South ruffs the second diamond low, crosses to dummy, and leads a spade. East plays the ace, so south, of course, plays low, LEAVING HIM WITH ONLY THE KQJ OF SPADES. S ruffs the third diamond and cashes his remaining two trumps.. He now runs clubs. On the last club west has a choice. He can ruff and lead a heart into declarer’s KJ, or he can discard and wait to ruff trick 13. Bottom line: your analysis is consistent with the quote from Samuel Johnson.
Jeff SJune 12th, 2021 at 2:13 pm
OK, I thought it was just me saying, hang on, how are we throwing him in with a trump when we have none left. Bottom line though, the contract makes and it makes because South played all his trumps before running clubs so it is all good. It is even better when we realize we were not told what West discarded on the third diamond and it doesn’t matter.
bobbywolffJune 12th, 2021 at 2:18 pm
Hi David,
Yes and of course, but unhappy for us, I severely erred in what declarer was left with in hand after the early jousting. Declarer had saved his major trump honors (didn’t have enough of them), but unfortunately for my inadequate attention, he still had two high trumps, but one less trump than did his LHO.
However his card reading allowed him to cover that usual deadly condition, leaving West with a Hobson’s choice of being either thrown in to concede the contract trick in hearts or rather only save his long trump for the last non-decisive trick.
Ironically, while apologies are certainly due for my significant gaffe, the declarer did not have to pay the price, but rather did the author, not an usual expectation since likely and often, would.
A grudging thank you for your “eagle eye” but yes, Dumb is DUMB and Samuel Johnson’s use of “conciseness” is certainly, in this case, a decided underbid.
bobbywolffJune 12th, 2021 at 2:32 pm
Hi Jeff S,
You beat me through posting by only 2 minutes, but also apologies to you.
Of course, I made the above error on purpose, because of a poll I decided to take on how many of the AOB column posters were paying attention and how many were not.
However, I must admit, if you do not believe the above, (sounds like the USA media’s motives for their emphasis in almost all their political reports), I promise not to risk losing our former sincere friendship.
Subscribe to our feed
Bridge-related
South ruffs the second diamond low, crosses to dummy, and leads a spade. East plays the ace, so south, of course, plays low, LEAVING HIM WITH ONLY THE KQJ OF SPADES. S ruffs the third diamond and cashes his remaining two trumps.. He now runs clubs. On the last club west has a choice. He can ruff and lead a heart into declarer’s KJ, or he can discard and wait to ruff trick 13. Bottom line: your analysis is consistent with the quote from Samuel Johnson.
OK, I thought it was just me saying, hang on, how are we throwing him in with a trump when we have none left. Bottom line though, the contract makes and it makes because South played all his trumps before running clubs so it is all good. It is even better when we realize we were not told what West discarded on the third diamond and it doesn’t matter.
Hi David,
Yes and of course, but unhappy for us, I severely erred in what declarer was left with in hand after the early jousting. Declarer had saved his major trump honors (didn’t have enough of them), but unfortunately for my inadequate attention, he still had two high trumps, but one less trump than did his LHO.
However his card reading allowed him to cover that usual deadly condition, leaving West with a Hobson’s choice of being either thrown in to concede the contract trick in hearts or rather only save his long trump for the last non-decisive trick.
Ironically, while apologies are certainly due for my significant gaffe, the declarer did not have to pay the price, but rather did the author, not an usual expectation since likely and often, would.
A grudging thank you for your “eagle eye” but yes, Dumb is DUMB and Samuel Johnson’s use of “conciseness” is certainly, in this case, a decided underbid.
Hi Jeff S,
You beat me through posting by only 2 minutes, but also apologies to you.
Of course, I made the above error on purpose, because of a poll I decided to take on how many of the AOB column posters were paying attention and how many were not.
However, I must admit, if you do not believe the above, (sounds like the USA media’s motives for their emphasis in almost all their political reports), I promise not to risk losing our former sincere friendship.