W

The focus of my prayer, A perfect, paralyzing bliss Contented as despair.” — Emily Dickinson West leads the diamond king. How do you plan to bring home your delicate heart slam? In seven hearts you would play for both black-suit finesses to work. But given that you can bring home 12 tricks by taking only one of the two finesses, which should it be? The answer is that taking the club finesse allows you to pitch a spade but leaves you with a spade loser, while taking the spade finesse allows you to pitch your only club loser. Accordingly, you should duck the opening lead to set up communication for ruffing a diamond in dummy. West should shift to a club at trick two. Since you need the spade finesse, you should rise with the club ace and play the trump queen, finding the bad break, then the diamond jack to your ace so you can ruff your remaining diamond high. After cashing dummy’s trump 10, you will draw East’s remaining trumps with your ace and king.

♠ A Q 10 5 ♥ Q J 10 5 ♦J7 ♣AQ5

West

East

♠K862 ♥— ♦ K Q 10 9 ♣98632

♠73 ♥9763 ♦8532 ♣K74 South

♠J94 ♥AK842 ♦A64 ♣ J 10

South West North Pass 2 NT* 1♥ Pass 4♥ 4♠ Pass 5♦ 5♥ All Pass 6♥ *Game forcing with heart support

East Pass Pass Pass

Opening Lead: ♦ K

Finally, you have to manage the spade suit correctly. If you lead the jack first, West will play low. After a second spade finesse, you will be locked in dummy, unable to repeat the spade finesse, and East will score his club king eventually. You can avoid this problem by first running the spade nine. When that is successful, you continue with the spade jack. Eventually, you score four spade tricks, five trumps, the diamond ace, a diamond ruff and the club ace, for a total of 12 tricks. ANSWER: You plan to head toward three notrump, but there is no harm in investigating other contracts such as a club or a heart game. Start by bidding two diamonds, a forcing change of suit, hoping to hear heart support from your partner. You plan to cuebid spades to look for a stopper if a heart contract seems impractical, while keeping a club game in reserve if all else fails.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ J94 ♥AK842 ♦ A64 ♣ J 10 South

West

1♥ ?

1♠

North 1♣ 2♣

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, November 21, 2010 by admin on December 5th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

Where do you stand on using Blackwood when you have two losers in a side suit? Do you wait till you know that all suits are stopped before launching into Blackwood? — Risk Manager, Ketchikan, Alaska ANSWER: Occasionally, you might use Blackwood when your side has more than enough HCP for slam, but one suit may be unguarded. If you can’t be scientific, realize that your opponents don’t always find the right lead. And they will frequently assume that there is no ace or king to cash — at least the first few times. Dear Mr. Wolff: Holding ♠ K-9, ♥ A-K-7-2, ♦ A-K-Q-9-6-3, ♣ 2, I assume you would open two clubs and rebid three diamonds over two diamonds, but what if partner now bids three spades? When faced with this problem, my partner tried five diamonds, down in the 6-0 fit, but with a 4-4 heart fit available. — Not a Girl’s Best Friend, Huntington, W.Va. ANSWER: I would bid four hearts over three spades to let partner decide where he wants to play. He knows better than I do what his hand looks like! Note that some fancy bidders use a direct jump by opener to three hearts or three spades over the two-diamond response to show a 4-6 pattern with longer diamonds. That would make finding the heart fit rather easy today. Dear Mr. Wolff: I dealt and passed, holding ♠ Q-J-10-3, ♥ A-Q-3-2, ♦ 9-7-5-4-2, ♣ —, and my partner opened one club. What response should I make to ensure we do not miss our best fit? And what rebid strategy do you recommend? — Triple Jeopardy, Bellingham, Wash.

ANSWER: There is no good answer here to make sure you find your fit if partner might conceal a major over a one-diamond response, and rebid one no-trump with a balanced hand and only three clubs. However, since I want to find a major-suit fit if we have game on, a oneheart response maximizes our chances of doing that. If partner rebids one no-trump, I will give up, passing reluctantly.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Please explain the Lebensohl convention. In which sequences is it commonly played? — Continuing Ed, Wilmington, N.C. ANSWER: When your partner opens one no-trump and the next hand intervenes, it is very helpful to use two-level calls as weak, three-level bids as strong and the bid of two no-trump as a puppet to three clubs, based on a weak hand with its own suit. Responder passes the forced three-club call when weak with clubs, or bids his own suit. This principle can also be extended to responses to the double of a weak two-bid. The difference is that direct actions are now invitational, not forcing. Dear Mr. Wolff: You are in fourth seat, holding ♠ K-J-4, ♥ 96-5-2, ♦ Q-10-3, ♣ A-3-2. Partner opens one heart and the next hand overcalls two spades, weak. Would you consider bidding no-trump instead of raising hearts? If you do support partner, to what level would you bid? — Action Figure, Detroit, Mich. ANSWER: This is very awkward. I can see a case for a natural and invitational two-notrump call, or for a simple or jump raise in hearts. Since three hearts might be bid with a king less, this is the least attractive option. Even a negative double might work out well by giving partner a chance to show extras. Put me down for a bid of four hearts (but hide my answer from my regular partner, Dan Morse).

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, November 22, 2010 by admin on December 6th, 2010 “The real business of a ball is either to look out for a wife, to look after a wife, or to look after somebody else’s wife.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: E/W

♠A6 ♥K532 ♦6 ♣ 10 9 8 7 4

— R.S. Surtees Today’s deal comes from the Life Master Women’s Pairs held in San Diego in 2009 — the tournament from which all this week’s deals come. You’d expect West to open a weak two spades at almost every table. If East invites game, West rates to reach four spades, down two on a diamond ruff. But how does four hearts by South fare? On either a diamond or a spade lead, declarer can draw trumps and build a club trick for herself. What about a club lead? The defenders take their two top clubs and a ruff, and declarer claims the balance. However, the defenders can do better if East ignores the “red herring” of the club jack. East wins the club king at trick one and gives partner the immediate ruff without cashing the second winner. Now the spade shift builds their third trick, and they have the club ace to come. This defense was found by Doug Doub, at the table.

3 West

East

♠KQ875

♠J32 ♥Q8 ♦ K 10 9 5

4

♥J9 ♦QJ87 ♣2

3

♣AKJ South

♠ 10 9 ♥ A 10 7 6 4 ♦A42 ♣Q65

South Pass 1♥

West Pass 1♠

North Pass 4♥

East 1♦ All Pass

The winner of the women’s event, Shawn Quinn, playing with Sue Picus, declared four hearts on the auction shown. Quinn won the spade lead and had to decide Opening Lead: ♠ K whether to draw trumps (risking two down if the clubs did not split) or go all out for the contract. Because West ostensibly could not hold a low singleton club or she would have led it, Quinn quite reasonably played a club. East won and led a low spade to her partner. Now the club ruff was no longer available, and declarer was back to plus 420. ANSWER: You would normally avoid a short-suit lead if you had a natural trump trick. Here, though, you have excellent chances on a club lead of getting two ruffs if you can put your partner in with the club ace and a second fast entry. Even if partner does not have the club ace, you may win the heart king and get a ruff with your small trump. However, either a spade or a diamond lead might also work.

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ Q6543 ♥K4 ♦ J9732 ♣7 South Pass Pass

West 1♣ 2♣ 4♥

North Pass Pass All Pass

East 1♥ 3♥

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 by admin on December 7th, 2010 “Man is sometimes extraordinarily, passionately, in love with suffering.”

Dealer: North North

Vul: All

♠ K J 10 9 3 ♥AJ43 ♦J4 ♣K5

— Fyodor Dostoyevsky To coincide with the Fall Nationals now being played in Orlando, all the deals this week come from last year’s championships, in San Diego. While the championships used to be almost exclusively an American event, this is no longer the case. National squads from all over Europe are regular visitors. In this deal from the Edgar Kaplan Blue Ribbon Pairs, Victoria Gromova and Tatiana Ponomareva — part of the Russian ladies’ national squad — defended very nicely against the no-trump game. Gromova led the diamond 10 to Ponomareva’s ace, and South won the diamond continuation in hand. This had the effect of removing declarer’s fast entry to the clubs. It might be right to play on one of the majors at once, but neither suit seemed exactly promising, so South could think of nothing better to do than play three rounds of clubs, pitching a heart from dummy and hoping the defenders would continue the attack on diamonds. Gromova won the club jack, and her partner (playing upside-down discards, where a small card encourages) thoughtfully pitched the spade two.

West

East

♠874 ♥K9 ♦ 10 9 8 5 2 ♣J62

♠AQ62 ♥ 10 7 6 2 ♦A73 ♣Q4 South

♠5 ♥Q85 ♦KQ6 ♣ A 10 9 8 7 3

South

West

1 NT 2 NT

Pass Pass

North 1♠ 2♥ 3 NT

East Pass Pass All Pass

Opening Lead: ♦ 10

Gromova obediently shifted to a spade, and Ponomareva won the queen and ace and played a third spade, locking declarer in dummy, forcing him to surrender a heart for down one. While declarer could have succeeded by taking an early heart finesse, it is far from clear that that would have been a sensible approach on a different lie of the cards. ANSWER: A jump to three clubs used to be a forcing raise. Then came limit raises, and these days inverted raises prevail. By this I mean that many players (including me) use a simple raise to two of partner’s minor as at least a limit raise in that suit, with a jump to three as pre-emptive (about 3-7 HCP). It doesn’t matter what system you play, as long as you and your partner are on the same wavelength.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠5 ♥Q85 ♦ KQ6 ♣ A 10 9 8 7 3 South ?

West

North 1♣

East Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 by admin on December 8th, 2010 “They fight with the wiles of fiends escaping And underhand.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: All

♠ K Q 10 8 7 5

♥ 10 9 8 ♦K3 ♣83

— William Rose Benet In honor of the Thanksgiving National Tournament being held this week in Orlando, this week’s deals all come from last year’s Fall Nationals, held in San Diego. On today’s deal most of the field played four spades, emerging with 10 tricks by taking two heart finesses. At one table, though, South was declarer (and always is in print), and West knew no better than to lead the club king. The contract is still impregnable, but Eric Leong as East was not going to let that put him off. He overtook the club king with the ace and returned the club five, looking like a man who wanted to get a club ruff or an overruff. Suitably fooled, West won the club 10 at trick two and played back a low club to go for the trump promotion. Declarer now had three plausible strategies available. He could ruff high in dummy and hope to negotiate trumps and hearts, with some excellent endplay chances if trumps split. He would ruff with a middle trump, hoping the spade jack was well-placed for him, or he could discard a heart, hoping for the actual lie of the cards or for a winning heart finesse.

West

East

♠3 ♥K762 ♦J865 ♣ K Q 10 6

♠J62 ♥J53 ♦ Q 10 9 2 ♣A54 South

♠A94 ♥AQ4 ♦A74 ♣J972

South 1 NT 4♠

West Pass Pass All Pass

North Pass 4♥*

East Pass Pass

*Texas transfer

Opening Lead: ♣ K

I’m not sure what is best, but when declarer followed the first line, by ruffing with the spade queen, then laying down the trump ace and king, he had turned plus 620 into minus 100 and Leong into a hero — if just for one day. ANSWER: Your partner’s double of the weak two-bid is for takeout. Though your spade shortage may lead you to suspect that partner has an unusual shape for his action, you have no reason not to show your invitational hand with hearts by jumping to three hearts. Now your partner can introduce a long spade suit if he has an atypical double with extra values, letting you bid three no-trump.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠3 ♥K762 ♦ J865 ♣ K Q 10 6 South ?

West 2♦

North Dbl.

East Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, November 25, 2010 by admin on December 9th, 2010 Dealer: South North

“Thou’lt come no more, Never, never, never, never, never!”

Vul: E/W

— William Shakespeare At no-trump a simple rule is that it never makes sense to play on the opponents’ suit and set it up for them before you play on your own. But never say never, as demonstrated in today’s deal, which comes from last year’s Fall Nationals, at San Diego.

West

East

♠ Q 10 3 ♥Q7 ♦ Q 10 5 4 ♣ K 10 8 2

♠J985 ♥ K J 10 4 ♦J9873 ♣—

Consider the contract of three no-trump on the lead of the diamond four. You take East’s diamond jack with your king. What now? A simple approach would be to play a spade to dummy and go after clubs. That covers most of the bases, but not the 4-0 break when West has the length. Since this is a team game, where the object is to insure the contract, better is to lead a low club up to dummy at trick two. Lo and behold, East shows out. Now you have to be careful. If you cross back to hand with the spade ace to lead a club up, West wins the club king, leaving clubs blocked, and plays a second diamond. Now you can’t unscramble your tricks.

♠K764 ♥A832 ♦62 ♣QJ4

South

♠A2 ♥965 ♦AK ♣A97653

South 1 NT 2♦

West Pass Pass

North 2♣ 3 NT

East Pass All Pass

Opening Lead: ♦ 4 Better is to make the somewhat unnatural-looking move of crossing to your diamond ace at trick three. This sets up the opponents’ diamonds, but in return you get to play a second club up toward dummy while leaving your entry protected. This lets West win his club king and cash the diamonds. But you can win the spade return in dummy, unblock clubs, and come to hand with the spade ace to claim the balance. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ K764 ♥A832 ♦ 62 ♣QJ4 South ?

West

North 1 NT

East 2♣

ANSWER: These days it is relatively rare to run into opponents playing natural overcalls of one no-trump. But whatever the meaning of the twoclub overcall (unless it specifically guarantees both majors), it is best to use the double of two clubs as Stayman — as if the opponents had not intervened at all — and to play the rest of your normal system as if the opponents had not bid at all. For higher-level intervention, takeout doubles work fine from both sides of the table.

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, November 26, 2010 by admin on December 10th, 2010 “A man must be a little mad if he does not want to be even more stupid.”

Dealer: North North

Vul: All

♠93 ♥AK852 ♦QJ984 ♣A

— Michel de Montaigne On this deal from the first session of last year’s Blue Ribbon Pairs, South, with eight tricks in his hand facing an opening bid, decided to eschew a scientific approach. It is better to play the direct four-no-trump response as asking for straight aces, but North and South were at least on the same wavelength. After discovering that his partner held the relevant key-cards, South took a shot at seven spades.

West

East

♠J84 ♥76 ♦ K 10 6 ♣KQ632

♠5 ♥ Q J 10 4

He only had to get back to hand to draw trumps to land his ambitious contract, and we can see that a diamond ruff is the way to do it. However, there was a problem, because on the second round of diamonds West had followed with the king!

♦732 ♣ 10 9 8 7 South

♠ A K Q 10 7 62

At first things were going smoothly, but then came a hitch. Nikolay Demirev (West) rejected the traditional (but perhaps overrated) lead of a trump in favor of the club king. That appears to be a catastrophic decision when you look at all four hands, as declarer can now ruff two clubs in dummy. South took trick one with dummy’s ace, cashed the top hearts, discarding a diamond, crossed to the diamond ace and ruffed a club. He now played the diamond queen, ruffing it in hand, and ruffed his last club.

3

♥9 ♦A5 ♣J54

South

West

North 1♥ 5♣* 6♥

East Pass Pass Pass

4 NT Pass 5 NT Pass All Pass 7♠ *Zero or three key-cards, counting the trump king as an ace

Opening Lead: ♣ K

That brilliant falsecard induced declarer to return to hand by ruffing a heart, which West was able to overruff. How much more satisfying than to lead a trump and defeat the contract in more pedestrian fashion. ANSWER: Your no-trump response suggested 812 points, so you are at the lower end of your range. But your trump support is outstanding. Not only might you make game, but you may not have much defense against a spade or diamond contract. I would raise to three clubs now, which does not promise the earth. (The “impossible” bid of two spades, or a cuebid of two hearts, would show a stronger hand.)

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ J84 ♥76 ♦ K 10 6 ♣KQ632 South 1 NT ?

West 1♦ Pass

North 1♥ 2♣

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, November 27, 2010 by admin on December 11th, 2010 “Expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars, one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.” — Francis Bacon To mark the U.S. Nationals currently being played in Orlando, all this week’s deals come from last year’s championships in San Diego. Today’s three-spade contract comes from the Senior Knockout Teams, quarterfinal round. Declarer Melih Ozdil won the club lead in hand, led a club to dummy’s ace, then crossed with a spade to his king. West ducked and East pitched a club. This was good defense by West. Now, although declarer can negotiate trumps easily enough, he still needs to hold his heart losers to one, which is not so easy to do. With East apparently having the heart length, Ozdil advanced the diamond eight (the queen is technically the best play, forcing West to win the first diamond) and ran it to East’s nine. Back came a diamond to the queen and ace, and West now continued diamonds. Ozdil ruffed the third diamond and advanced the spade eight, ducked, East discarding another club. Then he led a third spade, East discarding his last club. West won and could do no better than play back a fourth spade as East pitched a heart.

Dealer: South North

Vul: All

♠Q764 ♥J63 ♦J742 ♣A5

West

East

♠AJ52 ♥85 ♦A63 ♣ J 10 9 7

♠— ♥ Q 10 9 4 ♦ K 10 9 5 ♣Q8642 South

♠ K 10 9 8 3 ♥AK72 ♦Q8 ♣K3

South 1♠ 3♦**

West Pass Pass

North 3♣* 3♠

East Pass All Pass

*6-9 high-card points with four or more trumps **Game-try

Opening Lead: ♣ J

Ozdil won the trump in dummy and exited with a diamond to East, throwing a heart from hand, endplaying East to open up hearts for declarer’s ninth trick. The winning defense is for West to shift to hearts after taking the diamond ace. Try as he might, declarer can no longer endplay East at the right moment. ANSWER: It is tempting to try to improve the contract by bidding three no-trump. In practice, while three spades may be an unhappy contract, you will likely find it far harder to score partner’s small spades in a no-trump contract. I would pass now and hope partner finds a way to go plus in the partscore.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠— ♥ Q 10 9 4 ♦ K 10 9 5 ♣Q8642 South

West

1 NT ?

Pass

North 1♠ 3♠

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, November 28, 2010 by admin on December 12th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

Today’s bidding sequence went around the table: 1 ♦ – ♠ – 2 ♥ – Pass – 3 ♥ – Pass. You wrote that the call of three hearts was not forcing. Does this imply that if opener had rebid three diamonds or two no-trump instead, that would also be nonforcing? Equally, does this mean that both three clubs and a cuebid of two spades are forcing bids, with the latter requesting a stopper? — Who’s on First?, Naples, Fla. ANSWER: Absolutely right, and very clearly and concisely expressed. Any action by either opener or responder that sounds nonforcing at the second turn will indeed be nonforcing. The cuebid initially asks for a stopper, but may conceal a strong hand with support. A direct three-level (as opposed to two-level) action by responder should be played as game forcing, though. Dear Mr. Wolff: Holding ♠ K-9-3-2, ♥ Q-2, ♦ A-10, ♣ A-10-84-3, I opened one club and heard one diamond to my left. My partner bid one spade, the next hand bid three diamonds, and I joined in with three spades. The next thing I knew, my partner had the five-spade bid on the table. What does that mean? I thought my trumps were not good enough to go on, but slam was cold our way.

ANSWER: From a theoretical viewpoint, the answer is not close. Third-highest leads (as opposed to fourth highest) are designed to make it easy to distinguish the length held by the opening leader immediately. Leading the four from both Q-10-8-6-4-2 and the same holding without the two violates the whole principle of the lead system. I’d lead third highest from both four and six cards and low from three or five cards.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Holding ♠ K-J-10-3, ♥ A-10-8-6-4-3, ♦ Q-32, ♣—, would you pass or would you open some number of hearts in first seat? Would the vulnerability or form of scoring matter? — High Hopes, Monterey, Calif. ANSWER: Two hearts is out of the question. If you are not playing Flannery (few do these days, whatever its technical merits), your choice is to open one heart (and be stuck for a satisfactory call if partner responds one no-trump), or to pass and hope to make up for it later. I say “Thrice blest is he who strikes the first blow” and open one heart. Dear Mr. Wolff: My partner told me that occasionally the response of two no-trump to a takeout double is not natural. I know that some play Lebensohl after the double of a weak twobid, but this was a more complex sequence. Please explain the idea of a scramble.

— Timid Tim, Staten Island, N.Y.

— Escape Artist, Waterbury, Conn.

ANSWER: When the opponents bid a suit, as here, one should play jumps to the fivelevel in a major to ask for a control in their suit, not for good trumps, unless one member of the partnership has already announced a control in the danger suit. Here, partner wanted a diamond control, and your choice is to cue-bid six diamonds to announce a first-round control, or to cautiously raise partner to six spades because your hand is minimum in other respects.

ANSWER: If you pass initially, then balance with a double of a two-level bid, your side will rarely want to play game, but it may not be clear to partner what his side’s best fit is. He can offer a choice of the minors (or two lowest unbid suits) with a call of two notrump. If he subsequently corrects his your response to the next suit up, it shows the other two suits. This approach also works with a response of four no-trump to a takeout double, but three no-trump is always to play.

Dear Mr. Wolff: What card should you lead from a six-card suit if playing third-and-fifth or third-and-low leads? If the answers are different, which do you recommend? — Get the Lead Out, Vancouver, British Columbia

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, November 29, 2010 by admin on December 13th, 2010 “No man lives without jostling and being jostled; in all ways he has to elbow himself through the world, giving and receiving offense.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: N/S

— Thomas Carlyle Today’s deal, from a team game, demonstrates the danger of thinking by rote as opposed to finding the right moment to break the rules. Declarer knew that the textbooks said to cover an honor with an honor. When West led the heart jack against three no-trump, declarer covered in dummy; East won with the ace and returned his second heart. Declarer ducked in dummy but won the next heart. When West turned up with the diamond ace and an original five-card heart suit, the game had to fail.

♠ K 10 3 2 ♥KQ7 ♦Q983 ♣A6

West

East

♠J74 ♥ J 10 9 6 5 ♦A7 ♣753

♠965 ♥A8 ♦652 ♣ Q 10 9 4 2 South

♠AQ8 ♥432 ♦ K J 10 4 ♣KJ8

Unlucky — but the contract was the same at the second table, after a similar bidding sequence. This declarer was prepared to give the deal the proper amount of attention. South West North Again, the lead was the heart jack, but South ducked in Pass 1♦ 1♠ dummy. He had reasoned that if hearts broke 4-3, he 1 NT Pass 3 NT would have no problems, but if they were 5-2 with East holding the heart ace and West the diamond ace, the hearts needed to be blocked before the opponents could Opening Lead: ♥ J set them up. Right he was. And note that if the red aces were switched, West would get a cheap trick, but the contract would not be jeopardized since West would not have a re-entry.

East Pass All Pass

Declarer’s line would lose if West had led from a heart holding of A-J-10-9-6 and held the diamond ace, but South correctly reckoned that had that been the case, West would surely have overcalled at his first turn. ANSWER: Declarer has suggested six clubs and only three spades (or he would have bid spades at his previous turn), while your partner rates to have only two or three small hearts. My instinct would be to lead the diamond eight — the heart lead seems too likely to give up our side’s trick in that suit.

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ Q96 ♥K9842 ♦ 83 ♣A76 South

West

North

1♥ Pass All Pass

Dbl. Pass

Pass 2♥

East 1♣ 2♣ 2♠

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, November 30, 2010 by admin on December 14th, 2010 “Sometimes these cogitations still amaze The troubled midnight and the noon’s repose.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: All

♠KQ3 ♥ K 10 7 6 ♦K8 ♣ Q 10 9 4

— T.S. Eliot The friendliness of the competitors and their high standard of ethics contribute hugely to making the Schapiro Spring Foursomes a most enjoyable event. And the standard of play is pretty high too! The Norwegian international Boye Brogeland found himself in four hearts here when North used Stayman instead of raising directly to three no-trump, the action chosen at the other table. The bad trump break meant declarer would need to be very careful. West led a spade, won in hand by South with the ace. Brogeland was brought up short when West showed out on the low heart continuation. However, he accurately inserted dummy’s 10, taken by the jack, and won the club return in hand. Three rounds of diamonds were followed by the club ace, then the spade queen and king, on which Brogeland discarded his third club (to avoid an embarrassing ruff from East).

West

East

♠J9765 ♥— ♦ 10 7 4 3 ♣7632

♠ 10 4 2 ♥AQJ82 ♦J96 ♣J8 South

♠A8 ♥9543 ♦AQ52 ♣AK5

South

West

North

1 NT 2♥

Pass Pass

2♣ 4♥

East Pass Pass All Pass

Opening Lead: ♠ 6 A four-card ending had been reached, declarer having thus far lost just one trump trick, and now came the club queen from dummy. With just AQ-8-2 of hearts left, whichever heart East chose to play would allow declarer to come to two of the last four tricks. Had East ruffed low, South would have overruffed and put East back on play to lead a trump to dummy’s king. In fact East elected to ruff with the queen, then returned the two, won by North’s six. Now a club from North meant declarer scored either his heart king or nine for the game-going trick. ANSWER: Your partner’s invitational sequence suggests about an 11-count with four hearts. Your soft cards suggest four hearts may not make, but with so much of your hand in your short suits, I would not be surprised to discover that two no-trump was easier to make than three hearts. So I would pass, although correcting to three hearts might work if partner turns out to be weak in diamonds.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ KQ3 ♥ K 10 7 6 ♦ K8 ♣ Q 10 9 4 South 1♣ 2♥ ?

West Pass Pass

North 1♥ 2 NT

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, December 1, 2010 by admin on December 15th, 2010 “I … hold there is no sin but ignorance.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: E/W — Christopher Marlowe The point of the defense to four hearts in today’s deal is that East must try to kill the diamond suit. If declarer wins the spade lead and takes out all the trumps, then East should hold up the diamond ace until the third round (and West should cooperate by playing high-low to show two diamonds). If declarer tackles the diamonds before exhausting trumps, so as to leave a trump re-entry in dummy, East must win the second diamond and lead a third, giving West a ruff. Thus the defenders should win either a trump or a club in addition to two spades and a diamond.

♠965 ♥KQ3 ♦KQJ72 ♣ Q 10

West

East

♠QJ84 ♥865 ♦ 10 5 ♣J842

♠K73 ♥72 ♦A63 ♣K9763 South

♠ A 10 2 ♥ A J 10 9 4 ♦984 ♣A5

Can South do better, though? Yes, if he reads the position. South ducks the opening lead and wins the second spade, West having led a low spade to East’s king. Now South plays one round of diamonds. As West will show an even South West North number of diamonds, East holds up the diamond ace. Pass 1♥ 2♦ Declarer draws the rest of the trumps, perforce, and 2♥ Pass 4♥ reverts to diamonds, East ducking again. Declarer now exits with a spade. West does best to win and lead out his remaining spade winner since he cannot afford to open up Opening Lead: ♠ Q the clubs, but South discards a diamond from hand and from dummy on the 13th spade. West now has to lead a club and declarer should guess what to do. (If West had the high club, maybe the defenders would have arranged for East to win the third spade.)

ANSWER: Is two clubs natural or artificial? You would get many loud opinions on either side of this issue, but fortunately you do not have to commit yourself. Simply raise to three clubs and let partner tell you how he meant his call. If he intended it as artificial, he will doubtless describe his hand-pattern. If natural, you are in your side’s best strain.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ K73 ♥72 ♦ A63 ♣K9763 South

West

North

Pass 1 NT ?

1♣ Pass

1♥ 2♣

East Pass All Pass

East Pass Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, December 2, 2010 by admin on December 16th, 2010 “Few things are impossible to diligence and skill.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: E/W

♠Q63 ♥K2 ♦ A J 10 5 ♣ J 10 9 8

— Samuel Johnson The normal effect of a ruff and sluff is to allow declarer to succeed in an otherwise unmakable contract. So how are you to know when the right moment has arrived? In principle, it is when declarer can be placed with all the missing side-suit honors. In this deal, from the 2008 Warren Buffett Cup, Jill Meyers led her two top spades against three diamonds, then continued with the spade deuce, ruffed by Larry Cohen. East dutifully returned the club requested by Meyers’ suitpreference signal. Declarer, Sabine Auken, was at the crossroads. Her opponents, who numbered among the cream of the world’s players, were well capable of psychic signaling. Auken reasoned that if West held the club king in addition to her spade honors, she might have made a simple overcall rather than a weak jump.

West

East

♠ A K 10 9

♠8 ♥QJ764 ♦Q976 ♣753

42

♥ 10 5 3 ♦8 ♣K64 South

♠J75 ♥A98 ♦K432 ♣AQ2

South

West

North

1♦ 2♠ 3♦ Additionally, rising with the ace, then discovering later that the club king was onside, could cost heavily in the scoring (which was closer to pairs than teams). Moreover, nobody Opening Lead: ♠ K likes to concede a psychological edge in this way. So South inserted her queen, West captured it, and believing that there were no further plainsuit defensive tricks to come, returned another spade.

East Pass All Pass

This proffered ruff and discard was the killer defense. If declarer ruffed low in dummy or discarded, East would ruff in with the nine, forcing South’s king and ensuring that his queen would score a trick. And if declarer ruffed with the diamond jack, East would discard, establishing a trump trick for himself. ANSWER: There is no perfect call to describe this hand, but sometimes the simplest ways are best. With the opponents’ suit properly guarded, you can simply jump to three no-trump to show a balanced opening bid and end the auction facing anything but an exceptional hand.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ J75 ♥A98 ♦ K432 ♣AQ2 South ?

West 1♣

North Dbl.

East Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, December 3, 2010 by admin on December 17th, 2010 “Intellect is invisible to the man who has none.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: All

♠943 ♥A7 ♦QJ985 ♣653

— Arthur Schopenhauer With support for both major suits, South has a case for doubling one club rather than making a one-no-trump overcall. However, if North-South belongs in game, North will be able to look for any major-suit fit in comfort, even after the no-trump overcall. On the given auction North is certainly worth at least an invitational rebid since he appears to have a source of tricks and an entry to them.

West

East

♠ Q J 10 8

♠A ♥ K 10 8 ♦A72 ♣ Q 10 8 7

2

♥9652 ♦643 ♣J South

With so many values in his short suits, South is probably right to reject the invitation. And indeed, as the cards lie, even the no-trump partscore may be in some jeopardy. South was allowed to bring home his two-no-trump contract. East won the opening spade lead and shifted to a small club. Declarer flew up with the ace and drove out the diamond ace. The defenders cleared clubs, but South had his eight winners.

42

♠K765 ♥QJ43 ♦ K 10 ♣AK9

South 1 NT

West Pass Pass

North Pass 2 NT

East 1♣ All Pass

East should have recognized the threat of dummy’s diamond suit becoming established and have sacrificed his heart king at the second trick to kill dummy’s only entry Opening Lead: ♠ Q card. Subsequently, East must work out when to take his diamond ace — and note that West can tell his partner how many diamonds he has. West can indicate to East that he has three diamonds by playing low-high when the suit is led so that East will know to win the second diamond lead. If East defends perfectly, he can hold declarer to seven tricks, but if he ducks the second diamond, he lets through the partscore. ANSWER: Even if you play a new suit as forcing, if West had passed over two clubs, a two-spade call here should show a good suit but not be forcing. You have a minimum in high cards, and while it is tempting to retreat to three clubs, you do have a broken suit. Imagine partner with six spades to the Q-J, and you will see that his hand will play much better in spades. So pass two spades.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠A ♥ K 10 8 ♦ A72 ♣ Q 10 8 7 4 2 South

West

North

2♣ ?

2♦

2♠

East 1♦ Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, December 4, 2010 by admin on December 18th, 2010 “Nature is very consonant and conformable with herself.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: All

♠AK752 ♥Q6 ♦A72 ♣AK5

— Sir Isaac Newton West leads the diamond queen against six no-trump. What is your plan to make 12 tricks? You have three top tricks in the majors and need to develop three more major-suit winners. As playing on spades first will yield at most two extra tricks, you should play on hearts first (where the potential is greater). So you take the diamond queen in hand with the king and lead a low heart toward dummy’s queen. This will give you three extra tricks if West flies up with the king or if East can take the heart queen with the king and hearts split 3-3. In our given layout, West holds the heart king but cannot play it, so the heart queen will win the second trick. Now you have 10 certain tricks and have to decide whether to continue to play on hearts or to switch to spades. While you have a fair chance of making another two tricks in hearts by continuing the suit, it is better to switch to spades by leading the spade two toward your jack. This will bring in two extra spade tricks when East holds the spade queen and the suit breaks no worse than 4-2 or when West holds the spade queen and spades break 3-3.

West

East

♠96 ♥ K 10 8 5 ♦ Q J 10 9 4 ♣ 10 4

♠ Q 10 8 3 ♥92 ♦863 ♣8632 South

♠J4 ♥AJ743 ♦K5 ♣QJ97

South 1♥ 2♣ 2 NT

West Pass Pass Pass

North 1♠ 2♦ 6 NT

East Pass Pass All Pass

Opening Lead: ♦ Q

Playing on hearts, then on spades, is the only way to succeed today. And note that if you tackle either suit in any way except the recommended one, your contract fails. ANSWER: A simple raise to three clubs would be a huge underbid. You have enough to force to game, so cuebid two spades to set up a force, then plan to raise clubs at your next turn. This hand rates to play much better in clubs then in no-trump though you will be prepared to let partner provide input as to the best strain.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ J4 ♥AJ743 ♦ K5 ♣QJ97 South

West

1♥ ?

1♠

North 1♦ 2♣

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, December 5, 2010 by admin on December 19th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

Recently I believe you wrote that a successful doubled contract does not produce a game unless game had been bid, the extra scores going above the line. Did I misread or misunderstand? It makes sense to me, but my club told me that you and I were wrong. — Game Boy, San Luis Obispo, Calif. ANSWER: When you play a partscore that has been doubled and you make it, then the whole of the score for the contract goes below the line. Thus two hearts doubled scores as twice 60 or 120. Since that number exceeds 100, it registers the game bonus. The insult, bonus, and overtricks go above the line — as usual. Two diamonds doubled scores as 80 — thus not game, but two diamonds redoubled is 160 and IS worth the game bonus. Dear Mr. Wolff: In rubber bridge, my partner opened with an artificial two-club bid, holding ♠ A Q-9-3-2, ♥ —, ♦ A-Q-10, ♣ A-J-10-9-5. I, in turn, held ♠ K-J-8-6-3, ♥ J-9-4, ♦ 8-3-2, ♣ 8-4. How should we have bid our cards to slam, or should we have played in game? — Chicken Little, Calgary, Alberta ANSWER: The general rule is that a twoclub opening on an unbalanced hand is forcing to game unless responder shows a double negative by bidding two diamonds at his first turn, then showing weakness at the second turn. With your partner’s hand, a one-spade opening is appropriate. After you jump to four spades, he might shoot out slam and, his way up, the contract is excellent. Dear Mr. Wolff: When defending against a suit contract, why lead the king from a suit headed by the ace and king? If your partner is void, he doesn’t know if you are leading from the AK or the K-Q and doesn’t know whether or not to ruff. Wouldn’t leading the ace inform your partner you have it and leading the king inform him you don’t have it? — Who Got What? Atlanta, Ga.

ANSWER: The problem you describe is a very rare one. More common is deciding how to signal with length, including the jack, facing a king lead. Leading the unsupported ace and having partner know you need an attitude signal, not a count signal, is rather more helpful and comes up more often. The situation of the void facing the king is rare enough that I’ve seen only two disasters resulting from this in my entire life … and it’s been a long life.

Dear Mr. Wolff: How much of bridge is about knowing the precise percentages, and how much about table feel and table presence? — Mind Games, West Palm Beach, Fla. ANSWER: I can’t say I have every percentage at my fingertips, or indeed that I want to, but I know enough that I won’t be off in estimating lines unless the two are so close that it really makes no difference. What I mean is that table presence outranks percentages all the time! And the top players know this — though they may be reluctant to admit it. Dear Mr. Wolff: I held ♠ K-Q-9-3, ♥ Q-5-4-3-2, ♦ A-2, ♣ A10, and my partner opened three diamonds in first chair. How much would your decision to move on or pass be influenced by vulnerability and position, and how much by your choice of partner? — Tough Choices, Jackson, Miss. ANSWER: I would pass a first-chair nonvulnerable pre-empt, but gamble out three no-trump facing either a vulnerable pre-empter or a second-in-hand call, unless I knew that my partner had an overdeveloped sense of humor when at favorable vulnerability. In second seat I like to be sound and I like my partners to be the same; I’m sometimes disappointed!

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, December 6, 2010 by admin on December 20th, 2010 “We should never despair. Our situation before has been unpromising and has changed for the better; so I trust, it will again.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: None

♠Q83 ♥AKQ ♦K72 ♣KQ42

— George Washington Occasionally, the world of bridge problems smacks of artificiality. Sometimes, however, you can identify the only chance of bringing home a contract or of defeating it. In that instance, when playing teams or rubber bridge, you are generally justified in going for that chance no matter how slim it may be.

West

East

♠KJ952 ♥85 ♦Q863 ♣A5

♠ 10 4 ♥ 10 9 6 4 ♦AJ94 ♣96 South

Take today’s deal, where you lead the spade five against three no-trump and dummy’s queen wins the first trick. Partner follows with a low card, which it is sensible to play as an attitude signal, denying the jack. Had dummy won the trick with the jack or a lower card, partner would have signaled count because his attitude was already defined by his inability to beat dummy’s card. Declarer now continues with the club king (partner plays the nine), which you duck, and the club queen (partner playing the six), which you win perforce.

2

♠A76 ♥J73 ♦ 10 5 ♣ J 10 8 7 3

South

West

North

Pass 2♣ 3 NT

1♠ Pass All Pass

Dbl. 3♣

East Pass Pass Pass

Your partner’s high-low in clubs shows an even number, Opening Lead: ♠ 5 here surely a doubleton, so you can work out without too much trouble that declarer has nine tricks (four clubs, two spades and three hearts), unless you can come to five tricks immediately. Your only chance will come from diamonds, but declarer will simply follow low from dummy if you shift to a small diamond, and the danger will be past. Therefore, you must switch to the diamond queen, hoping to make four diamond tricks. This needs a fairly specific holding in your partner’s hand, but as the cards lie, your luck will be in today. ANSWER: Does this double call for the lead of dummy’s first-bid suit (not likely here), or for an unusual lead, or for the normal lead? All three interpretations are possible, but since you would have led a spade without the double, it is best to interpret the double as calling for the lead of partner’s second suit — surely, diamonds. So lead the diamond nine.

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 63 ♥ J 10 8 6 5 ♦ 93 ♣Q862 South Pass Pass

West 1♥ 2 NT Pass

North 1♠ Pass Dbl.

East 1 NT 3 NT All Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, December 7, 2010 by admin on December 21st, 2010 “There’s no time for a man to recover his hair that grows bald by nature.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: N/S

— William Shakespeare Against today’s contract of three no-trump, reached after North had refused to use Stayman over his partner’s opening bid, West led the spade king. Now South’s problem was to set up a late route into dummy after the only obvious entry had been attacked at trick one and before the clubs were unblocked.

West

East

♠KQJ6 ♥ 10 9 4 ♦Q86 ♣Q74

♠3 ♥QJ853 ♦ J 10 5 4

If South wins with the spade ace, then sets up the clubs, West can foil any attempt to establish an entry to dummy. He does this by playing a high spade if South leads his low spot toward the seven, or by following with a low spade should declarer lead a high spade from his hand, once the position in that suit has been established. To conserve the late entry to the board until clubs were untangled, South withheld the spade ace at trick one, while making the vital unblock of the spade eight from his hand. And on the spade-queen continuation declarer ducked again, while unblocking his nine.

♠A752 ♥62 ♦73 ♣ 10 9 6 3 2

2

♣85 South

♠ 10 9 8 4 ♥AK7 ♦AK9 ♣AKJ

South 2 NT

West Pass

North 3 NT

East All Pass

West now had no winning move. If he switched to a red Opening Lead: ♠ K suit, South would win, and the spade ace would still be in place as an entry after the clubs were established. (South would play clubs from the top and give West his queen.) However, had West continued with the spade jack at trick three, only now would the ace be played and the 10 unblocked from hand, leaving the seven as the sure entry to the board to reach dummy’s clubs. ANSWER: Things have gone from bad to worse! Your decision to respond to one club was partly for tactical reasons, maybe to keep the opponents out. However, now you have to decide if you want to leave partner in a 4-1 fit. I say no. Best is to rebid one no-trump and hope partner lets you off the hook somehow.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠3 ♥QJ853 ♦ J 10 5 4 2 ♣85 South

West

1♥ ?

Pass

North 1♣ 1♠

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, December 8, 2010 by admin on December 22nd, 2010 “I would far rather feel remorse than know how to define it.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: None

— Thomas a Kempis My thanks go to Jean-Paul Meyer, editor of France’s Le Bridgeur, for the original theme of today’s deal. Assume you are facing top-notch defenders. Against the no-trump game West led the spade ace. When East contributed the queen, showing the jack, West underled his king at trick two. Now, with the defenders’ spades fluid, the defense was able to cash four tricks in the suit. The key question, then, is what does declarer throw from his hand and from dummy on the fourth spade? There is no great problem with the choice from dummy — a club or diamond fits the bill. But South’s discard is trickier. It looks natural to pitch a heart from hand, but in fact declarer must discard a club. This is not a case of foreknowledge of the unwelcome split, but relates to the diamond blockage. This determines that the heart king must be with West for the contract to make.

♠ 10 6 3 ♥AQ3 ♦K865 ♣862

West

East

♠AK54 ♥K97 ♦ 10 2 ♣J975

♠QJ2 ♥8654 ♦J9743 ♣4 South

♠987 ♥ J 10 2 ♦AQ ♣ A K Q 10 3

South 1 NT 3 NT

West Pass All Pass

North 2 NT

East Pass

Opening Lead: ♠ A The point is that a heart switch by West at trick five means that the heart finesse will have to be taken at once. Even if the clubs play for five tricks, declarer cannot afford to rise with the heart ace since it would cut him off from the diamond king. Therefore, if the heart king must be onside, no more than three club tricks are required. But if you discard your low heart, the devastating return of the heart king by West would mean that declarer would again be reliant on the club jack dropping in three rounds. ANSWER: Your simple raise in diamonds suggested 6-10 points, and your partner’s advance with two spades suggested extra shape and high cards. With hearts well stopped, the question is whether to drive to three no-trump or to make a simple call of two no-trump to get your values across nicely. I’m torn here, but will opt for two no-trump for fear that the defenders might lead clubs if I insist on three no-trump at once.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 10 6 3 ♥AQ3 ♦ K865 ♣862 South

West

2♦ ?

2♥

North 1♦ 2♠

East 1♥ Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, December 9, 2010 by admin on December 23rd, 2010 “Imagination is that sacred power,

Dealer: North North

Vul: All

Imagination lofty and refined.” — William Wordsworth At first glance, today’s six-club contract at the Dyspeptics Club looked hopeless. An ace was missing and there was seemingly no way to avoid a spade loser. But if South had assumed that the diamond king needed to be onside, he could have turned disaster into triumph.

West

East

♠Q943 ♥ 10 9 7 4 ♦K82 ♣63

♠ J 10 ♥AJ83 ♦96543 ♣92

At the table declarer drew trumps and ran three diamond winners, pitching a heart from hand, then cunningly led a heart toward his bare queen. Alas for him, East worked out to rise with the ace, and there was still a spade to lose at the death. Declarer would have had a much better chance of success as long as he had guessed correctly which opponent held the heart ace. Assume that it seems only fair to play East for that card since you intend to play West for the diamond king, and you are in business!

♠A65 ♥K65 ♦ A J 10 ♣QJ87

South

♠K872 ♥Q2 ♦Q7 ♣ A K 10 5 4

South

West

2♣ 3♣ 6♣

Pass Pass All Pass

North 1 NT 2♦ 4♣

East Pass Pass Pass

Take the trump lead in dummy, then lead a low heart at once. If East rises with the ace, there would be two Opening Lead: ♣ 6 discards for declarer’s losing spades — one on the heart king and one on the diamonds. So assume East ducks his ace, and South’s queen holds the trick. Trumps can be drawn and the diamond finesse taken. South’s losing heart now goes away on the third diamond, and after conceding one spade, declarer can ruff the fourth spade in dummy. For the technically minded, South has performed a Morton’s Fork Coup, whereby East was forced either to lose his heart ace or present declarer with a vital discard by taking it prematurely. ANSWER: When the opponents open with a preempt, it often acts like a red rag to a bull. And when you hold a 14-count, it seems wrong to pass and perhaps let the opponents steal from you. But remember that the auction is not over yet, and that since your hand would barely have been worth a two-level overcall, how can it be worth a three-level overcall facing a passed partner? You must pass, like it or not.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ K872 ♥Q2 ♦ Q7 ♣ A K 10 5 4 South ?

West

North Pass

East 2♦

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, December 10, 2010 by admin on December 24th, 2010 “Art is long, life short; judgment difficult, opportunity transient.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: All

♠Q96 ♥A986 ♦K65 ♣K83

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Today’s deal demonstrates that the inferences you can draw about how normal mortals defend may be sound, but they may not be proof against the very best. Sometimes you have to pay off to a defender in top form. For example, when Geoff Hampson and Eric Greco were defending against Steve Garner and Howard Weinstein in the 1997 Cavendish, they produced one of the best defenses of the tournament. Weinstein had done well to get his side to three no-trump rather than four hearts, and Greco led his fourth-highest club. Garner won the club queen to lead a diamond to dummy’s king. (It is not clear to me whether playing on spades is theoretically better, but if the diamond king holds, declarer can shift to spades with a useful gain of tempo.)

West

East

♠ 10 7 5 ♥52 ♦J98 ♣AJ942

♠K83 ♥ 10 7 4 ♦A732 ♣ 10 6 5 South

♠AJ42 ♥KQJ3 ♦ Q 10 4 ♣Q7

South 1 NT

West Pass Pass

North Pass 3 NT

East Pass All Pass

Be that as it may, Hampson as East took the diamond ace and returned the club six, ducked by Greco. Garner took Opening Lead: ♣ 4 the club king in dummy and led the spade queen, which Hampson ducked without hesitation! Now declarer assumed the spade finesse was wrong. He rose with the spade ace and cashed his heart winners (on which Greco threw two spades), then took the diamond finesse. Greco could win his jack and cash out for a spectacular one down. Of course, if East had followed the rules for normal mortals (cover an honor with an honor), Garner would have taken two spade tricks, and that would have given him nine tricks without needing the diamond finesse. BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 10 7 5 ♥52 ♦ J98 ♣AJ942 South ?

West

North 1♠

East Pass

ANSWER: Today’s problem illustrates the point that the correct way to raise partner depends considerably on whether you use a forcing notrump response to a major. If you do not, then you should raise to two spades here, conscious that the range for this action is 6-10 points. If you play the forcing no-trump, then don’t raise directly — that shows 8-10 points. Instead, respond one no-trump and support at your next turn.

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, December 11, 2010 by admin on December 25th, 2010 Dealer: South North

“It is the logic of our times,

Vul: None

No subject for immortal verse — That we who lived by honest dreams Defend the bad against the worse.” — Cecil Day-Lewis I try not to be too harsh in print when players fall below the standards of perfection; others are not always so charitable. As an example, consider today’s deal, which decided an Indian championship nearly 40 years ago. One table stayed in six hearts, just making. At our featured table, how would you play the grand slam on a diamond lead? (North’s bid of five no-trump asked South to bid the grand slam with two top heart honors.) To make the challenge a fair one, cover the East and West cards. At the table declarer took the diamond lead and played the heart king and ace. Now the contract could no longer be made when diamonds failed to break. Declarer had five trump tricks, five diamonds and two black aces, but no route to a 13th trick.

♠— ♥K872 ♦AKJ762 ♣A64

West

East

♠J86 ♥J4 ♦98543 ♣ Q 10 9

♠K942 ♥ 10 5 3 ♦ 10 ♣KJ753 South

♠ A Q 10 7 5 3

♥AQ96 ♦Q ♣82

South 1♠ 2♥ 7♥

West Pass Pass All Pass

North 2♦ 5 NT

East Pass Pass

However, as declarer needs only five diamond tricks, he Opening Lead: ♦ 4 should try to cater to diamonds being 5-1 by generating an extra trump trick. The required play is to ruff a spade in dummy at once, then play the heart king and ace, take a second spade ruff, and come back to hand with a diamond ruff. The heart queen and spade ace take care of dummy’s losing clubs, and dummy is now high. Whoever wrote this hand up said, “South played without thoughtful planning and went down in a hand that a well-trained player would not fail to make.” This was perhaps a little harsh on a player who represented India at the 1972 Olympiad! ANSWER: When holding a six-four pattern, always introduce the second suit if you can do so economically, unless it is not headed by a top honor and you are dead minimum for the auction. The point is that by doing so, you let partner know 10 of your cards at once. Repeating your long suit tells him only about six cards in your hand.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ A Q 10 7 5 3 ♥AQ96 ♦Q ♣82 South 1♠ ?

West Pass

North 1 NT

East Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, December 12, 2010 by admin on December 26th, 2010 Dear Mr. Wolff:

Recently you discussed a sequence where opener bids one spade and the next hand overcalls two hearts. What four options of raising spades are open to the next hand? I would regard two spades as typically showing three-card support and 6-9 points; a jump would show three-card support with 10-12 points. Meanwhile a jump to four spades shows at least four-card support with a moderate hand, while a cuebid forces to game. Is this standard treatment nowadays? — All Bases Covered, Holland, Mich. ANSWER: Your interpretation is reasonable, but modern competitive bridge players have altered the meaning of the jump raise. Instead of playing it as limit, they use it as weak — say 3-7 HCP and four trumps. So with a limit raise they must cuebid, losing the ability to force to game with support via the cuebid. You win some and you lose some!

ANSWER: Don’t come in over one no-trump without playing strength. It is much better to hold six hearts to the Q-J and a side K-Q than a solid five-card suit in a balanced 13-count. You might balance with the latter hand though.

If the opponents intervene over partner’s no-trump, a free bid by you (of two spades over two hearts in our example) suggests five with 5-8 points or so, as you could double for takeout. Dear Mr. Wolff: What is the best defense against an opponent’s pre-emptive bids? I don’t always feel that I have the correct hand to make a takeout double. For example, over my RHO’s three-heart call, I felt I had to bid four diamonds with 13 points and six diamonds, four spades, and three hearts. However, we missed our cold four-spade contract. — Crystal-Gazer, Seneca, S.C.

Playing two-over-one, my partner opened one club, and I held ♠ J-9-3, ♥ K-Q-J-9-8-5, ♦ 3-2, ♣ 10-4. I was planning to bid and rebid my hearts, but my RHO overcalled one spade, and now I did not know if my call of two hearts would set up a game force or if it would be an overbid even if that were not the case.

ANSWER: You did just fine and you were thinking along the right lines when you did what you did. Takeout doubles are the best defense available; one-suiters are relatively easy to bid, and two-suiters can sometimes be shown with a cue-bid, sometimes by bidding both suits if allowed. But here, your void in clubs and your six diamonds forced you to pass or bid four diamonds. Don’t worry about the result; you did the best with what you had.

— Heart in Hand, Pottsville, Pa.

Dear Mr. Wolff:

ANSWER: Using two-over-one in a noncompetitive auction means a response of — say — two hearts to one spade forces to game. With a hand like yours, you must respond one no-trump then bid hearts to show less than a game-force plus a long heart suit. After the one-spade overcall, your choice is to bid and rebid hearts, which I would do with an additional side queen, or to make a negative double and then convert partner’s response to hearts, suggesting these approximate values.

Say you are in fourth chair after hearing one diamond to your left and one spade to your right. Does it makes sense to bid either of your opponents’ suits as artificial as opposed to natural? My thinking is that the diamond call normally delivers diamonds, so why bid the suit yourself?

Dear Mr. Wolff:

Dear Mr. Wolff: If I plan to overcall a strong no-trump to show a single-suited hand, what are the criteria I should use in deciding whether to act or pass? Conversely, if my partner opens a no-trump and the next hand overcalls, does a suit bid from me at the two-level promise four or guarantee five — and is it forcing? — Jumping Jack, Charlottesville, Va.

— Real or Fake? Elkhart, Ind. ANSWER: Standard American assumes that because minors are always suspect (and strong clubbers’ one-diamond openings even more so), we don’t worry about our opponents’ minimum opening lengths. Fourth hand’s bids are natural — end of story. Also, since we have double and a jump to two no-trump for takeout, we don’t need a third call. A bid of one notrump is best used as strong, and all suitbids are natural. Is it best? I say yes, but even if not best, it is simplest.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, December 13, 2010 by admin on December 27th, 2010 “His imagination resembled the wings of an ostrich. It enabled him to run, though not to soar.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: None

♠J876 ♥AQ965 ♦ 10 6 ♣ 10 4

— Lord Macaulay, on Dryden Today’s deal comes from the recent world championships in Beijing. In five diamonds, you ruff the opening spade lead. Looking only at the North and South cards, how should you continue? Anyone could try to set up a club and ruff a club, but the defenders might foil you by getting two rounds of trump in. Matthew Granovetter crossed instead to the heart ace and led a low club from the dummy, figuring that this would work if East had a singleton trump, no matter whether he had one club honor or both.

West

East

♠ Q 10 5 ♥K832 ♦53 ♣K853

♠AK943 ♥ 10 7 4 ♦4 ♣A96 South

♠— ♥J ♦AKQJ9

West captured the club queen with his king and shifted to trumps, but Granovetter saw his plan through and won in hand to lead a second club. When East had no second trump to lead, declarer was home. In the other room declarer followed the mundane line of leading a club from hand at trick two, letting the defenders play trumps twice and forcing South to rely on the heart finesse eventually.

2

872

♣QJ72

South 5♦

West Pass All Pass

North Pass

East 1♠

Opening Lead: ♠ 5 If that was lucky for him and unlucky for Granovetter, consider the multiple world champion who won the spade lead and advanced the heart jack at trick two. When West ducked smoothly, declarer overtook in dummy and ruffed a heart, led a club to the 10 and ace, won the trump return in dummy, ruffed a heart, then led a second club. West took the trick and played a second trump, and declarer was dead. “What bad luck; the heart finesse worked!” his teammates consoled him. ANSWER: One choice is to go passive by leading a trump. On this auction, if declarer has a two-way finesse to take, he won’t get it wrong. Alternatively, the clubs might well produce a source of discards for declarer, so maybe an aggressive heart lead is correct. My soft cards in the minors persuade me to go passive and lead the spade eight. After all, how can we have five top winners to cash?

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 84 ♥ K 10 2 ♦ Q96432 ♣Q4 South

West

2♥ 3♦

2♠ 3♠

North 1♥ Pass All Pass

East 1♠ Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 by admin on December 28th, 2010 “Successful and fortunate crime is called virtue.”

Dealer: North North

Vul: N/S — Seneca When this deal came up in the very first round-robin match of the Venice Cup, it gave Liz McGowan of the British team a chance to demonstrate her virtuosity. Having reached an ambitious four-heart contract, she avoided the trump lead, but had to plan the play on the lead of the diamond king. Liz took the diamond king with the ace to lead a club at once. When her RHO followed small without a flicker, she decided that she was unlikely to have ducked the ace, so inserted the jack losing to the ace. She won the trump shift in dummy and ruffed a diamond, ruffed a club, ruffed a diamond (dropping the queen), and then drew trumps.

♠ 10 9 8 7 4 ♥AQ ♦AJ865 ♣2

West

East

♠A65 ♥8652 ♦KQ3 ♣A85

♠KJ2 ♥7 ♦ 10 9 7 2 ♣Q7643 South

♠Q3 ♥ K J 10 9 4 3

♦4 ♣ K J 10 9

As she led out the last trump, she had two spades and two clubs in hand, with dummy holding three spades and the master diamond jack. But what four cards was East to South West North keep? Since she had to keep two clubs, she had to come 1♠ down to two spades, so she kept the king and jack. 2♥ Pass 2♠ (Discarding the jack would have been tantamount to 3♥ Pass 4♥ surrender.) Liz now led out a spade, giving the defenders a series of losing options. If East was left on lead after two Opening Lead: ♦ K rounds of spades, she would have to play a club, allowing declarer to finesse and take the last two tricks in hand. If West overtook her partner’s spade winner, she would have to concede the last two tricks to dummy or declarer.

ANSWER: Your partner’s double is for penalties. Normally you would not consider removing the double, but here, with a shapely and very minimum opening bid, it would be reasonable to bid two diamonds. Admittedly it may be a big mistake, but this may not be the hand your partner was expecting you to hold when he doubled.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 10 9 8 7 4 ♥AQ ♦ AJ865 ♣2 South 1♠ ?

West 1 NT

North Dbl.

East Pass Pass All Pass

East Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 by admin on December 29th, 2010 “Things are seldom what they seem; Skim milk masquerades as cream.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: N/S

♠K973 ♥QJ72 ♦— ♣AKQ87

— W.S. Gilbert When Germany met Norway in last year’s Junior European Championships, they encountered an extremely unlucky slam. The Norwegian North-South stopped in five hearts. However, our featured table saw North show his diamond void early on. Then, with repeated inquiries, North showed one keycard, followed by the trump queen and spade king. Finally, North appreciated his good clubs at the end to jump to the grand slam.

West

East

♠J852 ♥ 10 6 5 4 ♦KJ953 ♣—

♠ 10 6 4 ♥3 ♦ A 10 8 4 ♣ 10 9 5 3 South

♠AQ ♥AK98 ♦Q762 ♣J64

In seven hearts, Martin Rehder would have been unable to make the grand slam on a spade lead because of the terrible breaks in trumps and clubs. (Should West have been able to find that lead for the right reasons? I can hardly blame him.) The more mundane low trump lead let declarer win in hand and ruff a diamond; then a top trump from dummy revealed the position. Now declarer had a choice: he could lead a club to hand to ruff a second diamond, or he could cross to a spade to ruff a second diamond, come back to hand with a second spade, and draw trumps. Either of those lines would fail if the chosen black suit broke badly.

2

South

West Pass Pass 1♥ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠** Pass 5♣** 5 NT** Pass *Short diamonds **Keycard inquiry

North 1♣ 3♦* 4♦ 4 NT 5♠ 7♥

East Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass

Opening Lead: ♥ 4

Instead, declarer made what looks to be the normal and hugely unlucky play of relying on clubs to split simply by drawing trumps. There was no squeeze, and Norway had an undeserved 11 IMPs. In retrospect, although a 6-1 spade break is in abstract slightly more likely than a 5-0 club break, maybe with silent and nonvulnerable opponents, one should assume no one could hold six spades. ANSWER: This hand looks tailor-made for Crawling Stayman. Your plan is to find a better fit in a suit, rather than playing in no-trump. Bid two clubs and plan to pass the response. Even if partner bids two diamonds, denying a major, if he has perhaps only two or three cards in that suit, your final contract will be perfectly playable.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ J852 ♥ 10 6 5 4 ♦ KJ953 ♣— South ?

West 1♣

North 1 NT

East Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, December 16, 2010 by admin on December 30th, 2010 “It’s very hard in military or in personal life to assure complete equality. Life is unfair.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: N/S

♠A8 ♥K8543 ♦K872 ♣Q8

— John F. Kennedy It is rare to see a player endplayed at trick one, but that was West’s fate in this match between England and Denmark at the 2006 European Championships, after Peter Schaltz had opened with a frisky weak no-trump. John Armstrong did well to stay silent in the auction and to lead the diamond ace. (Any other suit lets the contract succeed.) His diamond continuation was won by South’s queen, and two rounds of trumps revealed a loser. A club to ummy’s queen held, then declarer erred by throwing a club on the diamond king. Schaltz ruffed a diamond and exited with a trump, but now Armstrong could cash his club ace and exit with his last club, leaving declarer with a spade loser. Armstrong’s silence over the opening bid reaped its reward, for had he doubled, Schaltz would surely have found the correct discard of a spade from his hand on the diamond winner. Then his trump exit would have seen West endplayed into conceding the contract. Either a spade or a club play would allow dummy’s spade loser to go away.

West

East

♠K92 ♥QJ2 ♦ A 10 9 6 ♣AJ5

♠J764 ♥6 ♦J53 ♣ 10 9 7 6 3 South

♠ Q 10 5 3 ♥ A 10 9 7 ♦Q4 ♣K42

South

West

North

1 NT* 2♥ 4♥ *12-14

Pass Pass All Pass

2♦ 3 NT

East Pass Pass Pass

Opening Lead: Take your pick!

At the second table Colin Simpson reached four hearts as South, but here Gregers Bjarnarson as West had shown strong no-trump values. When West selected the club ace as the opening lead, Simpson quickly wrapped up 10 tricks because dummy’s spade loser could be discarded on the clubs. But even on a diamond lead, declarer would have known how to play the hand. ANSWER: Since you are in a game-forcing auction, a simple call of two no-trump is sufficient for the time being, giving partner space to describe his hand. If partner signs off in three notrump, you will move forward with a bid of four clubs, suggesting delayed club support and extras.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ A8 ♥K8543 ♦ K872 ♣Q8 South

West

1♥ ?

Pass

North 1♣ 2♠

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, December 17, 2010 by admin on December 31st, 2010 “The twilight of our mysteries Shines like high noonday on her face;

Dealer: East

North

Vul: N/S

♠ A 10 7 5 ♥Q ♦A9754 ♣K74

Our piteous guesses, dim with fears, She touches, handles, sees, and hears.”

West

East

— Robert Hugh Benson

♠KJ986

I notice that Jeff Wolfson has come out of retirement, if only temporarily, 10 years since he gave up the game to concentrate on family life after his squad played in the 2000 World Championships.

♥875 ♦J82 ♣5

♠Q3 ♥962 ♦ K 10 3 ♣ A J 10 9

4

South

♠2 ♥ A K J 10 4

Here is a deal from the last set of the trials that qualified his team for the Bermuda Bowl. Because his opponents had made three no-trump here, Michael Rosenberg (for the Wolfson team) would have to make his heart game to avoid a substantial loss. On a low club lead to East’s nine (this would have been a fine time for a falsecard) and South’s queen, the issue was how to get a 10th trick if East had all the top clubs.

3

3

♦Q6 ♣Q862

South

West

North

1♥ 2♥ 3♥

Pass Pass Pass

2♦ 2♠ 4♥

It seems impossible to build a trick from the diamond queen. However, Rosenberg went for a completely different play, electing to ruff out the spades before Opening Lead: ♣ 5 drawing trumps. As soon as West was known to hold six spades, East was marked with the diamond king. (If West had held that card, he would surely have overcalled.)

East Pass Pass Pass All Pass

That made Rosenberg’s life much easier. He now ran all the trumps, forcing East to come down to three clubs and two diamonds. Rosenberg now endplayed East with a club, to lead diamonds in the two-card ending, and the diamond loser had vanished. Very nicely judged. Of course, had East kept all of his clubs, he would have been forced to bare his diamond king. ANSWER: It is very tempting to act again in sequences of this sort, but bear in mind that you showed the unbid suits and values, and your partner declined to bid beyond the one-level. Yes, you only have one heart, but how many do you think your partner has? I’d guess four or five — and he might have only three spades! Play it safe and pass.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ A 10 7 5 ♥Q ♦ A9754 ♣K74 South Dbl. Pass ?

West 1♣ Pass 2♥

North Pass 1♠ Pass

East 1♥ Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, December 18, 2010 by admin on January 1st, 2011 “Nothing worth doing is completed in our lifetime; therefore, we must be saved by hope.”

Dealer: North North

Vul: All

— Reinhold Niebuhr Today’s deal is from the 2002 European Mixed Teams Championship. Although most Souths were successful in three no-trump, best defense would have posed South a very knotty problem. When West led the spade queen, declarer won in hand, played a club to the ace to unblock that suit, and followed with a diamond to the king. When this held, just one top club from hand was cashed, then diamonds were continued. East could win the ace but now, with the spade ace as an entry to the established diamonds, declarer could not be denied nine tricks. Compare the situation if East rises with the ace when the first diamond is led. South must unblock the king; otherwise, a further spade removes dummy’s last sure entry. But the unblock leaves declarer without access to the clubs in his own hand. East returns a spade, and now declarer has to run the diamonds, to reduce everyone down to four cards. He keeps two clubs and two hearts in hand while focusing on West’s discards.

♠A87 ♥K52 ♦QJ7652 ♣A

West

East

♠ Q J 10 5

♠96 ♥A943 ♦ A 10 4 ♣ J 10 8 7

4

♥ Q 10 6 ♦98 ♣932 South

♠K32 ♥J87 ♦K3 ♣KQ654

South

West

2♣ 3 NT

Pass All Pass

North 1♦ 2♦

East Pass Pass

Opening Lead: ♠ Q

South must assume that East has the heart ace, or West will have an entry to the spade suit, and must decide in the ending how many hearts West has kept. If West has kept all his spades, declarer advances the heart king, smothering West’s queen. But if West parts with a spade, he is thrown in with dummy’s last spade. After cashing his second spade winner, West will be endplayed in hearts to concede the ninth trick. ANSWER: Whether or not this hand is worth driving to game, you should bid four hearts now. Your spade king rates to be working as well as an ace, and you have a useful ruffing value in diamonds. Even your heart intermediates may contribute to the chances of making game.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ K32 ♥J87 ♦ K3 ♣KQ654 South

West

2♣ ?

Pass

North 1♥ 2♦

East 1♠ Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, December 19, 2010 by admin on January 2nd, 2011 Dear Mr. Wolff:

What is “Italian Cuebidding”? I’ve tried bidding with an Italian accent, but I still don’t do any better when it comes to reaching good slams or avoiding bad ones. — Roman Candle, Macon, Ga. ANSWER: In regular cuebidding, one cuebids aces before second-round controls, while Italian-style cuebidding focuses on always making the most economical cuebid. So bypassing a suit denies any control in that suit, and a repeat cuebid by responder promises a control in all bypassed suits as well as in the suit in which you now make a cuebid. Dear Mr. Wolff: At pairs I held ♠ K-10-3, ♥ 10-4, ♦ A-K-3-2, ♣ A-8-7-4 and opened one diamond. After a one-spade response, I could not decide whether to raise spades, introduce clubs, or rebid one no-trump. When I chose the lastnamed bid, we made nine tricks in the notrump game for a bottom because others made more in spades. (My partner had six bad spades and a balanced opening bid.) Was I right to open diamonds first? Do you have any comments on the subsequent calls? — Left in a Bad Place, Nashville, Tenn. ANSWER: Regardless of which minor I opened, I would raise one spade to two. This hand has decent trumps and a ruffing value, and if no-trump is right, it should be played by partner to protect the hearts. Incidentally, even if your call was not best, your partner made the last and worst mistake when he opted unilaterally for notrump. Dear Mr. Wolff: How should an aspiring tournament player deal with bad results? Is there any point in discussing the result at the table, or should it wait until after the game? — Blame Game, North Bay, Ontario

ANSWER: Never criticize partner for his declarer play — that is his problem, not yours. Likewise, when you mess up as declarer, do not apologize. Your partner probably knows you were not trying to upset him. Bidding foul-ups only merit discussion at the table if you think the accident needs mentioning to avoid having it happen again in the set. The same broadly applies to problems in defense, though in my experience these are the hardest accidents to pass over.

Dear Mr. Wolff: I picked up ♠ K-3, ♥ K-Q-5-4, ♦ A-J-7-3-2, ♣ A-10 and opened one diamond, planning to reverse into two hearts over a one-level response. In fact my LHO overcalled one heart and my partner doubled for takeout. Now came two clubs on my right. What should I have done now? — What’s Left? Torrance, Calif. ANSWER: When you now volunteer a call of two no-trump, you show 18-19, approximately the values you hold. If you had a balanced 12-14 hand, you would simply pass and wait for partner to compete further if he had extras. Dear Mr. Wolff: If you could, would you field a team for the United States that did not include a sponsor? Would it make an appreciable difference to our chances of success in world events? — Logo a Go-Go, Miami, Fla. ANSWER: I’m not sure it would make a big difference. (Our women’s teams have been dominant in the last 40 years while our men’s team has shared the limelight with a powerful Italian team.) That said, while sponsorship allows good players to concentrate on bridge and thus to get better, I’d still like to see a system that allows the three best pairs to make up our team.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, December 20, 2010 by admin on January 3rd, 2011 “Only by unintermitted agitation can a people be kept sufficiently awake to principle not to let liberty be smothered in material prosperity.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: N/S

♠842 ♥87 ♦AKQ43 ♣532

— Wendell Phillips Nobody’s brain functions particularly well first thing on a Monday morning. Perhaps it is the weekend that slows thinking down, but I always feel that the reader may benefit from a less challenging deal to recharge the mind. That said, how would you set about playing seven notrump, reached after South sets diamonds as trump and uses keycard Blackwood? The four common responses to the inquiry treat the trump king as one of the aces, or keycards. In order, the answers are to show zero or three keycards, one or four, two without the trump queen, and two with. After the first two responses the inquirer can then ask for the trump queen. So here, North with the fourth-step response showed the two missing keycards (the diamond ace and king) and the trump queen, and South closed his eyes and bid the grand slam.

West

East

♠ 10 7 6 3 ♥J96 ♦9 ♣ 10 9 7 6 4

♠J95 ♥ Q 10 5 3 2

♦ J 10 6 ♣J8 South

♠AKQ ♥AK4 ♦8752 ♣AKQ

South 2♣ 4 NT 7 NT

West Pass Pass All Pass

North 3♦ 5♠*

East Pass Pass

Having bid the hand accurately, South made no mistake in the play. He won the club lead and led the diamond seven *Two of the five aces (counting the trump king as to the queen, cashed the diamond king and parked his an ace) plus the trump queen diamond eight under it, then took the diamond ace and Opening Lead: ♣ 10 unblocked his diamond five. Now he triumphantly played the diamond three and followed with his remaining diamond spot, the two. That left him in dummy to take the fifth diamond winner and rack up his contract. Note that without the triple unblock, declarer would have been unable to cash the long diamond in dummy when diamonds split 3-1. ANSWER: Whenever the opponents appear to be sacrificing and have no legitimate chance to make their contract, the logical opening lead is a trump to cut down on a possible ruff. Here, there is surely no hurry to cash winners, but is it farfetched to envisage dummy with, for example, three trumps and one club? Now a trump lead looks essential.

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ A93 ♥J85 ♦ 10 5 4 2 ♣852 South

West

Pass Pass

4♥ Pass

North 2♣ 5♣ Dbl.

East 3♥ 5♥ All Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, December 21, 2010 by admin on January 4th, 2011 “We know too much, and are convinced of too little.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: All

♠K5 ♥762 ♦ A 10 9 3 ♣A943

— T.S. Eliot Six clubs would have been easy today — your jump to six no-trump is explicable only because the game is pairs. When West leads the spade queen, how do you plan to make 12 tricks? You have 11 top tricks, with chances of a 12th trick in either hearts or diamonds. Your aim should be to combine these chances to best advantage.

West

East

♠ J 10 9 7 4 ♥ Q 10 5 ♦Q85 ♣ 10 2

♠Q83 ♥9843 ♦J764 ♣65 South

As you want to put the defenders under pressure by running five rounds of clubs while throwing a heart from dummy, you will need a late entry to the diamonds. So, you win the first trick with the spade ace and then run the clubs. West does best to trust his partner’s encouraging signal at the first trick and throw three spades, while East discards three hearts on the clubs.

♠A62 ♥AKJ ♦K2 ♣KQJ87

South 2 NT 6 NT

West Pass All Pass

North 4 NT

Next you should attack diamonds. The best way to tackle that suit is to cash the diamond king and then lead the diamond two, covering a low card from West with dummy’s nine. When East wins with the jack and exits Opening Lead: ♠ J with a heart, you will rise with the heart ace and cross to dummy with the spade king. You play the diamond ace, throwing a spade from hand. When West produces the queen on the third round of the suit, you will make 12 tricks on this layout. But of course if diamonds had not been so friendly, you would have fallen back on the heart finesse.

East Pass

This plan brings home the slam about three times in four. ANSWER: Your partner’s sequence is not a drop-dead confession of weakness. He could have made a weak jump overcall initially, so this sequence typically shows 10-13 or so and six or more spades, not enough for an invitational jump to three spades. That said, you have just enough to invite game by raising to three spades.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ K5 ♥762 ♦ A 10 9 3 ♣A943 South 1 NT ?

West 1♦ Pass

North 1♠ 2♠

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, December 22, 2010 by admin on January 5th, 2011 “The danger chiefly lies in acting well; No crime’s so great as daring to excel.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: All

— Charles Churchill In today’s deal, when the heart fit came to light, you could not conveniently use Blackwood because of your void. However, this is one of the rare sequences these days when you can use a jump to five no-trump as the grand slam force to discover if North holds the trump queen, not to offer a choice of slams. The conventional responses are by steps, so your partner shows the trump queen — enough for you to take a shot at the big prize. West leads a trump against the grand slam, and East follows. How do you plan to make your ambitious contract? It may seem that you will need to finesse in diamonds at some stage. However, you have 11 winners — four in trumps, six in spades and one in diamonds. Can you generate two extra trump tricks by ruffing in dummy? No, but all you need to do is to ruff two clubs in your hand and you will have a total of 13 winners. You win the trump lead with dummy’s nine and ruff a club with the ace (retaining the 10). You re-enter dummy by overtaking the trump 10 with the queen and ruff a second club with the trump king.

♠94 ♥QJ97 ♦8642 ♣K83

West

East

♠6 ♥6532 ♦K5 ♣ Q 10 9 7

♠8732 ♥4 ♦ 10 9 7 3 ♣AJ52

64

South

♠ A K Q J 10 5

♥ A K 10 8 ♦AQJ ♣—

South West Pass 2♣ Pass 2♠ Pass 3♥ 5 NT Pass All Pass 7♥ *One trump honor

North 2♦ 2 NT 4♥ 6♦*

East Pass Pass Pass Pass

Opening Lead: ♥ 2

Next, you return to dummy with the spade nine to draw West’s remaining trumps with North’s J-7, discarding the diamond Q-J from hand. As your hand will have only winners left, your slam has rolled home. ANSWER: Your partner is not supposed to bid again here without significant extras in shape or high cards, so his pass over two diamonds is not a danger signal. Although you have diamond length, you have no strength in that suit, so it seems right to try to push the opponents up a level by bidding three clubs now.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 8732 ♥4 ♦ 10 9 7 3 ♣AJ52 South

West

North

Pass 2♣ ?

1♠ 2♦

Dbl. Pass

East 1♦ Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, December 23, 2010 by admin on January 6th, 2010 “But society has now fairly got the better of individuality; and the danger which threatens human nature is not the excess, but the deficiency, of personal impulses and preferences.” — John Stuart Mill Some deals that require nothing more subtle than basic technique nonetheless can be surprisingly difficult until you see the point. In today’s deal from the Dyspeptics Club, South was at the helm in three no-trump. He started well when he ducked the opening spade lead and won the second. Then he took the club finesse, won the spade continuation, and ran off his club winners before taking the losing diamond finesse. Alas for him, West had two spades to cash — down one. North snapped his pencil and muttered something uncharitable about bridge in the slow lane. Was he right to be upset?

Dealer: South North

Vul: All

♠84 ♥ 10 8 7 ♦ 10 9 7 2 ♣ A 10 9 5

West

East

♠ Q 10 9 7

♠J65 ♥Q652 ♦643 ♣K86

3

♥K43 ♦K5 ♣743 South

♠AK2 ♥AJ9 ♦AQJ8 ♣QJ2

South 2 NT

West Pass

North 3 NT

East All Pass

I can understand his frustration, although I suspect I might have been sympathetic to an inexperienced partner who had made the same mistake. Nevertheless, South had a Opening Lead: ♠ 10 blind spot, the point being that he needed to establish both minors, but also had to keep the danger hand (West) off lead once spades had been established. The right approach on winning the first top spade is to play the diamond ace followed by the diamond queen, not caring who takes the trick. As it happens, West wins the diamond king and plays a third spade to your ace. Now South can run the club queen; East can take his king when he likes, but cannot prevent declarer from scoring three clubs, three diamonds, two spades and one heart. ANSWER: When you passed initially and made a minimum raise of clubs at your second turn, you essentially denied holding more than about a six-count. Now that partner has made a try for game, you cannot treat your hand as a minimum anymore. In context, your values must be enough to give partner a play for game, so bid five clubs.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 84 ♥ 10 8 7 ♦ 10 9 7 2 ♣ A 10 9 5 South

West

Pass 3♣ ?

2♥ Pass

North 1♣ Dbl. 3♦

East 1♥ Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, December 23, 2010 by admin on January 6th, 2011 “But society has now fairly got the better of individuality; and the danger which threatens human nature is not the excess, but the deficiency, of personal impulses and preferences.” — John Stuart Mill Some deals that require nothing more subtle than basic technique nonetheless can be surprisingly difficult until you see the point. In today’s deal from the Dyspeptics Club, South was at the helm in three no-trump. He started well when he ducked the opening spade lead and won the second. Then he took the club finesse, won the spade continuation, and ran off his club winners before taking the losing diamond finesse. Alas for him, West had two spades to cash — down one. North snapped his pencil and muttered something uncharitable about bridge in the slow lane. Was he right to be upset?

Dealer: South North

Vul: All

♠84 ♥ 10 8 7 ♦ 10 9 7 2 ♣ A 10 9 5

West

East

♠ Q 10 9 7

♠J65 ♥Q652 ♦643 ♣K86

3

♥K43 ♦K5 ♣743 South

♠AK2 ♥AJ9 ♦AQJ8 ♣QJ2

South 2 NT

West Pass

North 3 NT

East All Pass

I can understand his frustration, although I suspect I might have been sympathetic to an inexperienced partner who had made the same mistake. Nevertheless, South had a Opening Lead: ♠ 10 blind spot, the point being that he needed to establish both minors, but also had to keep the danger hand (West) off lead once spades had been established. The right approach on winning the first top spade is to play the diamond ace followed by the diamond queen, not caring who takes the trick. As it happens, West wins the diamond king and plays a third spade to your ace. Now South can run the club queen; East can take his king when he likes, but cannot prevent declarer from scoring three clubs, three diamonds, two spades and one heart. ANSWER: When you passed initially and made a minimum raise of clubs at your second turn, you essentially denied holding more than about a six-count. Now that partner has made a try for game, you cannot treat your hand as a minimum anymore. In context, your values must be enough to give partner a play for game, so bid five clubs.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 84 ♥ 10 8 7 ♦ 10 9 7 2 ♣ A 10 9 5 South

West

Pass 3♣ ?

2♥ Pass

North 1♣ Dbl. 3♦

East 1♥ Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, December 24, 2010 by admin on January 7th, 2011 “All men know the utility of useful things, but they do not know the utility of futility.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: All

♠8532 ♥642 ♦ A 10 6 5 ♣A6

— Chuang-tzu How would you play six no-trump after West leads the heart jack? The declarer at one table in a teams match believed he was very unlucky to go down. He took the heart lead, cashed the diamond king and queen, and crossed to the club ace. At this point, slightly late in the day, he realized that there was no other entry to dummy, so he played the diamond ace, discarding his spade loser.

West

East

♠J96 ♥ J 10 9 7 5 ♦984 ♣93

♠ Q 10 7 ♥83 ♦J732 ♣ J 10 7 5 South

Next, he played the king and queen of clubs, revealing the 4-2 break. Declarer now conceded a club trick, but East had a diamond to cash for the setting trick. While the first declarer was surely unlucky that the diamond jack had not fallen in three rounds and that one defender had both four diamonds and four clubs, it was left to the second declarer to show how the hand should have been played. This declarer won the heart lead and unblocked the top diamonds from hand, then played a low club from both hands at trick four. He was able to win the return, cross to the club ace, and make a spade, three hearts, four diamonds and four clubs.

♠AK4 ♥AKQ ♦KQ ♣KQ842

South 2♣ 2 NT

West Pass Pass Pass

North Pass 2♦ 6 NT

East Pass Pass All Pass

Opening Lead: ♥ J

The difference between the two approaches was that by giving up a club early after unblocking the diamonds, declarer surrendered his chance of an overtrick. But in return he had insured that the defenders would not be able to cash a diamond winner when on lead. ANSWER: Although you have a good hand, it seems to be more useful on defense than on offense. Your partner had the chance to compete to three diamonds, but did not take it, so presumably he does not have greater than expected offense either. That being so, pass and hope to beat two spades. If double shows this hand, it might also be an option, but it might suggest better spades.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 8532 ♥642 ♦ A 10 6 5 ♣A6 South 2♦ ?

West 1♠ 2♠

North Dbl. Pass

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Saturday, December 25, 2010 by admin on January 8th, 2011 “Grace is given of God, but knowledge is bought in the market.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: E/W

♠8742 ♥AQ75 ♦62 ♣Q86

— Arthur Hugh Clough Against six spades West leads the trump queen, and when you win and play a second round of trumps, East discards a club. How do you plan to make 12 tricks after this development? The best approach is to try to remove West’s hearts and clubs, then follow that up by throwing him in with a trump to lead diamonds or concede a ruff and discard. Either way, you will make 12 tricks.

West

East

♠ Q J 10 ♥8 ♦ K 10 8 7 5

♠3 ♥ J 10 9 3 ♦J9 ♣J9754

43

♣ 10 3 South

♠AK965 ♥K64 ♦AQ ♣AK2

One of the declarers in a team game played three rounds of clubs immediately, but West ruffed the third club and exited safely with a heart. When the diamond finesse lost, that was down one. The second declarer showed the correct way to play the hand, which relies only on West’s having at least one heart and one club. He cashed the heart king and led a low heart toward dummy. West did not want to ruff a loser and thus set up one of dummy’s heart winners to take care of the diamond queen. Accordingly, he discarded a club, and declarer took the trick with dummy’s heart ace, then returned to hand with the club ace and led another heart. Dummy’s heart queen won, and declarer continued with the two remaining club winners.

2

South

West

North

2♣ 3♠ 4 NT 6♠ *Cuebid

Pass Pass Pass All Pass

2 NT 4♥* 5♦

East Pass Pass Pass Pass

Opening Lead: ♠ Q

West was now fixed. If he ruffed either of these, he would have to play a diamond away from the king. When he declined to ruff, declarer threw him in with a trump for the same outcome — 12 tricks to declarer. ANSWER: It is possible to be too intellectual about problems of this sort. The simple approach facing an overcall is that when the opponents appear to own the deal and your side has a fit, you are obligated to pre-empt to the limit, even at unfavorable vulnerability. Bid four hearts first; worry about the consequences later. Indeed, you might think about bidding five hearts if nonvulnerable!

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠3 ♥ J 10 9 3 2 ♦ J9 ♣J9754 South ?

West 1♦

North 1♥

East 1♠

The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, December 26, 2010 by admin on January 9th, 2011 Dear Mr. Wolff:

Since Christmas Day has just come and gone, what would you wish to happen in 2011 to the world of bridge? — Late Letter to Santa, Phoenix, Ariz. ANSWER: Perhaps I should hope for something attainable, and not look for pie in the sky. Maybe we might be successful in persuading a few school districts to teach bridge to their pupils, accepting that it is a fine tool to help children understand mathematics and develop concentration. Dear Mr. Wolff: Holding ♠ K-8-4, ♥ Q-4, ♦ Q-2, ♣ A-10-6-43-2, I assume you would open one club, as I did. When the next hand doubled and my partner bid one heart, I heard a double on my right, which was explained as penalties, not takeout. Would you run to two clubs, or to t turned into a disaster when my partner passed with 4-4 in the majors and a heart suit headed by the 10. We went down 300. — Revolting Developments, Madison, Wis. ANSWER: I think your pass was quite reasonable; your partner should maybe have inferred that you were not overloaded in hearts if the opponents were to be believed, so perhaps he could have removed the contract to one spade or even one no-trump. Dear Mr. Wolff: What is the best way to deal with interference to Blackwood, and how should one show a void when asked for aces? — Contingencies, Memphis, Tenn.

ANSWER: A simple answer to your first question is to use double as no aces, pass as one, and then bid up by steps — whether playing keycard or regular Blackwood. With a useful void, don’t show the void with no aces, but with one or three aces jump in the void if it is below the trump suit, or jump in the trump suit with a higher-ranking void. And bid five no-trump with two aces and a void.

Dear Mr. Wolff: Holding ♠ K-Q-5-4, ♥ A-J-3-2, ♦ A-10-7-4, ♣ Q, I thought it was normal to open one diamond and jump to three spades over the one-spade response. My partner suggested I might have gone all the way to game, and even that I might have bid four clubs. But wouldn’t that sequence show a better hand — or even a first-round club control? — What’s It Worth? Casper, Wyo. ANSWER: You were quite sensible in your hand evaluation. With the club queen a potentially broken reed, your jump to three spades looks right. If partner cannot bid on, you rate to be high enough. Give yourself the diamond queen instead of the club queen and you might well do more. A jump to four clubs if played as a splinter (a common modern treatment) does indeed suggest a singleton, not a void. Dear Mr. Wolff: If you play two-over-one game forcing, how can you differentiate between a hand such as a 10-count with six good clubs (not worth a game-force but worth an invitation) and the same hand with an ace less, in response to a one-spade opening. — Sorting It Out, Bremerton, Wash. ANSWER: Some people play a jump to three clubs immediately as invitational with a good suit, say 10-11 points, the hand that in old-fashioned Standard American would have responded two clubs, then bid three clubs. For other people the jump to three clubs would be an artificial spade raise or even a weak jump. If so, they would have to respond one no-trump, then bid three clubs at their next turn over their partner’s response with both the invitational hand and the weaker variety.

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, December 27, 2010 by admin on January 10th, 2011 “An idealist believes the short run doesn’t count. A cynic believes the long run doesn’t matter. A realist believes that what is done or left undone in the short run determines the long run.”

Dealer: North North

Vul: N/S

— Sidney Justin Harris

♠94 ♥J42 ♦ 10 3 ♣ K J 10 7 5 3

Today’s deal is all about counting. See if you can match declarer’s effort from the finals of a recent U.S. trials. I thought Roger Bates handled his delicate four-spade contract very carefully, finding a fine line of play. His partner, Ralph Katz, thought the three-spade call was forcing — as would I — so maybe the South hand is not worth more than a bid of two spades at the second turn after the initial double.

West

East

♠Q ♥ Q 10 9 8

♠7632 ♥K73 ♦AQJ7 ♣Q2

6

♦864 ♣A986 South

♠ A K J 10 8 5

♥A5 ♦K952 ♣4

The net result was that Bates declared a game that would have been impossible to make on a heart lead. However, on a diamond lead and heart shift (a trump switch would have worked better, but one can understand East’s play), Bates was still in with a chance. He went up with the heart ace and played a club. West took his ace and tried two more rounds of hearts. Bates ruffed, led the diamond king, ruffed a diamond, then cashed the club king and saw the queen drop from East. If this was a true card, East was known to have started with three hearts, four diamonds, apparently only two clubs, and thus must have four spades. Accordingly, a single finesse in spades would not bring the suit home safely. The find West with the singleton spade queen.

South

West

Dbl. 3♠

1♥ Pass

North Pass 2♣ 4♠

East 1♦ Dbl.* All Pass

*Showing three hearts

Opening Lead: ♦ 4 only legitimate chance was to

Accordingly, Bates played a trump to the ace and was rewarded when West’s queen fell — four spades bid and made. ANSWER: A trump lead looks very dangerous here if partner has a doubleton honor. Since everything else looks unattractive, starting with the club ace might at least give you an idea of what switch, if any, will be most effective.

LEAD WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ Q852 ♥J94 ♦ 752 ♣A94 South

West

1♠ 3♣

Dbl. 3♥

North 1♣ 2♣ All Pass

East Pass 2♥

The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, December 28, 2010 by admin on January 11th, 2011 “The race is over, but the work never is done while the power to work remains.”

Dealer: East

North

Vul: All

♠ 10 7 5 4 3 ♥Q75 ♦AQ ♣A86

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. Anna Gudge is one of the unsung heroes of bridge, a woman who coordinates the worldwide simultaneous events and organizes charity tournaments like those for the victims of the Pakistani Earthquakes and of recent tsunamis. The same deals are played in different clubs around the world, and the event is scored over the whole field, with lots of masterpoints at stake. At the end you are given a booklet with a commentary on the deals.

West

East

♠K ♥9862 ♦ K 10 2 ♣ 10 7 5 3 2

♠86 ♥AKJ ♦9865 ♣KQ94 South

♠AQJ92 ♥ 10 4 3 ♦J743 ♣J

The following deal occurred in a recent event. As South, plan the play in four spades. Superficially, the contract seems to depend on two finesses if West’s openng lead is a heart, but on the lead of the club three, declarer can give himself an extra chance.

South

West

North

1♠

3♣*

4♠

East 1♣ All Pass

He should win the club ace and ruff a club. He then plays *Pre-emptive a diamond to dummy’s queen, cashes the diamond ace, ruffs a club, and ruffs a diamond. When it turns out that Opening Lead: ♣ 3 West started with king-third of diamonds, declarer no longer needs to risk the spade finesse. He should play a spade to his ace, and then, even if the spade king has not dropped, he intends to play the winning diamond jack, discarding a losing heart from dummy. When West’s spade king does fall, declarer emerges with an unlikely overtrick. Incidentally, the percentage play in the spade suit (in abstract) is to finesse. If East has a doubleton spade, he is more likely to have the king than West. ANSWER: When playing negative doubles, you would normally reopen now with diamond shortage because partner may have a penalty double of diamonds and have been unable to act. True enough; but when you can see two diamond honors, is there any realistic chance partner has a diamond stack? Absolutely not. So if he passes over two diamonds, it is because he is weak, and you are therefore allowed to pass.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 10 7 5 4 3 ♥Q75 ♦ AQ ♣A86 South 1♠ ?

West 2♦

North Pass

East Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Wednesday, December 29, 2010 by admin on January 12th, 2011 “Things have their due measure; there are ultimately fixed limits, beyond which, or short of which, something must be wrong.”

Dealer: West

North

Vul: N/S

♠753 ♥K6 ♦KQJ97 ♣742

— Horace Against three no-trump West leads the spade jack, overtaken by East’s queen. You duck and East continues with the spade king and a third spade, which you win with the ace. You need to develop three tricks from diamonds to bring your total to nine. This will not be a problem if diamonds are 3-3 or the 10 drops doubleton, but with today’s layout you need to be careful. Suppose you play a diamond to dummy’s king, East will surely duck and win the next top diamond to exit with a club. You will win and cross to dummy with the heart king, but when the diamond 10 does not fall, you will no longer have an entry to dummy to be able to enjoy your extra diamond winners. You would be reduced to hoping for a 3-3 club break. Even if East wins the first diamond, you would still be in trouble. Suppose you win the club and continue diamonds from the top. Your heart entry is still intact, but West will win the diamond 10 and cash the 13th spade, the fifth defensive trick.

West

East

♠ J 10 9 6 ♥J983 ♦ 10 6 4 3 ♣9

♠KQ4 ♥ Q 10 7 ♦A5 ♣ J 10 8 6 5 South

♠A82 ♥A542 ♦82 ♣AKQ3

South Dbl. 3 NT *12-14

West Pass 2♣ All Pass

North Pass 3♦

East 1 NT* Pass

Opening Lead: ♠ J

So instead, why not run the diamond eight on the first round of the suit? If East wins with the 10, he can do you no harm. You win his return and now play your top diamonds, knowing you will be able to reach dummy’s established winners by crossing to the heart king. Had East shifted to a heart at trick three, that would be another story. ANSWER: This hand falls inconveniently between a simple raise and a limit raise of diamonds. However, it would be reasonable to promote the heart king (given this auction) and upgrade the hand to a 10-count. If you think that makes sense, cue-bid two hearts, rather than jumping to three diamonds. The latter would show a weak shapely raise, not one based on high cards.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ 753 ♥K6 ♦ KQJ97 ♣742 South ?

West

North 1♦

East 1♥

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, December 30, 2010 by admin on January 13th, 2011 “We live in an age disturbed, confused, bewildered, afraid of its own forces, in search not merely of its road, but even of its direction.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: E/W

♠ Q J 10 6 4 2

♥ J 10 2 ♦K7 ♣KJ

— Woodrow Wilson Today’s deal comes from “Masterpieces of Defense” by Julian Pottage, a writer who has demonstrated imagination and creativity in constructing bridge problems of all sorts. I wholeheartedly recommend his book. Put yourself in the West seat and cover up the South and East cards to re-create the real-life problem you might be facing. A strong no-trump opening bid by South and a Texas Transfer by North sees you defending four spades. You lead the heart three, and partner plays king, ace and another, declarer following three times. What now? The first question is whether your side might have a minor-suit ace to cash. You should assume that the answer is no — if you can trust your partner. The point is that if your partner had a minor-suit ace, he should have cashed it at trick three and not left you to guess what to do.

West

East

♠3 ♥Q943 ♦J632 ♣ 10 6 3 2

♠K97 ♥AK5 ♦ 10 8 5 4 ♣975 South

♠A85 ♥876 ♦AQ9 ♣AQ84

South 1 NT 4♠

West Pass All Pass

North 4♥*

East Pass

*Texas Transfer

Assuming that to be true, where else might a defensive winner come from? Obviously, if partner has a natural Opening Lead: ♥ 3 trump trick, he will get it whatever you do, so try to determine when your play might make a difference. The answer is that if partner has precisely K-9-x of spades, you might be able to build a trump trick for him. Your only legitimate way to achieve the trump promotion is by continuing with a fourth round of hearts. Whatever declarer does now, East must make a trump trick (provided he remembers not to overruff the spade queen.) ANSWER: Although a takeout double normally shows support for all the unbid suits, an auction like the one shown (where your partner has suggested 17-plus in high cards and a good spade suit) does not promise suitability for any suit except spades. With a hand as weak as yours, where game is highly unlikely, pass one spade and try to stay out of trouble.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠3 ♥Q943 ♦ J632 ♣ 10 6 3 2 South 1♥ ?

West 1♦ Pass

North Dbl. 1♠

East Pass Pass

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, December 31, 2010 by admin on January 14th, 2011 “It is circumstance and proper timing that give an action its character and make it either good or bad.”

Dealer: South North

Vul: N/S

— Agesilaus After North’s strong jump shift and a check on controls, you find yourself playing in six hearts. West leads the club king. What is the best plan to make 12 tricks? The surest way is to set up dummy’s spades. After winning the opening lead with the club ace, your first move should be to play a trump to your ace. If hearts prove to be 4-0, you would need a 3-3 spade break and so would play the spade ace and king and ruff a spade. If the spades broke, you could then cross to the trump queen and play good spades, throwing your remaining diamond losers. When the defender ruffed with his penultimate trump, you could win his return and return to dummy with the trump king to enjoy the rest of the spades. When both opponents follow to the first round of trumps, the type of hostile layout where you need to find the right play to succeed occurs when West is short in spades and long in trumps.

♠AK8542 ♥KQ5 ♦64 ♣A7

West

East

♠ 10 7 ♥ J 10 8 ♦ K 10 9 7 ♣KQJ4

♠QJ96 ♥2 ♦J8 ♣ 10 9 8 6 52 South

♠3 ♥A97643 ♦AQ532 ♣3

South 1♥ 3♦ 4♣ 5♥ 6♥

West Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass

North 2♠ 3♥ 4 NT 5 NT

East Pass Pass Pass Pass

The way to overcome any 4-2 spade break is to play the spade three from hand and the two from dummy! Then Opening Lead: ♣ K you will be able to win the return, cross to dummy with the trump queen, and ruff a spade low in your hand. You can then cross to the trump king, drawing West’s last trump in the process, and discard your diamond losers on the four good spades. ANSWER: If your partner had a takeout double of hearts, he would have acted initially, so he cannot have that hand, can he? Far more likely (especially looking at your hand) is that he has a heart stack and is doubling for penalties. You may not have all that much to bring to the festivities, but nobody really asked your opinion. Pass as requested, and trust your partner.

BID WITH THE ACES

South Holds: ♠ QJ96 ♥2 ♦ J8 ♣ 10 9 8 6 5 2 South Pass ?

West 2♥ Pass

North Pass Dbl.

East 3♥ Pass