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
J 7 2
6 5 4
A K 8 5 3
J 10
A K Q 10 9 8
A K 8
7 2
A Q
West
North
East
South
2
Pass
3
Pass
3
Pass
4
Pass
4NT
Pass
5
Pass
6
Pass
Pass
Pass
“The man who is swimming against the stream knows the strength of it” Woodrow Wilson.
West led the Q.
Plan the play for South.
Success in today’s slam venture requires South to do some “upstream swimming“. Familiar and routine plays won’t do it; an unusual approach brings in twelve tricks.
The routine plan will appeal to many declarers. Win the A, cash two high trumps, and then play two high diamonds a ruff a third. When diamonds do not split, South must rely on the club finesse, losing the slam when West shows up with the K.
It´s not a bad plan. It wins whenever diamonds are 3-3 (35,52%) or when the club finesse works, about a 68% chance overall.
A better plan is to win A, cash the A and then duck a diamond completely. East wins and returns a club, but South refuses the finesse and plays his A. Now South cashes the K. If trumps are 2-2, he plays the top diamonds, discarding a club or heart loser, and a diamond ruff establishes dummy’s fifth diamond. Dummy’s J provides the vital entry and South discards his second loser, claiming twelve tricks.
After playing the K. If trumps are 3-1, South should lead his last diamond to the A, ruff a diamond high and return to the dummy with the J, pulling the last trump. He can now discard his losers on dummy’s established diamonds.
The suggested line wins whenever diamonds split no worse than 4-2 (48,44%). If diamonds are 6-0 or 5-1, South will know it in time to fall back on the club finesse, making his overall chances about 84%.
The full deal:
J 7 2
6 5 4
A K 8 5 3
J 10
