Bobby WolffWikipedia: Robert S. (Bobby) Wolff(born October 14, 1932, San Antonio, Texas) is an American bridge player, writer, and administrator. He is the only person to win world championships in five different categories.
Wolff was an original member of the Dallas Aces team, which was formed in 1968 to compete against the Italian Blue Team which was dominant at the time. The Aces were successful and won their first world championship in 1970. Wolff has won 11 world championships, over 30 North American championships, and was the president of World Bridge Federation (WBF) 1992–1994, and served as president of American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) 1987. He is the author of a tell-all on bridge chronicling 60 years on the scene, entitled The Lone Wolff, published by Master Point Press. His column, The Aces on Bridge has been appearing daily for over 32 years, is syndicated by United Feature Syndicate in more than 130 newspapers worldwide and is available online two weeks in arrears.
IMPs Dealer South. Both Vul
9 6
A J 10 6
A J 9 8 7
6 3
K Q 7 3
7 4 2
K 4 3
Q J 5
West
North
East
South
1NT
Pass
2
Pass
2
Pass
3NT
End
“There is a time for departure even when there’s no certain place to go.” _ Tennesse Williams.
Opening lead4. West leads the4 and you playJ, which holds. You continue theQ which also hold.
What do you continue at trick three?
3NT was the contract reached at both tables of a recent team game. One East managed to beat the game, the other didn’t. It will be worth examining why.
South ducked both theJ and theQ, and it was decision time for East. The first East continued the suit in ignorant bliss and South had an easy time. The diamond finesse lost, but clubs were isolated and South took a comfortable ten tricks.
At the other table, South also refused the first two clubs to isolate West’s suit, but East reasoned that it was time for a switch. The 21 HCP in this hand and the dummy told him that West could have no face card other than the obviousK.
But which card to choose?
The only chance lay with spade, and East had to hope that West held the10. Craftily, East lead a low spade ( a spade honor wouldn’t work) and South ducked to dummy’s nine (correct- the play wins whenever East has led fromK10 or Q10 and loses only when East has le from KQ).
West gathered in his 10 and returned the suit, and when the diamond finesse lost, the defenders had five tricks instead of three.
9 6
A J 10 6
A J 9 8 7
6 3
