The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, December 19th, 2019
One must have a good memory to be able to keep the promises one makes.
Friedrich Nietzsche
| N | North |
|---|---|
| E-W | ♠ A 7 2 ♥ 6 5 ♦ Q J 8 6 5 ♣ A J 2 |
| West | East |
|---|---|
| ♠ 10 4 ♥ Q J 10 ♦ K 7 4 2 ♣ Q 10 8 5 |
♠ Q J 9 ♥ K 9 8 7 2 ♦ A 10 3 ♣ 7 4 |
| South |
|---|
| ♠ K 8 6 5 3 ♥ A 4 3 ♦ 9 ♣ K 9 6 3 |
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ♦ | 1 ♥ | ||
| 1 ♠ | 2 ♥ | 2 ♠ | Pass |
| 4 ♠ | All pass |
♥Q
South demonstrated how much his side-suit shape was worth when he pushed to game opposite a simple raise.
At trick one, declarer realized that he might need to bring the clubs in without loss, since even if he could score three diamond ruffs in hand, he wouldn’t have 10 tricks. However, another, better approach might be to set up dummy’s diamonds instead.
So South won the second heart and led the diamond nine to dummy’s queen, in an attempt to ruff down honor-third diamonds on his left. He would also succeed against East holding aceking-third. East took his ace and forced dummy with a heart. Then declarer ruffed a diamond and switched horses by playing the trump ace and king and another trump.
The danger in ruffing another diamond was that if the king did not come down, declarer would need to bring the clubs in. By conceding a trump trick at this stage, he retained the chance of ruffing the diamond king, should the club queen be onside, but it also increased his chances of squeezing the defenders.
(Declarer could not afford to ruff a diamond, then give up a spade; East might win and run hearts.)
Had West taken the third spade, he would have had to open up clubs for declarer and leave him in good shape. As it was, East took the third trump and continued the heart force. However, that was too much for West to bear. He had already let go of a diamond and now had to spare a club. Declarer could then finesse the club jack and run the suit.
Pass. The singleton diamond is a serious handicap for play in diamonds or no-trump. Even with the aces and kings, this 10-count does not offer enough play for game, so you should not invite. Partner probably has at least six diamonds, and his suit will hopefully not be terrible; so this should be as good a spot as any.
BID WITH THE ACES
| ♠ K 8 6 5 3 ♥ A 4 3 ♦ 9 ♣ K 9 6 3 |
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ♦ | Pass | ||
| 1 ♠ | Pass | 2 ♦ | Pass |
| ? |
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Bridge-related
Hi Dear Mr Wolff
South had to rely on the fact that West held club Q and if so, he doesn’t need the squeeze. For eg., On ruffing diamond, club finesse , ruff another diamond, lead club to dummy’s winner and lead club. East cannot profitably ruff so South wins and now K and A of spades and lead a diamond from dummy for coup en passant. South makes A and K of spades and his small three spades ( two via diamond ruffs and last with en passant ), A of heart and a heart ruff and three clubs
Regards
Hi AVRR,
Your line of play is efficient and may be best.
Methinks it becomes a question between assuming the club finesse is on, and if so, your line is very likely best, but, at the same time does not allow a very fortunate defensive diamond holding (or, in addition a defensive mistake) to allow eliminating the club finesse having to work.
However,, even the thought of attempting to figure out the mathematical odds on the different lines, particularly so while trying to consider the possibility of a defensive mistake, is, as Jim2 might say, immediately cause his head to ache.
However, thanks for taking your valuable time to offer your suggested version, and, in no way am I saying that it is not percentage wise the better line.
In addition, at least to me, there is something glamorous in executing the coup en passant,
leaving those worthy opponents, in this case your RHO perhaps, feeling like a person all dressed up, but no place to go.