Aces on Bridge — Daily Columns

The Aces on Bridge: Monday, May 10th, 2021


2 Comments

Iain ClimieMay 25th, 2021 at 8:24 am

HI Bobby,

Interesting that the lead advice ties in with the query from “On the Offensive” tghe day before. Some players are almost paranoid about leading away from a KIng defending against suit contracts (unless partner has bid the suit of course); I must admit I err the other way and tend not to lead trumps unless it is really obvious. This probably says something about a flaw in my character I suspect – always “Up and At ‘Em” when calmer counsel should often prevail.

Regards,

Iain

bobbywolffMay 25th, 2021 at 2:35 pm

Hi Iain,

Although various painful adjectives are often thrown toward players who choose, what turns out to be the killing lead (whether or not it is from an unbid king suit) but, in fact, kills the defense rather than the declarer.

Obviously those comments are out of place, as would be even if the lead turned out successfully, and it was applauded by partner since if so, it might sound (and likely is) at least a form of gloating.

At least to me with the above hand (LWTA) clubs (the suit led) was unbid, not an automatic choice, but I think the percentage one.

It is not based (at least to me) on leading away from a king, but rather only what I think is the best percentage chance to work out right.

Many failures on such an enterprise will occur, but what about the successes. All any of us can hope for, is the chance to be right and wrong, at least thousands of times, which might in turn mean, a bunch of lifetime bridge played (always a welcome happening), as well as a long life in attempting to follow, what is individually known, as the immutable law of averages.