ACES ON BRIDGE
When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it happened or not; but I am getting old, and soon I shall remember only the latter.
— Mark Twain
This week’s deals come from the 2019 Spring Nationals in Memphis. Here, from the Silodor Open Pairs, Jovi Smederevac and John McAllister defended well against Joe Grue and Brad Moss.
Both of East’s decisions — the first, not to pre-empt over one club; the second, the pass of two spades — look a little odd. Perhaps the partnership would have played a re-raise to three spades as invitational. Anyway, South was thus able to back in with his second suit at a low-level. Since he could have doubled to show a good hand, the three-diamond call was non-forcing, but North had too much to subside, with excellent support for both red suits and working cards. He cue-bid three spades to ask for a stopper, then offered four hearts as a place to play over four diamonds, and South was happy with that.
When one suit is wide open and neither player has shortness there — as today — there might be three top losers in the minor-suit game, so the major-suit game may indeed be the best spot.
However, McAllister led a spade to the ace. Smederevac returned the spade five, suit preference, and McAllister gave his partner the ruff with the diamond two. Smederevac now broke up the impending squeeze by shifting to a club, eliminating any pressure in the ending. Had she instead played a trump, the defenders would still have prevailed, but a spade would have let declarer ruff in dummy, then draw trumps and squeeze West in the minors.
ANSWER: Lead the heart ace. You may need to take your heart tricks on the go. If partner does not have the heart king, he will discourage, and you can shift to clubs, hoping to set up a trick there. You may even try a diamond switch if dummy’s clubs seem to be too powerful. One thing is for sure: A club lead is committal, and if you are wrong, you may have nowhere left to turn.
If you would like to contact Bobby Wolff, email him at bobbywolff@mindspring.com