Just as well the H8 and H7 weren’t switched or a bemused West might find themselves on lead at T2! Something similar did happen to me once when I expectantly waited for partner to find a killing lead through declarer, only to find that my D6 (or whatever) had held the trick. Dummy had KJ1052 (or something like that) partner had bid diamonds on AQ9874 and declarer had a singleton 3. Declarer’s ploy of ducking T1 perhaps deserved better!
Regards,
Iain
jim2November 8th, 2021 at 5:16 pm
Note that switching West’s H7 for East’s H5 also prevents declarer’s line.
Presumably the cards were carefully chosen/placed accordingly.
Iain ClimieNovember 8th, 2021 at 6:33 pm
Hi Jim2,
The devil’s in the detail – or is the poison maybe in the pips and the strychnine in the spot cards?
Iain
jim2November 8th, 2021 at 7:06 pm
Yep!
See, the key detail is recognizing that the led spot card can be beaten by the closed hand singleton, and that West’s card then leaves, as the text reads, “only two cards to cover dummy’s good heart intermediates.”
The hand may be even more interesting if West decided to lead the JD or a trump.
Now, declarer does not have the 7H in all its glory in view, but the bidding has STILL revealed that the “opponents silent” line of play is doomed.
Declarer must take a leap of faith and win the lead in hand and then advance the 8H.
Iain ClimieNovember 8th, 2021 at 7:20 pm
Hi Jim2,
True, but we can blame West for not leading a club! Now make it… Didn’t he see his partner scratching his right earlobe with two fingers of his left hand while his right eye blinked 5 times in quick succession (subject to screens of course). Disgraceful flippancy aside, if North has the CA (seems likely) East could have doubled the cue-bid for a lead. Silence was less than golden this time.
Iain
bobbywolffNovember 9th, 2021 at 10:59 pm
Hi Iain & Jim2,
Just back from a very brief two long sessions of bridge with Judy and would be proud to have help taught my deadly relentless opponents which, in turn, led to our total demise.
Of course, we also helped share in our slaughter, but I would prefer having thought that they were just lucky, which, of course they were, but sadly their only lucky move was in their ability to choose us as their opponents.
In any event I appreciate what both of you had to say about the affairs of heart and non-doubles for successful leads.
Thanks for your always accurate and dependable cover plus, of course, together with your proper inflections of humor, without which, the world may stop rotating.
Iain ClimieNovember 10th, 2021 at 3:36 pm
Welcome back.Bobby. Form is transient but class and integrity are permanent.
Regards,
Iain
bobbywolffNovember 10th, 2021 at 7:14 pm
Hi Iain,
Yes and perhaps too many people, with governments to boot, have emphasized both POWER and MONEY, leaving both class, integrity, and most importantly, SIMPLY THE TRUTH, to shift for itself and thusly risk what is mandatory to all of us,
for successful survival!
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Hi Bobby,
Just as well the H8 and H7 weren’t switched or a bemused West might find themselves on lead at T2! Something similar did happen to me once when I expectantly waited for partner to find a killing lead through declarer, only to find that my D6 (or whatever) had held the trick. Dummy had KJ1052 (or something like that) partner had bid diamonds on AQ9874 and declarer had a singleton 3. Declarer’s ploy of ducking T1 perhaps deserved better!
Regards,
Iain
Note that switching West’s H7 for East’s H5 also prevents declarer’s line.
Presumably the cards were carefully chosen/placed accordingly.
Hi Jim2,
The devil’s in the detail – or is the poison maybe in the pips and the strychnine in the spot cards?
Iain
Yep!
See, the key detail is recognizing that the led spot card can be beaten by the closed hand singleton, and that West’s card then leaves, as the text reads, “only two cards to cover dummy’s good heart intermediates.”
The hand may be even more interesting if West decided to lead the JD or a trump.
Now, declarer does not have the 7H in all its glory in view, but the bidding has STILL revealed that the “opponents silent” line of play is doomed.
Declarer must take a leap of faith and win the lead in hand and then advance the 8H.
Hi Jim2,
True, but we can blame West for not leading a club! Now make it… Didn’t he see his partner scratching his right earlobe with two fingers of his left hand while his right eye blinked 5 times in quick succession (subject to screens of course). Disgraceful flippancy aside, if North has the CA (seems likely) East could have doubled the cue-bid for a lead. Silence was less than golden this time.
Iain
Hi Iain & Jim2,
Just back from a very brief two long sessions of bridge with Judy and would be proud to have help taught my deadly relentless opponents which, in turn, led to our total demise.
Of course, we also helped share in our slaughter, but I would prefer having thought that they were just lucky, which, of course they were, but sadly their only lucky move was in their ability to choose us as their opponents.
In any event I appreciate what both of you had to say about the affairs of heart and non-doubles for successful leads.
Thanks for your always accurate and dependable cover plus, of course, together with your proper inflections of humor, without which, the world may stop rotating.
Welcome back.Bobby. Form is transient but class and integrity are permanent.
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain,
Yes and perhaps too many people, with governments to boot, have emphasized both POWER and MONEY, leaving both class, integrity, and most importantly, SIMPLY THE TRUTH, to shift for itself and thusly risk what is mandatory to all of us,
for successful survival!