The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, October 22nd, 2015
The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.
G. B. Shaw
| S | North |
|---|---|
| Both | ♠ 10 6 ♥ J 7 2 ♦ Q J 5 ♣ K 9 6 5 3 |
| West | East |
|---|---|
| ♠ A Q J 8 7 ♥ 5 ♦ 10 9 8 3 ♣ Q 8 7 |
♠ 9 5 3 2 ♥ Q 10 9 ♦ K 7 6 ♣ J 10 2 |
| South |
|---|
| ♠ K 4 ♥ A K 8 6 4 3 ♦ A 4 2 ♣ A 4 |
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ♥ | 1 ♠ | 2 ♥ | 2 ♠ |
| 4 ♥ | All pass |
♦10
Today’s deal came up in a duplicate pair game. East decided that his balanced hand with weak trump and soft cards on the side meant that he was far better suited for a simple spade raise rather than a preemptive raise. The only alternative to the preemptive raise would have been a mixed raise – and that requires a little extra side-suit shape — and maybe the spade queen instead of the two.
East was correct that his side should be defending not declaring, but he undid all his good work immediately. When South declared four hearts on a top diamond lead, the 10 going to the queen, king and ace, he played off his two top trumps, then took three rounds of clubs, ruffing the third in hand. He next crossed to the diamond jack, and pitched a loser on the fourth club as East ruffed in. There were still two black-suit losers to come, but the contract was secure.
Can you see where the defensive mistake came? At trick one, East’s decision to cover the diamond queen was an error. Had he ducked the diamond, there would have been no delayed entry to dummy in a side-suit. Now no matter what declarer does, he cannot reach the established clubs, and he will be left with three plain losers and a trump loser.
For the record, on a different day, if West did not have the diamond eight, and East had the spade entry, covering the first diamond might be the only way to avoid a later endplay. But not today.
You are facing a takeout double, and you do have four spades…but there are limits. With a very weak spade suit and potential half-tricks on the side, this feels as if it is much closer to a pass than a call of four spades. While this could certainly be wrong, I cannot see four spades making unless four hearts is heavy favorite to be defeated. The reverse does not apply.
BID WITH THE ACES
| ♠ 9 5 3 2 ♥ Q 10 9 ♦ K 7 6 ♣ J 10 2 |
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 ♥ | Dbl. | Pass | |
| ? |
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Bridge-related
Hi Bobby,
Should West still lead the D10 from 10 9 4 2 (missing the 8), or is it better to lead small from such holding on this auction? Generally speaking, should the 10 be considered an honor card for the purpose of underleading it in an unbid side suit?
Hi Bobby,
A stray thought on today’s hand. Change the South hand slightly to Ax AKxxxx DAxx CAx and give West KJ10xx x 1098x QJx. Suppose West decides agains a spade lead (which would cost a trick if the oppo have Ax opposite Qx) and leads the D10. Now declarer should just play low from dummy, ensuring that the DQJ is an entry for the established club(s). If the hearts were 2-2, declarer can still set up one extra winner if clubs are 4-2. Even at pairs, free finesses can misfire although partner later mischievously asking “why not 2nd hand low?” would be more than a little annoying.
regards,
Iain
Hi Mircea1,
With no intention of being sarcastic to you in my answer, I will say, it is similar to choosing which bingo card to pick.
Whether to lead the ten or the deuce (aka whatever small card that partnership selects, 3rd, 4th or whatever) is to me, close to 50-50, although with either 1098 or 1097 I would surely lead the 10.
Curiously, and if bridge ever gets to a very important learning status, I would virtually demand that instead of labeling the ten as an honor card, with then rules attached, that the concept itself be viewed and studied by the student and only then, should he, himself, pronounce what is best to choose.
The rebuttal argument might be, “I thought you were the teacher, not a bystander”? Yes, I am, but since the playing of the cards in bridge has more nuances than most players think, to understand exactly what happens when 4 cards, each in its own order, comes to rest on that trick, the reason for each of those plays must be accompanied by an understanding of why each needs to be played, otherwise the then student will not be on the up elevator to eventual even great success.
And so it goes, when in reality only a relatively small percentage of even aspiring players can immediately understand the relative value of moving forward and, of course, also possessing the intellectual numeracy required to do so, it nevertheless is reprehensible to deny the subject student the chance to do so.
And finally, two specific sports come to mind which, although physical in nature instead of mental, those being tennis and golf, still not everyone is capable of becoming really good in either one of those sports, but when yes may be the elephant in that room, to not explore that talent, is indeed, at least to me, totally irresponsible.
Thanks for asking.
Hi Iain,
Yes, no spade lead, and yes the diamond ten is led, of course an often made choice, with your example a bell ringer, a low one from dummy is 100% correct when later trumps are drawn (aka getting the kiddies off the street) and a vital entry is needed in dummy to go about later bridge playing business.
Then when someone mentions “2nd hand low
in action” all can immediately cry out in unison “Better to remain quiet and thought a fool than speak out and remove all doubt”, however when that someone possesses a wry smile with his assertion, we should refrain from that comment and, at the very least, just laugh.
And as an eternal optimist, once while ducking in dummy with QJx (and at matchpoints) the singleton king magically appeared from RHO making me rejoice inside, but realizing how awful and unlucky that event was to the opponents I restrained from expressing my joy.
Thanks for now allowing me to enjoy it fully.
BWTA. Could you comment on 4s vs pass on different games, ie rubber vs duplicate. My first thought, from rubber bridge perspective, was to bid 4S. Partner 4 S’s, something in D and C, meaning my honors may not be wasted, we figure to have a fair shot, and if we don’t, the sacrifice shouldn’t be too painful.
Hi Joe1,
While the thought of venturing 4 spades is an optimistic attitude, I really do not think it close to turn that option down and merely pass.
Remember you well may have a heart trick but even if not, with partner having enough to double 4 hearts I would estimate we will defeat them at least one, 3 times out of 4, amounting to a 75% success rate.
While bidding 4 spades may win the day, it is just too big a gamble and both life and good bridge is made up of small successes and making sure there are very few large losses.
Partner doesn’t even need to guarantee holding 4 spades for his double, only making bidding it with your hand more problematical.
I like your chutzpah, but this time just hope to defeat them and even if not, it will be a small loss (not anything gigantic). Also this decision should apply to both rubber bridge and matchpoints.