Suppose North views to bid 6N (unwisely) to protect SAQ. East has to find a heart lead and, if North now takes the D finesse, East has to return a D (at least double dummy) or North can cash the SA as a Vienna coup before ditching black cards on the run of the hearts and the CA. The S9, just as in the play described in the column, is pivotal.
Regards,
Iain
A V Ramana RaoOctober 13th, 2021 at 7:46 am
Hi lain
In six diamond by north, east always gets two diamond tricks
Regards
Iain ClimieOctober 13th, 2021 at 9:20 am
Hi AVRR,
True, but I’m looking at 6N partly to protect the SAQ and partly to hog the hand. If East leads a club (understandable, although anything but a heart lets it through) then the 12th trick arrives straight away.
Regards,
Iain
A V Ramana RaoOctober 13th, 2021 at 11:50 am
Hi lain
Sorry, I misread as six Diamonds. Yes, six NT by north would be an excellent bid and as rightly pointed by you, is cold on any lead except heart and also if east returns any other suit except diamond after the diamond finesse by south loses but some Souths may try spade finesse and go down anyway
Regards
Iain ClimieOctober 13th, 2021 at 1:36 pm
Hi AVRR,
Hopefully no South will risk the S finesse after the double but …. Mind you, without the double and on a heart lead, if declarer wins and leads a small club off table he is home regardless as the cards lie, while even if the C lost (give East the CKJ say) there is the option of cashing DAK first, playing for a possible squeeze and keeping the spade AQ as a final option.
6H by North of course is a far better idea but you’d need to be playing something artificial.
Regards,
Iain
bobbywolffOctober 13th, 2021 at 7:56 pm
Hi Iain & AVRR and others who wondered where I was,
You two have covered all the poignant concerns and possibilities so I’ll turn to bridge in the 2030s.
No doubt, by then there will be changes, both in the rules where one graffalite (color it green and all suits outrank it), will be always allowed to open the bidding, which, in turn will, in some manner TBD, allow the contracting side to choose, TBD, by whatever player speaks up (of course, always on the contracting side).
Therein, possibly including a 10 point penalty, charged for buying that right, which, in turn can be very costly in matchpoints and B-A-M play., but, of course, will merely increase the excitement in IMPs and rubber bridge.
The positive value of such a change would increase the advantage of the top players, who, by the auction can, and will, be better placed, to buy that protection.
Not to mention, the analysts, like this sight, who, no doubt, would almost always pay that price (especially in IMPs or Rubber bridge), although by doing so, they might be giving the wary and experienced defenders, more grist
for the knowledge learned, by the choosing.
However, the good news is that all of our current bloggers on this site will live, including your truly, to see this change and participate with the “wild and woolly, who’d of thunk it!
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Hi Bobby,
Suppose North views to bid 6N (unwisely) to protect SAQ. East has to find a heart lead and, if North now takes the D finesse, East has to return a D (at least double dummy) or North can cash the SA as a Vienna coup before ditching black cards on the run of the hearts and the CA. The S9, just as in the play described in the column, is pivotal.
Regards,
Iain
Hi lain
In six diamond by north, east always gets two diamond tricks
Regards
Hi AVRR,
True, but I’m looking at 6N partly to protect the SAQ and partly to hog the hand. If East leads a club (understandable, although anything but a heart lets it through) then the 12th trick arrives straight away.
Regards,
Iain
Hi lain
Sorry, I misread as six Diamonds. Yes, six NT by north would be an excellent bid and as rightly pointed by you, is cold on any lead except heart and also if east returns any other suit except diamond after the diamond finesse by south loses but some Souths may try spade finesse and go down anyway
Regards
Hi AVRR,
Hopefully no South will risk the S finesse after the double but …. Mind you, without the double and on a heart lead, if declarer wins and leads a small club off table he is home regardless as the cards lie, while even if the C lost (give East the CKJ say) there is the option of cashing DAK first, playing for a possible squeeze and keeping the spade AQ as a final option.
6H by North of course is a far better idea but you’d need to be playing something artificial.
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain & AVRR and others who wondered where I was,
You two have covered all the poignant concerns and possibilities so I’ll turn to bridge in the 2030s.
No doubt, by then there will be changes, both in the rules where one graffalite (color it green and all suits outrank it), will be always allowed to open the bidding, which, in turn will, in some manner TBD, allow the contracting side to choose, TBD, by whatever player speaks up (of course, always on the contracting side).
Therein, possibly including a 10 point penalty, charged for buying that right, which, in turn can be very costly in matchpoints and B-A-M play., but, of course, will merely increase the excitement in IMPs and rubber bridge.
The positive value of such a change would increase the advantage of the top players, who, by the auction can, and will, be better placed, to buy that protection.
Not to mention, the analysts, like this sight, who, no doubt, would almost always pay that price (especially in IMPs or Rubber bridge), although by doing so, they might be giving the wary and experienced defenders, more grist
for the knowledge learned, by the choosing.
However, the good news is that all of our current bloggers on this site will live, including your truly, to see this change and participate with the “wild and woolly, who’d of thunk it!