Blum on Bridge Odds and Ends - Part II
	Why don't we start today with another lesson problem from The London Times? The answer appears at the end of the column. North holds J987432-Q98-void-K64. South has AKQ105-A5-QJ9-A107. North made a perfect response of 4 spades over South's 1 spade-opening bid, showing the long spade suit, a distributional hand and less then ten points. South bid 6 spades, quite chancy with 5-3-3-2 distribution. West led the diamond ace and declarer South ruffed. He drew the outstanding trumps with the spade ace. What are his options? As I stated last week, Muriel Seegers and I agreed to call expert Mark Lair to find how he would bid two hands where we had poor results. The first was discussed last week. The other is presented below. I held KQJ4-K64-92-10986. Muriel opened 1 spade and Leo Volkheimer, my rho, overcalled 2 hearts. I responded 2 spades. After both Leo's partner and Muriel passed, Leo bid 3 diamonds. I rebid spades at the three-level and all passed. Muriel made her contract plus an overtrick. Most of the field was in 4 spades making. Another bad board for our side. I was concerned that perhaps I should have made a double raise but for once Mark agreed with both my bid of 2 spades and later 3 spades rebid. With Muriel's hand holding of A10953-87-5-KQJ75 he felt decent defense would have found the club ruff, thereby setting anyone in the game contract. "Tough luck Bob and tell Muriel the same to her," he said. While we were on the phone, I decided to pick Mark's brain about bidding a hand held by a partner of Mary Mason. Mary's rho opened 1 club. Mary made a take-out double and lho passed. Mary's partner held 8643-Q5-J98643-7. What is her response? She gets an "A" for answering 1 spade. She gets a "C" for bidding 1 diamond, which she did bid. After rho passed Mary, holding 22 points made the excellent que bid of 2 clubs. This is most fortunate for Mary's partner as it now allows her to recover and show her spade suit. A conference phone call I received from an established partnership that preferred I not use their names asked, "When are the proper times to make the opening lead of an ace?" Keep in mind that, generally speaking, aces are meant to take kings and queens. However, there are several good reasons to make this opening lead. Against a suit slam at match points often if you don't lead your ace you will lose it, as declarer may be able to get rid of his losers on his long side suit. Another time to lead an ace against a suit contract is when you have a long suit. Perhaps you will find partner short and can give him a ruff. An excellent time to lead an ace is one some experts don't catch. When the opponents are struggling to reach a no-trump contract, but end up playing a suit contract they must be open in a side suit. Lead your ace, even if you hold AQ! Holding AQJ in the above instance, you might consider leading the queen. While we're at it, "When is a good time on opening lead to under-lead an ace?" Don't even think about it! Many years ago Charles Goren authored a book titled "Goren Settles the Bridge Arguments." As we all know, I'm no Charles Goren, however, should you encounter a bridge problem, you may call me on my private number at 642-5543. If I'm unable to solve the situation, I have enough experts at my disposal who can. I do travel, but will return your call as soon as possible.       As for the answer to our problem It's obvious there are two chances to make the contract. Both rely on West having either the heart or diamond king. The lesson is in what order to combine his options. If he plays the diamond queen, lets it ride and discards a club from dummy, East may win with the king. He would return a heart. Declarer could rise with the ace, play the diamond jack and discard a heart. However, he still has a heart loser. South should play his heart ace and another heart. If this loses to the king he still has the ruffing diamond finesse in reserve. By playing on diamonds first he has no chance if East holds the king, no matter who possesses the heart king. If East holds it, he would simply have played a third diamond after winning the king.