Aces on Bridge — Daily Columns

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, July 1st, 2021


9 Comments

A V Ramana RaoJuly 15th, 2021 at 12:15 pm

Hi Dear Mr Wolff
Since the odds for three three break are less than four two ( either way) break, perhaps after drawing trumps, south can duck a club straightaway. Win the red suit return and cashes top clubs, ruffing another if necessary ( as has become) and come to hand with the preserved red suit winner but clearly , initial heart lead would sink the contract
Regards

David WarheitJuly 15th, 2021 at 1:23 pm

AV: If W initially leads a H, S can duck. Now W must lead a S at trick 2 or else S will make his contract. Not the easiest shift to find.

Iain ClimieJuly 15th, 2021 at 1:39 pm

Hi David, AVRR,

East could double 3H for the lead I suppose (although he is hardly sure that he wants one) but then South could pass it round to North who redoubles to play and the defence just make 3 trump tricks. -1360 vs +1430 for + 2 IMPs except if 6S goes off but somehow not a good pairs score I suspect, nor well received at rubber bridge.

On the suggested defence, though (H10 ducked all round, trump switch) I wondered if south could get home double-dummy by ruffing 2 hearts in hand? Nope, David awake as usual with the trump switch and I’m having a brain-fade day at work, sadly not even relieved by a trip to the blog. Mind you, I’m still more cheerful for the visit.

Regards,

Iain

A V Ramana RaoJuly 15th, 2021 at 2:51 pm

Hi David
Agreed but a small twist : since west’s heart ten could be singleton, east perhaps can overtake with J and now, if south ducks which means eight appears, east can work out what is needed and return spade ten and if south wins, he is down anyway. Bridge is a fascinating game indeed
Regards

A V Ramana RaoJuly 15th, 2021 at 2:53 pm

Which means eight appears from West next
Regards

bobbywolffJuly 15th, 2021 at 3:21 pm

Hi AVRR, David, & Iain,

Between the three of you, I am preempted (three opening their truths rather than a suit) out of what I should relay those rightful comments, not their responsibility.

However, to tell the truth (unusual) I likely would have either not thought to do or and even if I did, not as clearly, or likely missed some of their right on descriptive intelligence.

Some might think me hiding dismay, but as Lou Gehrig (famous NY Yankee about 80+ years ago said in his famous speech after learning that he had contracted ALS, a newly discovered dreaded terminal nerve disease after, at that time, setting a record for consecutive games played without interruption 2,000+) finally broken, but only once, many years later, by Cal Ripken of Baltimore) “I consider myself the luckiest person in the world”.

Also when at least their being available to often do their thing, which is (another preempt) carefully described to be thoughtful, thorough and right on!

ME TOO! (of course, not deserved, with no unblemished streak to offer, and especially, at least, not yet, without that unspeakable horror in my immediate future).

Joe1July 15th, 2021 at 11:13 pm

The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;—
Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!
This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon;
The winds that will be howling at all hours,
And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers;
For this, for everything, we are out of tune;
It moves us not. Great God! I’d rather be
A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn;
So might I, standing on this pleasant lea,
Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;
Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea;
Or hear old Triton blow his wreathèd horn.

I remember this one from school….

Great bridge here, very useful instruction, always look forward to the commentary, but quotes are also a daily pleasure and instructive in their own way…

Joe1July 15th, 2021 at 11:24 pm

The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;—
Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!
This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon;
The winds that will be howling at all hours,
And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers;
For this, for everything, we are out of tune;
It moves us not. Great God! I’d rather be
A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn;
So might I, standing on this pleasant lea,
Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;
Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea;
Or hear old Triton blow his wreathèd horn.

I remember poem from school… love the quote, the hand, the instruction, and commentary

bobbywolffJuly 16th, 2021 at 1:15 am

Hi Joe1,

A beautiful, but realistic and thoroughly truthful, but mostly negative, but insightful summary.

We, as a group and also as an individual do I, we, love. Kudos to you for your remembrance. Yes all those mixed emotions are returned in NT, nothing less!

Every word needs thought, but only as respect
for sharing. Bridge is the thing and will always
rise above, even when life itself does not.