Aces On Bridge

“Love, all alike, no season knows nor clime, Nor hours, days, months, which are the rags of time.” -- John Donne

Today’s deal from the 2015 European Open championships saw Roy Welland and Sabine Auken in action. Over her RHO’s threeclub call, Auken’s double was easy enough, but over five clubs, Welland’s best action was far from obvious. Some players doubled with this hand to show some strength, but must have felt unhappy when partner passed. Some other players bid five spades and were allowed to play there.

Welland was among the fivespade bidders, but Auken had the last word. She boldly raised her partner to six, giving him the problem of finding both major-suit queens to make his contract. It should be noted that if you locate the two missing queens correctly, you can even make seven hearts (but not seven spades).

Bidding and making a grand slam is admittedly a pipe dream, and declarer’s task in his small slam was hard enough. Welland ruffed the club lead and quickly overcame the first hurdle when he successfully finessed East’s spade queen while drawing trumps. After that, he played the diamond ace and another diamond. East went up with the king and exited in clubs. Welland ruffed this with his last trump and proceeded to cash the diamond queen. When West showed out, it became apparent that he had started with one spade, two diamonds and, in all probability, seven clubs, considering of his choice of opening bid. He was thus likely to have room for three hearts; so Welland cashed his heart king, then led a heart to dummy’s jack to land his contract.

ANSWER: This does not look like a hand where you want to consider defending by starting with a redouble. You can jump to two notrump to show a limit raise or better for spades, with a view to making a slam try if partner cooperates, but otherwise signing off in game if he suggests a minimum.