In the column hand there is something beautiful about trying to set Zia up for a squeeze and then end-playing him when he tries to wriggle out of it. That was worth the price of admission!

Does East have a better option at trick 3? I wonder if the HK is an improvement. I think South must duck this or lose two heart tricks later. If West then discourages, East can go back to spades (hopefully he unblocked the 9 at trick one). I don’t think this play makes a difference if the HA / HJ are swapped.

In BWTA would an inquiry be in order? I would be itching to get into the auction (non-vulnerable in Matchpoints, favorable vulnerability otherwise). If the opening is known to be sound then playing defense looks hopeless. If it is the normal light / very light style then I agree I would pass and hope for a plus. For all you know West has the best hand at the table and you might end up defending 4H.

Hi Slar,

No doubt there is plenty of satisfaction in another version of a Golden Rule in bridge: “Do on to others which they often do on to you”, and then to switch which to before.

And while inquiring is always permissible in bridge, often there is unauthorized information (UI) passed to your partner (awkward and sometimes prohibitive) and to your opponents (unwise for the bidding to come, and then, if defending, to likely make their declarer play more accurate) by both your question and including your hesitation.

However life goes on, even at the bridge table, therefore meaning what you want it to, but would you, or anyone in your position care, if you had the same hand but one less ace?

All that you say above is impressive and directly on point, but bridge requires an even tempo, so that extra responsibility is sometimes handled differently by different opponents, those who respect the ethical strictures of our game, and those who do not, and worse, pretend that they do, but, in fact, take every advantage they can find.

In no way am I including you in the above description since how would I know, and even if I suspected one way or the other (I don’t), I would never be so brash to assume.

Please exclude the above detour, but it seemed a good time to preach to the wind, just in case the air had ears.

Opposite a passed hand an in tempo pass is called for and if LHO now passes, your super partner will now guess to do the right thing, whatever it turns out to be (possibly only in your dreams).

Briefly, only returning to the discussion of proper bridge ethics, without ethical compliance our game is greatly reduced in value, and therefore that fact alone should “goose” players to fulfill their obligations.

Sooner or later, everyone who plays the game, but particularly the ones with talent, will be subject to ethical judgment. Since that fact will then be eventually, if not sooner, common knowledge to all true competitors why wouldn’t every player who, at least, grows to love the game he or she plays, want to treat it with the respect it not only deserves, but wouldn’t survive the test of time, without?

Strong letter to not follow, since this subject is just too sensitive to pursue.

Hi Slar, Bobby,

Swap the C2 and the C6 and the C9 from East when he is in (as a surroind play) makes reasonable sense. Unfortunately it doesn’t work at all well today. I like Slar’s suggested HK play, though, although West may place East with HK98x and get over-zealous by unblocking the HJ.

Regards,

Iain

Sorry check the pips first! the HK is actually West proof!

Hi Iain,

By merely bringing it up, you, in effect, will emphasize its accuracy. Therefore you continue to add and almost never subtract and best of all, not allow others to nap instead of verifying.

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