Aces on Bridge — Daily Columns

The Aces on Bridge: Friday, June 11th, 2021


2 Comments

Iain ClimieJune 25th, 2021 at 10:41 am

Hi Bobby,

West could also have gambled on East having a high heart and led one. That does get expensive pdq although the club lead looks safer.

Regards,

Iain

bobbywolffJune 25th, 2021 at 3:19 pm

Hi Iain,

Yes West, with a likely overactive killer mindset , could indeed have led a heart (from KJ) but that, at least to me is looking a gift horse in the mouth, and on percentage, with that powerful trump holding, doesn’t look necessary to risk.

However, after East did not play the nine of clubs at trick one (not that he should have), he fell victim to his KQJ of spades and turned off his scientific analysis of the correct play, all about the necessary correct defensive timing.

Sort of reminds me of an over confident boxer describing to his trainer how he is going to severely punish his opponent with a wild series of random punches, forgetting (at least for the moment) what his wary opponent may be thinking, countering and successfully accomplishing at the same time.

The above is likely as ever present, or more so, in bridge competition, than it is in even boxing, and I’ve got the mental scars, to unfortunately prove it.