Hi Dear Mr. Wolff
South , missing K 10 9 8 in trumps elopes his way to eleven tricks . Perhaps this can be posed as an elementary double dummy problem : South to make five diamonds on any lead
Regards

Hi AVRR,

And not such an elementary (possibly not to you) problem. Although a long time ago, the same principle might apply, and, in spite of great defenders, Seres and Cummings, sometimes a penalty double will alert a cunning declarer to the right line of play, which then becomes a momentous swing in favor of the lesser known, but did not when declarer’s play fell from grace.

However and no doubt, the casual 1 heart overcall can be misleading to partner since, although its offensive strength is there, the long suit, plus no side defense might and indeed, did confuse partner.

Such is fairly normal with our beloved game, but minding one’s discipline, although back in those days, partnerships were often, “I’ll handle my hand, you handle yours” present often resulting in poor results for the offenders.

While West’s hand would be a textbook example of a 3 heart preempt over his RHO’s 1 diamond opening, the vulnerability suggested not. Perhaps 2 hearts is a decent compromise, but today many partnerships play a jump overcall as adding another ace added to that heart suit when their color of the vulnerability is red.

And all the time, 3NT is cold!

Bob

Hi Bob,

What you are stating is absolutely, not to mention, 100% true. However, what there is to learn of value, is simply any one hand, in its beginning stages, (when each player is only looking at 1/4 of the deck, 13 cards,) and the bidding is either just in the process of going through the embryonic stages.

To be more precise, or at least easier to understand, how can anyone even begin to fathom that while holding what West holds in hearts (KQJxxxx) could not be established in one lead and if any entry is present in that hand or if partner wins a trick and has enough hearts (depending on the overall distribution of that suit) 3NT figures to go immediately down and likely some numbers of tricks when a suit contract can make anywhere up to and including a grand slam.

With that as a forerunner to learning the game, one may begin to understand the complexities of it, regarding trick taking, card combinations, intelligent and objective reasoning as well as a code language designed to exchange enough accurate information to determine the best contract and then try and exhibit enough energy to plow forward and, of course, achieve success.

The above probably will scare more people off learning how to play than it will give incentive to do the opposite.

Remember this started with a compliment to you to realize what is certainly correct, but in retrospect in order to be logical how an even handed temperament, together with vital knowledge of how to get there from here might be the beginning of turning an averagely intelligent person into possibly a great player.

Again, the above is just a preview of what to expect. The truth is in the progression which, at least to me, is from the “womb to the tomb”.

No one will ever thoroughly master this great game, only, at the best, get better at it, Finally, is it in fact really worth learning?

Yes, I think it should be mandatory and one of the necessary learning experiences while someone is young enough to be blessed with a lifetime of playing it.

Hopefully I haven’t bored the reader to have given up several paragraphs ago, which, in fact, will happen much more often than I have the capacity to expect.

Anyway, thanks for your accurate assessment of this hand. In the long run, the result is what counts and your account summed it all up, even if a few loose ends were left unsaid.

Thanks for taking the time to write comments and for allowing me to visit the many complexities our game features.

I’m not urging anyone to bid 3NT on the hand as bid, or even if West overcalls 3H instead of one. It’s just the sort of result merchant analysis I’ve been dealing with for many years.

With the hands as is, I would hope to play at 4Diamonds, single-dummy.

Bob

Hi Bob,

With hearts bid by West and South the declarer, I’d take my chances at 3NT, expecting a heart lead and those worthy opponents to waste an honor at trick one. However on this hand we will have to be very fortunate to make this hand, but even a 4th best heart lead will not keep us from getting unbelievably lucky.

However, perhaps too quickly assessing my chances, now likely getting the game bonus scored up, with the difference also being very close between bidding and making 5 diamonds instead of only 4.

When non players ask about what is so exciting about playing bridge, this hand represents something good to tell them.