No Aces
Playing computer bridge over the Internet at matchpoint
duplicate, partner deals and I pick up a good hand
without any aces:
--- K93 KQJ1073 K1083.
Partner opens 1, RHO overcalls 1 (surprise)
and I have an easy 2 bid. LHO raises spades
and partner raises me. The opponents are done, and I have
to find a good way to investigate slam. We are playing a 12-14
notrump opener, so partner ought to have either some shape or
15+ HCP. I think it is safe to venture beyond 3NT. My choice is 4,
a splinter bid, hoping that partner, with all the right cards,
can bid a slam. He bids 5, which is forward-going, so
I bid 5, confirming the void and showing a heart control.
He bids 6. I don't know enough to bid the grand, although
I feel pretty confident that it will make, so I pass. Partner
puts down lots of aces, but not much else:
| 10942 AJ6 A94 AQ5 | |
| | |
| --- K93 KQJ1073 K1083 | |
North | East | South | West |
1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
3 | Pass | 4 | Pass |
5 | Pass | 5 | Pass |
6 | Pass | Pass | Pass |
West leads the Q, and I pause to take stock. I have
eleven tricks off the top, and a possible 12th in either
clubs or hearts or maybe a squeeze. If trumps are 2-2,
I can ruff a club and take a heart finesse for the overtrick.
I think there is a better line of play, however, than
to draw trumps and take the heart finesse. If suits are
breaking reasonably, I can make 12 tricks on a dummy
reversal. All I need is 4-2 clubs, 3-1 trumps, and
nothing really awful. I think that must be the best line
for the contract, and it probably does not give up too much
chance of an overtrick.
I ruff the first trick and cash a high trump. Good, both follow.
A second trump to dummy (East pitching a spade) is followed by a
spade ruff. Club to dummy and another spade ruff. Another club
to dummy (phew) holds, and I ruff the last spade in my hand with
my last trump. On the second club, East dropped the Jack, so I cross
to the A, draw the last trump and claim all the tricks. If
it had not dropped, I would have cashed the K first, then
crossed to the A and cashed the last trump. If East had
the Q and four clubs (pretty likely) he would have been
squeezed for an overtrick.
Copyright © 1995 Jeff Goldsmith